Biden and China’s Xi will hold virtual meeting on Monday

US President Joe Biden will hold a virtual meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Monday, the White House said, talks Washington hopes will create some stability amid increased tensions between the world’s two largest economies.

It is expected to be the leaders’ most extensive meeting under the Biden administration and will follow on from a telephone call between the two on Sept. 9.

“The two leaders will discuss ways to responsibly manage the competition … as well as ways to work together where our interests align,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki said in a statement. “President Biden will make clear U.S. intentions and priorities and be clear and candid about our concerns.”

China’s foreign ministry said on Saturday the leaders would exchange views on bilateral relations and issues of common interests in the summit, which will take place on Tuesday morning in Asia.

A senior US official said Biden would make clear he welcomes stiff competition with China, but doesn’t want conflict, and played down the likelihood of a long list of outcomes often tied to top-level meetings.

“This is not about seeking specific deliverables or outcomes,” the official said, adding in reference to the People’s Republic of China: “As we compete with the PRC, President Biden expects President Xi and the PRC to play by the rules of road—and he will make that point throughout the meeting.”

The meeting will come after Biden signs a $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure deal in a big ceremony on Monday to celebrate domestic renewal plans he believes will position the United States to out-compete China.

U.S. officials have played down the possibility of progress on trade, where China is lagging in a commitment to buy $200 billion more in U.S. goods and services.

China has nevertheless continued to push for relief from hundreds of billions of dollars of tariffs imposed under former President Donald Trump, arguing this could help both sides by easing inflation and boosting employment.

COMPETING VISIONS

Biden and Xi outlined competing visions at meetings of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum this week, with Biden stressing the U.S. commitment to a “free and open Indo-Pacific,” which Washington says faces increasing Chinese “coercion,” while Xi warned against a return to Cold War tensions.

Addressing APEC leaders on Friday, Xi spoke of the need to “stick to dialogue rather than confrontation, inclusiveness rather than exclusion, and integration rather than decoupling,” an apparent reference to U.S. moves to make key supply chains independent of China.

Climate is a priority for Biden, and China and the United States, the world’s two biggest carbon emitters, unveiled a deal at global talks in Glasgow this week to ramp up cooperation, including by cutting methane emissions, phasing out coal consumption and protecting forests.

However, the superpowers have clashed increasingly over self-ruled Taiwan, which Beijing claims as its own and that Washington is required to provide with the means to defend itself.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken angered China this week when he said Washington and its allies would take unspecified “action” if China were to use force to alter the Taiwan status quo, further muddying the long-held U.S. policy of “strategic ambiguity” as to whether the United States would respond militarily.

Senior Chinese diplomat Wang Yi told Blinken in a call on Saturday that the United States should not send the wrong signals to Taiwan pro-independence forces, according a statement on the Chinese foreign ministry website.

“If the United States really wants to maintain peace in the Taiwan Strait, it should clearly and resolutely oppose any Taiwan pro-independence behavior,” Wang said.

Wang and Blinken also exchanged views on areas including energy efficiency, climate change and the Iran nuclear issue and agreed to maintain dialogue on global challenges, China said.

Daniel Russel, the top US diplomat for Asia under the Obama administration, said both Biden and Xi were worried by the risk of a military incident escalating.

“Biden knows that the tools for prevention and crisis management are rusty, so we should expect him to push to put in place safeguards or ‘guardrails’ to reduce risk,” he said.

Russel said the Sept. 9 Biden-Xi call began with Xi listing complaints, but ended with a constructive agreement for officials to continue discussions.

“This suggests that the personal relationship Biden built with Xi a decade ago is still strong, and that each conversation can add some stability to the mix.”

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3,000 visas to Sikh pilgrims issued

Pakistan High Commission yestrday issued about 3,000 visas to Indian Sikh pilgrims to enable them to participate in the 552nd birth anniversary celebrations of Guru Nanak in Pakistan on Nov 17-26.

