KS News Desk
Islamabad, December 2 (ANI): Pakistan is currently experiencing one of the fastest-growing epidemics of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region, with new infections increasing by 200% over the past 15 years, from 16,000 in 2010 to 48,000 in 2024, as reported by Dawn.
This information was shared with participants of a walk organised by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and UNAIDS in observance of World AIDS Day.
While HIV primarily affected high-risk populations in the past, it is now affecting children, spouses, and the broader community, largely due to unsafe blood management and injection practices, deficiencies in infection prevention and control, inadequate HIV testing during antenatal care, unprotected sexual activities, stigma, and restricted access to HIV services.
Under the theme Overcoming disruption, transforming the AIDS response, WHO and UNAIDS collaborated with Pakistans Ministry of Health to commemorate the day.
The discrimination, stigma, and this disease cannot be addressed by us alone. It must involve the communities and the health regulatory authorities. We need collective efforts to eliminate unsafe practices in injections and blood transfusions. Education is essential. We also need to engage our clinicians. Together, we can reach our objectives. We must provide children and adults in Pakistan with the healthy, HIV-free future they deserve, stated Ayesha Isani, Director General of the Health Ministry, according to the Dawn report.
It is estimated that 350,000 individuals are living with HIV in Pakistan, but nearly 80% of those affected are unaware of their status. Children are increasingly impacted, with new cases among those aged 0-14 rising from 530 in 2010 to 1,800 in 2023.
Over the past decade, Pakistan has increased the number of individuals living with HIV who receive antiretroviral therapy (ART) eightfold, from approximately 6,500 in 2013 to 55,500 in 2024thanks to collaborative efforts by the government, UN entities, and partners.
The number of antiretroviral therapy centres has also expanded from 13 in 2010 to 95 in 2025. Despite this progress, only about 21% of people living with HIV knew their status in 2024; 16% of these individuals were on treatment, and 7% had achieved viral load suppression. In 2024, there were over 1,100 reported AIDS-related fatalities, as highlighted by Dawn.
The rise in new cases and recent outbreaks that have particularly impacted childrenthreatening their futures as well as that of Pakistan, serve as a powerful reminder of the urgent need to enhance collaborative efforts and mobilise both domestic and international resources to eradicate AIDS as a public health threat. WHO will support Pakistan and its partners in safeguarding current and future generations from HIV, ensuring that no one is left behind, remarked Dr Luo Dapeng, WHO Representative in Pakistan, as emphasised in the Dawn report.
In Pakistan, children have unfortunately been exposed to HIV due to unsafe injections and blood transfusions during recent outbreaks in locations such as Shaheed Benazirabad, Hyderabad, Naushahro Feroze, Pathan Colony (2025), Taunsa (2024), Mirpur Khas (2024), Jacobabad, and Shikarpur (2023), as well as Larkana (2019). In many of these outbreaks, more than 80% of the identified cases involved children, according to the Dawn report.
Only 14% of pregnant women in need of treatment to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV receive it, leaving thousands of children vulnerable.
Among children aged 0-14 living with HIV, only 38% are receiving treatment, as revealed by the Dawn report.
'Results likely to get delayed in absence of Chairman' Jammu, Jan 7: The Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education (JKBOSE) on Wednesday said the result of the class 10th examinations will be declared soon after the appointment of the Chairman of the Board. The statement comes amid the uncertainty about the declaration of the results by JKBOSE. In an official handout issued here, JKBOSE has advised students not to pay heed to fake links and websites announcing declaration of class 10 results. "Result of class 10th will be declared within few days soon after the appointment of new Chairman," the statement reads. The JKBOSE has stated that the results of annual examination of class 10 of Kashmir valley and winter zone areas of Jammu Division are almost ready. "But its approval by Result Declaration Committee headed by BOSE Chairman is a pre- requisite before its declaration. In absence of the Chairman the results are likely to get a little delayed," it reads. The JKBOSE officials have advised the students to wait for the formal declaration on the official website of the Board- www.jkbose.nic.in. "Students should not get misled by scamesters and fake narratives circulated by some mischievous elements, whose sole aim is to create confusion in the innocent student community," the statement reads.
