Trump signs Malala Yousafzai Scholarship Act for Pakistani women

Pakistani activist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai attends an event about the importance of education and women empowerment in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on July 9, 2018. (AFP/File)
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Updated 17 January 2021
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Trump signs Malala Yousafzai Scholarship Act for Pakistani women

  • Act requires USAID to award to Pakistani women at least 50 percent of scholarships under Merit and Needs Based Scholarship Program
  • It is named after 23-year-old Pakistani activist and youngest recipient of a Nobel Peace Prize

ISLAMABAD: United States President Donald Trump has signed the Malala Yousafzai Scholarship Act which will increase the number of scholarships available to Pakistani women under an educational program by the US Agency for International Development (USAID).

The act requires the USAID to award to women at least 50 percent of higher education scholarships under the Merit and Needs Based Scholarship Program, which was established by the USAID and the Higher Education Commission for talented yet economically disadvantaged Pakistani youth.

The act was passed by Congress in early January and was signed by Trump last week, days before a new US administration will take office under President-elect Joe Biden.

It is named after the 23-year-old Pakistani activist and youngest recipient ever of a Nobel Peace Prize.

Since 2008, Yousafzai has been advocating access to education for women and girls. In 2012, she was shot by a Pakistani Taliban gunman on her way home from school in Swat.

In 2014, she shared the Nobel Peace Prize with Indian children's rights activist Kailash Satyarthi for her "struggle against the suppression of children and young people and for the right of all children to education."


Pakistani national in Dubai killed by falling debris from ‘aerial interception’

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Pakistani national in Dubai killed by falling debris from ‘aerial interception’

  • Pakistani driver killed on Saturday as debris falls on vehicle in Al Barsha area, confirms Government of Dubai Media Office
  • Iran has targeted Gulf countries hosting US troops with missile, drone attacks since Middle East conflict began last week 

ISLAMABAD: A Pakistani national was killed this week after debris from an aerial interception fell on a vehicle in Dubai, the Government of Dubai Media Office confirmed on Sunday.

The incident took place in Dubai’s Al Barsha area, the Dubai Media Office wrote on social media platform X, without confirming the location from where the projectile was fired from. 

“Authorities confirm that debris from an aerial interception fell onto a vehicle in the Al Barsha area, resulting in the death of a Pakistani driver,” the Dubai Media Office said. 

This is the second Pakistani national killed in the UAE since the US and Israel launched coordinated strikes against Iran on Feb. 28. As per local media reports, a Pakistani national died in Abu Dhabi on Feb. 28 after being struck by missile fragments. 

Pakistani and Nepalese nationals were among six people injured by falling debris on Thursday after the UAE’s air defense systems intercepted drones, the Abu Dhabi Media Office had confirmed in a statement. 

Iran has carried out several missile and drone attacks on Gulf countries hosting American troops since Isreal and the US launched coordinated strikes against it last week. The surprise attack came after months of negotiations between Washington and Tehran over Iran’s nuclear program. 

Pakistan has asked its citizens in Gulf states to exercise caution, avoid travel and strictly follow official adviseries ever since tensions escalated in the region last week.

The UAE is home to over 1.5 million Pakistani expatriates, one of the largest communities of overseas Pakistanis worldwide.

Pakistan has condemned the US and Israel’s attacks on Iran but also criticized Tehran’s attacks that have targeted countries in the Gulf region, advising all parties to exercise restraint. 

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Saturday apologized to Gulf neighbors for the attacks, saying Tehran would halt strikes unless attacks against Iran originate from their territories. 

However, questions were raised over the apology as air defense sirens and interceptions were reported in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE and Bahrain later on Saturday, fueling uncertainty across the Gulf.