According to a press release issued by the High Commission, the Sikh pilgrims during their stay in Pakistan will visit different Gurdwaras, including Gurd­wara Janam Asthan in Nan­kana Sahib and Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur.
Visas to the Sikh pilgrims have been issued under the Pakistan-India Protocol on Visits to Religious Shrines of 1974, which provides for visit of 3,000 Sikh pilgrims from India for birthday celebrations of Guru Nanak.
Thousands of Sikh pilgrims residing in countries other than India will also be visiting Pakistan to attend the event.
Prime Minister Imran Khan has taken several initiatives to facilitate Sikh pilgrims, including the historic opening of the visa-free Kartarpur Sahib Corridor in November 2019 on the occasion of 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak. The newly built Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib complex was a gift by the people of Pakistan and their leadership to the Sikh community from India and worldwide.
Meanwhile, Pakistan High Commission in India extends felicitations to the Sikh community on the 552nd birth anniversary of the founder of Sikh religion. The High Commission also wish­­es a spiritually rewarding Yatra to the pilgrims visiting Pakistan on this occasion.
The issuance of maximum number of pilgrimage visas is in line with the government’s efforts for promoting visits to religious shrines in Pakistan.

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Details of agreement with TLP to be unveiled within 10 days, Sheikh Rasheed claims

Federal Minister for Interior Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed said that the details of the agreement between the government and Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) will be revealed within a few days.

Speaking to the media in Islamabad, the minister claimed that all details regarding the agreement between both sides will be brought to the public's notice within a period of 10 days.
It may be recalled that the news of a deal being struck between the government and the TLP was announced on October 30 in a press conference held by officials from the PTI government's negotiating team.
Saylani Welfare Trust Chairman Maulana Bashir Farooqui, who was present during negotiations between the TLP and the government, said the agreement cannot be made public before the 10th day of the deal, even as he assured that its contents "do not go against the national interest".
Shedding light on the Pakistan Democratic Movement's (PDM) decision to hold a long march, Rasheed said that the actual time for the sit-in was when PDM chief Fazlur Rehman first visited Islamabad, and that the Opposition began protests "late".
The PDM last week announced protests across the country as well as a long march towards Islamabad against the government's "anti-people" measures and inflation.
"Now, if they plan a sit-in, they will be humiliated," he said, adding that it will take more than six months for PDM to warm up.
Rasheed said that the ongoing crisis in Afghanistan will negatively affect Pakistan. "Our economy is already going through testing times," he said.
Regarding the electronic voting machine, the interior minister said that his party Awami Muslim League supports Prime Minister Imran Khan.
"I am a supporter of the EVM," he maintained.
He told the media that the names of the Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shahbaz Sharif and Fawad Hassan Fawad were already on the exit control list (ECL).
The minister also shed light on the surging inflation in Pakistan, saying that food prices are increasing worldwide.
However, he admitted that inflation is a real problem the government needs to deal with.
It is pertinent to mention here that according to the data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), the weekly inflation for the week ended November 11 registered an increase of 1.81%.
During the week, average prices of 30 essential items, including tomatoes, diesel, petrol, cooking oil, vegetable ghee, potatoes, etc., rose.

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Nawaz, Fazl agree in phone call to step up pressure on govt: sources

PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif and JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman today held a telephonic conversation to discuss the prevailing political situation in the country, sources.

During the telephone call, both leaders agreed to mount more pressure on the government inside and outside Parliament, the well-placed sources said.
Expressing their satisfaction over unity among the Opposition parties, the two leaders have decided to give the government a tough time.
“Giving the PTI-led government more time would be tantamount to injustice with the people and the country,” said Fazlur Rehman.
The two leaders agreed to move the Pakistan Democratic Movement’s protest plan forward and discussed the Opposition’s long march towards Islamabad. Talking about the long march, Nawaz Sharif assured Fazlur Rehman that his party will support the PDM’s decision
Opposition to hold countrywide protests against inflation
On October 17, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, who is chief of the PDM, announced that within the next two weeks, the Opposition will hold countrywide protests against the growing inflation in the country.
"As soon as we are done with celebrations for Eid Milad un Nabi (SAW), we will start a full-fledged campaign against inflation," he said, while speaking to the media after holding an informal meeting with PDM members at his residence.
Former prime minister and PML-N leader Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Chairman Pashtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party Mehmood Achakzai, and Secretary-General of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan Awais Noorani attended the meeting, where the leaders consulted over launching campaigns against the federal government and inflation, sources said.
"We appeal to the entire nation to fully participate in the protests and rallies," Fazlur Rehman said.

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Famous TV actor Sohail asghar passes away

Well known TV actor Sohail Asghar passed away on Saturday after prolonged illness.

As per the actor's family, Asghar had been ailing for more than 1.5 years and was hospitalised in the past week due to deteriorating condition.

The actor's funeral prayers will be held on November 14, after namaz-e-asr.

Asghar began his career with theater in Lahore and later joined TV. He was famously known for his roles in Khuda Ki Basti, Chand Girhan, Khafa Khafa Zindagi (2018),Teri Meri Love Story (2016), Aap ki Kaneez (2014), Aashti (2009) and more.