Suhail Khan Baramulla, Jan 6: A young aerospace engineer from Sopore in north Kashmirâs Baramulla district is proving that dedication and ambition can propel one to global heights. Munaf-ul-Raquib who holds a B.Tech in Aerospace Engineering, has gained international recognition for his research on black holes and cosmology. Munaf-ul-Raquib revealed that his paper on the thermodynamics of black holes was recently published in the International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR). âAbout a year ago, I conducted research on the gravity of black holes and cosmology, which has now been published in IJSR,â he said. He said that since his research was published in the international journal, he has been receiving opportunities from various countries to participate in research dialogues. Raquib added that in the coming months he is scheduled to participate in international conferences in Paris on April 16 and later in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. The Sopore aerospace engineer noted that he is also participating in various conferences across different countries. Speaking about his research, Munaf-ul-Raquib addressed a fundamental paradox in astrophysics: how black holes can appear to violate thermodynamic laws, particularly concerning entropy.âIf we observe a black hole, it seems to contradict thermodynamic principles,â he said. Using the frameworks of Anti-de Sitter space (AdS) and Conformal Field Theory (CFT), Raqeebâs research proposes a theoretical model that reconciles black hole mechanics with thermodynamics. âIn this paper, I have explained how a black hole can function without violating thermodynamic laws,â he said. He described the achievement as both personal and symbolic. âIt is a proud moment for me to represent my state, especially Sopore, on an international platform,â he said. Raqeeb shared that Astrophysics was his childhood dream, and his grandfather encouraged me immensely. "After my grandfather passed away during the Covid-19 pandemic, my parents continued to champion my aspirations. My parents left no stone unturned in helping me pursue my dreams,â he said. He said that his academic path included taking the JEE and later the AME CET entrance exams, through which he secured a seat in aerospace engineering at the Nasik Research Centre. âMy parents not only supported me morally but also created an environment where I could pursue my dreams freely,â he said. He emphasized the role of family in nurturing talent. âJust as my parents supported me, it is the responsibility of all parents to help their children follow their dreams.â âYoung people should avoid wrong practices. They must dream of a beautiful tomorrow but work hard today to make their parents proud,â he further added.
Srinagar, Jan 8: The University of Kashmir (KU) has made the biometric attendance mandatory for the students of its affiliated colleges from Academic session 2026-27. The development comes in wake of the complaints about the thin attendance of the students in various private B.Ed colleges affiliated with the Kashmir University. A circular in this regard has been issued by the Assistant Registrar Dean Colleges Development Council (DCDC) of the University. "All the Chairpersons and Principals of private affiliated colleges of the University of Kashmir are hereby informed that biometric attendance for all the enrolled students and staff has been made mandatory from the year 2026-27," the KU circular reads. The Principals of all the affiliated colleges have been directed to install biometric attendance machines in their respective institutions on or before the commencement of the Academic year 2026-27 under intimation to the Dean College Development Council of the University. "The college shall also ensure proper upkeep, maintenance, and systematic preservation of all biometric attendance records for future reference and verification," it reads. The Colleges have been directed to comply with this directive "without fail." The move comes in wake of the inspections conducted last year by the DCDC of KU in various B.Ed colleges where most of the students were found absent. An official said that there were complaints about the poor attendance of the students in B.Ed colleges. "The students do not attend their B.Ed classes regularly which defeats the purpose of the course," the official said. Earlier, DCDC of KU earlier barred the B.Ed students to appear in teh semester exams for falling short of attendance. The decision was taken in wake of the surprise inspection conducted by Dean College Development Council (DCDC) in various B.Ed colleges of Kashmir in June-July month of 2025 and several students were found absent from the classes. Following this, the students were directed to attend supplementary classes to complete the recommended attendance for appearing in their exams. Also, the exam of these students was deferred by few months.
