Pakistan
Pakistan sees record surge in daily COVID cases as Omicron spreads at alarming rate
Pakistan’s COVID positivity rate now stands at 12.93%. While, the cumulative tally of the country has now climbed to 1,353,479.

Islamabad: Pakistan has witnessed an enormous spike in its daily tally of coronavirus disease (Covid-19) after as many as 7,678 new infections were logged in the last 24 hours, according to morning update by ministry of health.
Pakistan’s COVID positivity rate now stands at 12.93%. While, the cumulative tally of the country has now climbed to 1,353,479.
As the fifth wave of COVID-19 intensifies in Pakistan reported 7,678 new coronavirus infections, a new daily record, with authorities linking the spike with the Omicron variant of virus.
According to the latest figures issued by the National Command and Operation Center (NCOC), 7,678 persons were tested positive while 5 died in the past 24 hours— taking Pakistan's COVID death toll to 29,065.
As many as 1,265,665 patients have recovered from the disease.
Punjab
The number of patients swelled to 456,992 in the province with 13,093 causalities.
Sindh
The number of infections has surged to 513,046 in the province, while the death toll has reached 7,710.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
The confirmed cases have surged to 182,950 in the province with 5,967 casualties.
Balochistan
There are 33,780 confirmed cases while 367 patients have died from the infection so far.
AJK and Gilgit-Baltistan
There are 34,884 coronavirus cases in the AJK while the death toll has reached 749. On the other hand, there are 10,461 cases in GB with 187 coronavirus deaths.
Islamabad
There are 113,688 cases in the capital city while 969 people have lost their lives.
Pakistan
Rigging, incidents of violence disrupts Sindh LG polls
Video of public rigging in Sindh local body elections went viral

Sukkar: Incidents of rigging and violence are being reported during the Polling for the first phase of Local Government elections in fourteen districts of Sindh.
Polling for the first phase of local government elections in Sindh is underway which started at 8am and will continue till 5pm without any break in 14 districts of the province including Sukkur, Shaheed Benazirabad, Larkana, Mirpur Khas, Umarkot, Tharparkar, Sanghar, Naushehro Feroze, Kanbar-ShahdadKot, Shikarpur, Jacobabad, Kahmor, Ghoki and Khairpur.
However, as soon as the balloting started, reports of rigging as well as violence poured in.
A video of rigging during polls goes viral on socila media showing that more than one voter are stamping on their votes publically on the Returning Officer's table.
سکھر: صالح پٹ میں پولنگ اسٹیشن پر کھلے عام دھاندلی جاری @MediaCellPPP @AliHZaidiPTI @PTIofficial #GNN pic.twitter.com/lZIWwdjiZk
— GNN (@gnnhdofficial) June 26, 2022
On the other hand, violence in Sukkur, Kandhkot, Nawabshah, Ghotki and Mirpur Mathelo left dozens of people injured. At least one polling station in Kandhkot was attacked by dacoits.
Polling in Municipal Committee Ward 13 was suspended after a conflict resulted in the death of one person in Tando Adam.
The polling station was immediately shut down after the incident.
In Kandhkot, at least 20 people were reportedly injured as a fight broke out between the workers of rival political parties in ward 10 during the local bodies polls in Kandhkot on Sunday.
A large contingent of police and rangers rushed to the scene to restore the law and order.
A scuffle between PPP and JUI candidates also broke out in Sukkur that left two people injured including JUI general councilor candidate Ghulam Mustafa.
The incident was reported in Fareed Mehr polling station in Pano Aqil.
JUI candidate has alleged that the attack was ‘unprovoked’.
Regional
Polling underway for Swat PK-7 byelection
Four major candidates compete for the KP assembly seat
-1280x720.webp)
Swat: The polling process is underway for the byelection in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa constituency of PK-7 in Swat.
The seat, which fell vacant after the demise of ANP MPA Waqar Khan, is being contested by four major candidates: Hussain Ahmed from ANP, Fazal Mullah from PTI, and two independent candidates.
A total of 183,308 registered voters in the constituency are expected to exercise their electoral rights, including 102,088 male and 91,220 female voters.
The ECP completed its arrangements Saturday evening, setting up 124 polling stations with 308 booths.
The polling started without any delays Sunday morning and will continue until 5 pm.
World
Morocco: 27 migrants die in stampede to enter Spain’s Melilla
The incident at the border crossing was the first since Spain and Morocco boosted their bilateral cooperation after Madrid decided to support Rabat’s position on the independence of Western Sahara.

Moroccan authorities said that 27 migrants were killed and dozens of migrants and police officers were injured in a “stampede” of people trying to cross into the Spanish North African enclave of Melilla.
According to the Moroccan Association for Human Rights (AMDH), the death toll of migrants who died trying to cross from Morocco into the Spanish enclave of Melilla rose to 27 today (June 25).
On Friday, around 2,000 migrants—many from Sudan—tried to cross the militarized border fence.
At first, five people were reported dead, but later, Moroccan authorities raised the figure to 18.
“The victims of the tragedy in Melilla agonized for hours under the cruel gaze of those who were supposed to help them and did not do so,” tweeted founder of Walking Borders Helena Maleno Garzon, who also confirmed the report of 27 dead.
Spanish officials said 49 Civil Guards sustained minor injuries while four police vehicles were damaged by rocks thrown by some migrants.
Videos from the Moroccan side of the border show what appear to be dead bodies and people with severe injuries strewn out on the ground without receiving medical attention.
Other images show hundreds of people, some with clear injuries, lying in a pile on the ground with their hands tied behind their backs.
Moroccan police used tear gas to disperse those trying to climb the border fence.
Following the horrific incident, several NGOs are calling for an immediate investigation into the treatment of migrants.
The incident at the border crossing was the first since Spain and Morocco boosted their bilateral cooperation after Madrid decided to support Rabat’s position on the independence of Western Sahara.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Friday applauded the “extraordinary work of the Moroccan government in coordination with Spain to try to stop a violent assault, which was, in this case, well resolved.”
Last year, Moroccan authorities stood passively by as thousands swam into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta amid a diplomatic spat over Spain treating the separatist leader of Western Sahara for coronavirus.
According to Spanish authorities, just 133 people managed to reach Spain during Friday’s border crossing attempt.
-
Pakistan 2 days ago
Miftah announces SBP receives $2.3 billion from Chinese banks
-
Pakistan 1 day ago
New ‘storm of inflation’ is impending: Imran Khan
-
Business 1 day ago
AJK govt presents Rs 163.7 billion budget
-
Pakistan 1 day ago
PM resolves to equip youth with latest education, skills
-
World 2 days ago
2 dead, 6 wounded in Il-76 plane crash in Russia
-
Pakistan 2 days ago
After 3-day decline gold price increases by Rs900 in Pakistan
-
World 2 days ago
Chinese electric car falls from third-floor parking lot; kills two
-
World 1 day ago
World Drug Day to be marked on Sunday