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Two policemen martyred in Bajaur blast

At least two police personnel were martyred in an explosion in Bajaur's Khar Tehsil on Saturday, said a local police official.

The explosion, reportedly a remote-controlled improvised explosive device (IED), targetted a police patrol.

According to DPO Abdul Samad Khan, security forces cordoned off the area and launched a search operation after the incident.

The martyred personnel were identified as Constable Abdul Hayan and Constable Siraj. The bodies were shifted to a local hospital for medico-legal formalities.

Immediate investigation of the incident has been ordered by the authorities concerned.
Earlier in October, at least one police official was martyred and 13 others were injured in an IED attack on a police vehicle parked at the gate of Balochistan University in Quetta.

Security forces reached the incident site and established a cordon around the area while an emergency was declared at the local Civil Hospital.

Balochistan government spokesperson Liaquat Shahwani confirmed that a motorcycle fitted with an IED was used in the attack and four citizens were also injured in the attack.

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Weekly inflation sees highest increase in three months

The federal government on Friday reversed its earlier decision and asked the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) to continue releasing weekly statistics on inflation.

In the wake of this decision, the PBS released its weekly data on essential food items on Friday which shows that inflation measured through sensitive price index (SPI) edged up by 1.81 per cent for the week ended on Nov 11 from previous week. It reflects the highest increase on a week-on-week basis in the past three months.

In January, the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf government had launched the Decision Support System for Inflation (DSSI) to record and monitor prices of essential commodities in 17 major cities.

The DSSI was monitoring the performance of deputy commissioners in these cities in terms of implementation of their price lists commonly known as DC rates of essential food items and a subsequent ranking of better governance will be released each Thursday.

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National squad arrives in Bangladesh for T20, Test series

As Pakistan’s T20 World Cup journey concluded, the national squad has arrived in Bangladesh in the wee hours of Saturday for a T20 and Test series against the home side starting November 19.

Captain Babar Azam and all-rounder Shoaib Malik will join the national squad in Dhaka on November 16, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said in a statement. The national squad will start practice after spending one day in quarantine.
Pakistan squad for the two Tests, which will be played from 26-30 November and 4-8 December in Chittagong and Dhaka, respectively will be announced in due course.

Meanwhile, the PCB had retained the same team management, which was present in the United Arab Emirates, barring batting consultant Matthew Hayden who was not available due to prior commitments.

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Smog continues to grip Lahore

The major cities of Punjab including provincial capital on Saturday covered in smog, disrupting the routine life as the citizens are reeling under such weather conditions.

Overall Air Quality Index (AQI) in Lahore was recorded at 328; however worst air quality was recorded in Walton area at 463 followed by Upper Mall 434, Model Town 434, Anarkali 398, Bahria Orchard 376 and Canal Road at 352.

On the other hand, authorities have decided to establish Anti-smog Task Force. As per the government plan, five special squads will be formed which will include officials from police, environment inspector, WASA, MCL and industries.

According to Commissioner Lahore, every squad will conduct inspection of 12 industrial units in one day and brick kilns that have been shifted to zigzag technology will also be reevaluated.

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Pakistan corona positive cases has surged to 1,279,373

Pakistan has reported 11 deaths in the last 24 hours by novel coronavirus as the number of positive cases has surged to 1,279,373. The nationwide tally of fatalities has jumped to 28,595 on Saturday.

According to the latest figures by the National Command and Operation Center (NCOC) 231 persons tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 24 hours.
Punjab remains the worst-hit province in terms of deaths followed by Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Till now 12,972 individuals have lost their lives to the epidemic in Punjab, 7,600 in Sindh 5,790 in KP, 948 in Islamabad, 741 in Azad Kashmir, 358 in Balochistan, and 186 in GB.

 

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China's Communist Party passes resolution amplifying President Xi's authority

Top Communist Party leaders wrapped up a key meeting in Beijing by passing an important resolution on the country’s past, state media said on Thursday, which is expected to cement President Xi Jinping’s grip on power.

Xi, the uncontested leader of the world’s most populous nation, has been heading a pivotal plenary of the ruling party’s top figures since Monday in the Chinese capital.

Some 350 members of the powerful Central Committee passed China’s resolution on “Major Achievements and Historical Experience of the Party’s Centennial Struggle” — only the third of its kind in its 100-year history.

The previous two resolutions were issued under former leaders Mao Zedong, in 1945, and Deng Xiaoping, in 1981.