Srinagar, Jan 8: The Director of School Education Kashmir (DSEK) has pulled up the officers vested with the powers of Drawing and Disbursing Officers (DDOs) as their additional assignment, for indulging in administrative works, beyond their domain. As per the order issued by the Director School Education Kashmir Naseer Ahmad Wani, the officers having additional DDO powers, have been reprimanded for going beyond their role of duties. "It has come to the notice of the DSEK that many officers of the department vested with DDOs powers are affecting transfers and doing administrative works having no authority to do so," the order reads. As per the order, all these DDOs holding charge in additional capacity have been asked to utilise the powers for the purpose of drawing and disbursing salary and other financial matters within the limits of the authority. "The officers shall not exercise any administrative powers particularly with respect to the transfer of staff," it reads. The DSEK has warned of disciplinary action in case of violation of the order by any officers. "Any deviation from the instant order shall be viewed seriously and invite disciplinary action," it reads.
Baramulla, Jan 9: Deputy Commissioner Baramulla on Thursday said that the situation caused by the landslides on Ur-Baramulla was temporary and would be resolved once the excavation process of the road is completed. The statement comes amid the concerns over recurring landslides on the UriâBaramulla road due to ongoing road widening project being executed by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO). Talking to Kashmir Square, Deputy Commissioner Baramulla Minga Sherpa said that such issues are common during the construction of hill roads and should not be viewed as an unusual development. âThere is no major issue. Whenever a hill road is constructed or widened, such problems are recurrent,â he said. He further said that the slopes usually take time to stabilise after excavation. "The excavation process affects the natural stability of the hillside and it generally takes one to two years for slopes to fully stabilise," he said. Minga Sherpa said several slope stabilisation measures are already in place to minimise risks. âGrouting has been done and protective walling has also been constructed at several points,â DC Baramulla told Kashmir Square. He further said that around 200 metres of excavation work is still pending on the stretch and the remaining cutting work is expected to be completed within a month. âOnce the excavation is finished, the BRO and concerned agencies will carry out full-fledged slope stabilisation measures. After that, such incidents will not occur again,â he said. Over the past few weeks, the UriâBaramulla road, a vital link connecting the border town of Uri with Baramulla district witnessed intermittent traffic disruptions due to landslides triggered by excavation work, raising safety concerns among commuters. The BaramullaâUri National Highway remained closed on Thursday after another landslide struck the stretch - the third such incident reported in the last 20 days, causing severe inconvenience to commuters. A fresh landslide hit the highway on Thursday afternoon, forcing authorities to immediately halt traffic movement on the route as a precautionary measure. It was the third such incident in just 20 days on the BaramullaâUri National Highway, following two earlier slides that also triggered full traffic halts and diversions through alternate routes. Only emergency vehicles were allowed to pass, while all routine traffic was stopped to avoid any untoward incident. An official said the road clearance operations were launched soon after the incident, with personnel and machinery mobilised to remove debris and stabilise the affected area. "The highway was made motorable again from the evening hours," he said. The closure of the main BaramullaâUri National Highway compelled authorities to divert vehicles through the dilapidated KhadniyarâGantamulla road.
Bengaluru, Jan 9: BGS Bloomfield School celebrated its Annual Day 2026 with a grand cultural evening showcasing creativity, talent, and holistic learning. The event, held on the school campus, featured vibrant performances by students from Nursery to Grade 10, reflecting the institutionâs commitment to academic excellence, character-building, and co-curricular development. Member of Parliament from Bangalore Central Parliamentary Constituency, P C Mohan graced the occasion as the Chief Guest, while renowned Kannada stand-up comedian Gangavathi Pranesh was the Guest of Honour. Their presence added inspiration and enthusiasm to the celebrations, encouraging students to pursue their aspirations with confidence and dedication. The programme began with the ceremonial lighting of the lamp, followed by a series of captivating cultural performances, including classical dance, theatre, musical ensembles, and thematic presentations centred on unity, gratitude, and nation-building. Each performance reflected months of preparation and the dedicated guidance of the schoolâs faculty. Addressing the gathering, Chairman Dr B Gurappa Naidu expressed pride in the studentsâ achievements. âAnnual Day is a reflection of our studentsâ creativity, discipline, and teamwork. At BGS Bloomfield, we strive to nurture every childâs potential by offering a balanced environment that promotes academic excellence alongside cultural enrichment,â he said. He added that the performances stood as a testament to the collective efforts of students, teachers, and parents. Chief Guest P C Mohan lauded the schoolâs holistic approach to education, saying it was inspiring to see young students display confidence, discipline, and creativity on stage. âInstitutions like BGS Bloomfield play a vital role in shaping responsible and empowered citizens of the future,â he said. He congratulating the management, faculty, and students for the impressive celebration. Guest of Honour Gangavathi Pranesh brought a touch of humour to the occasion while appreciating the studentsâ heartfelt performances and the schoolâs emphasis on value-based education. The event concluded with a vote of thanks, acknowledging the contributions of teachers, parents, and partners in making the celebration memorable. "The Annual Day reinforced BGS Bloomfieldâs vision of nurturing confident, compassionate, and future-ready learners," the handout reads.
New Delhi, Jan 7: The Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare on Wednesday invited suggestions from stakeholders and the general public for its new draft Pesticides Management Bill, 2025, which aims to ensure the supply of quality pesticides for farmers and decriminalise petty offences, thereby promoting ease of living as well as ease of doing business. The fresh draft Pesticides Management Bill, 2025 prepared in alignment with current requirements. It is intended to replace the present Insecticides Act, 1968 and the Insecticides Rules, 1971, according to an official statement. The draft Pesticides Management Bill, 2025, is a farmer-centric legislation with several salient features. The revised Bill incorporates provisions such as transparency and traceability to ensure better services to farmers, thereby promoting ease of living. It includes reform-oriented measures, including the use of technology and digital methods for streamlining processes, along with stricter control over spurious pesticides through higher penalties. Provisions have also been made for compounding of offences, with enhanced penalties to act as a deterrent, to be defined by State-level authorities. Further, amendments have been introduced to strengthen administrative control and management of pesticides, striking a balance between ease of life and ease of doing business. This bill also provides for mandatory accreditation of testing laboratories, ensuring that only quality pesticides are available to farmers. The Government has fixed February 4, 2026, as the last date for the submission of suggestions on the Bill. The government will take all the comments or suggestions into consideration while finalising the draft bill. However, these suggestions have to be received before the February 4 deadline in the fixed format, the statement added. As part of the pre-legislative consultation process, the draft Pesticides Management Bill, 2025 and the prescribed format are available on the Ministry's website: https://agriwelfare.gov.in. âComments and suggestions on the draft bill and its provisions are invited from all stakeholders and the general public. (IANS)
KS News Desk Chandrapur/Mumbai, Dec 17: In a disturbing case that has sparked outrage across the state, a farmer from Maharashtras Chandrapur district has alleged that he was forced to sell his kidney to repay crippling debt after a small loan of ?1 lakh spiralled to ?74 lakh due to exorbitant interest and continuous harassment by moneylenders. (The Times of India)From Farm Losses to Extreme DesperationRoshan Sadashiv Kude, a resident of Minthur village in Nagbhid taluka, borrowed ?1 lakh from private lenders in 2021 to start a dairy business after years of crop failures and financial stress. However, before he could stabilise his venture, his cattle died and his agricultural earnings collapsed, leaving him unable to repay the original loan. (The Times of IndiaAccording to Kudes statement to police and multiple news reports, the lenders charged illegal, steep interest that caused his debt to balloon to around ?74 lakh. Even after selling farmland, his tractor and other assets, he remained unable to clear the dues amid constant pressure and threats. (The Times of India)Kidney Sale AbroadFaced with relentless harassment and with no other options, Kude said one of the moneylenders advised him to sell a kidney to repay part of the debt. He was taken to Kolkata for medical tests and later to Cambodia, where his kidney was removed and sold for about ?8 lakh. Despite this drastic step, lenders continued to pursue him for unpaid dues. (www.ndtv.com)Police Action and Custody of LendersFollowing his formal complaint at Brahmapuri police station, authorities have arrested six private moneylenders allegedly involved in the case. They have been booked on charges including criminal conspiracy, extortion, harassment and unlawful lending practices. Police said investigation is ongoing. (The Times of India)Appeal for JusticeKude has appealed to the Maharashtra government for swift action and fair justice, warning that continued inaction could push him and his family to extreme protest measures, including self-immolation at the Mantralaya in Mumbai, the state secretariat. (www.ndtv.com)This shocking incident has reignited debate on the agrarian crisis, unregulated micro-credit practices and farmer protection mechanisms in India, amid decades of rural distress and debt-driven tragedies. (en.wikipedia.org)