The lengthy declaration called for upholding “the correct view of party history”, said official news agency Xinhua, adding that the party has “written the most magnificent epic in the history of the Chinese nation for thousands of years”.

“The Party Central Committee called on the entire party, the entire army and people of all ethnic groups to unite more closely around the Party’s Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core, to fully implement Xi Jinping’s new era of socialism with Chinese characteristics,” the Xinhua readout stated.

This year’s closed-door plenum paves the way for the 20th party congress next autumn, at which Xi is widely expected to be handed a third term in office, securing his position as China’s most powerful leader since Mao.

Rewriting the past

Analysts say the resolution will help Xi shore up his grip on power by setting in stone his vision for China and diminishing the role of previous leaders.

The “thought” of Xi “is the epitome of Chinese culture and soul,” the text reads, saying that his presence at the “heart” of the ruling party “is of decisive importance... to promote the historic process of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation”.

Jean-Pierre Cabestan of the Baptist University of Hong Kong said the party is “rewriting its past in order to shape the future around Xi Jinping”.

He predicted that there would be an “even greater form of taboo” on the dark days of Chinese history as a result.

Xi’s tenure has been marked by a sprawling anti-corruption crackdown, repressive policies in regions like Xinjiang, Tibet and Hong Kong, and an increasingly assertive approach to foreign relations.

He has also created a leadership cult that has quashed criticism, stamped out rivals and dissent and introduced his own political theory — dubbed “Xi Jinping Thought” to school students.

State TV showed footage of Xi addressing delegates in the Great Hall of the People near Tiananmen Square, in front of red flags and the communist hammer and sickle.

Its evening news broadcast said Xi’s communique was of “wide-ranging historical significance”, and teased a forthcoming commentary titled “Winning even greater victory and glory in the new journey of the New Era” in the party’s flagship newspaper.

The People’s Daily commentary calls the resolution a “glorious Marxist programmatic document” and a “political manifesto” for Chinese communists, CCTV said.

The newspaper has published numerous front-page tributes to Xi’s achievements in recent weeks.

The first resolution on the party’s history, passed under Mao, helped him cement his authority over the Communist Party four years before it seized power.

Under Deng Xiaoping, the second resolution saw the regime adopt sizeable economic reforms and recognise the “mistakes” of Mao’s ways.

Charting the course of history

Unlike the 1981 declaration, Thursday’s communique appears to gloss over the violence of the Cultural Revolution, a devastating period of upheaval in the last decade of Mao’s rule that scarred the country’s psyche.

Instead, it refers to the period as one of “socialist revolution and construction”.

Xi has recently overseen his own clampdown on many aspects of Chinese society, including pop culture, education, the country’s tech sector business and wealthy tycoons.

Chairman Mao is mentioned seven times in the communique, and Deng only five times.

In comparison, Xi Jinping -- who Xinhua this week said was “undoubtedly the core figure in charting the course of history” -- is mentioned 17 times.

But some suggested the resolution might not go as far as Xi might have liked.

“As we expected even though they haven’t used the three words ‘leader for life’, they have devoted almost half of the communique to Xi Jinping’s achievements,” said Willy Lam, a Hong Kong-based political analyst.

“I think it is now widely taken for granted that he will remain leader for life, but putting down those three words or four words... could arouse opposition.” Lam said Xi ruling for life after he made sweeping constitution changes in 2018 is still “a controversial issue in the party”.

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Income of certain segments of society has increased despite inflation: Fawad

Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry on Friday said that the income of certain segments of society had increased despite growing inflation in the country.

Speaking to the media in Islamabad after a meeting of the PTI's core committee, the minister conceded that the salaried class in cities across the country were feeling the economic squeeze. "At the same time, there are many segments of society where [people's] income has seen a considerable increase."

He said that the government had invested in the agriculture sector and the construction industry, because of which the income of those associated with the sectors had increased.

The minister's comments come as the country is witnessing soaring price inflation. Last month, the finance ministry had warned of higher inflation, stating that the exchange rate, commodity supplies and seasonality could intensify the magnitude of prices and transportation costs in the country.

Meanwhile, inflation measured through Sensitive Price Index (SPI) posted an increase of 0.67 per cent for the week ending on Nov 4, the fifth consecutive week that had witnessed an increase. In October, the highest jump of 1.29pc in weekly inflation was recorded.

The opposition has also criticised the government over rising inflation and carried out a series of marches and demonstrations in protest.

Chaudhry said that the government will now provide relief to those sectors which had been severely impacted by inflation, adding that the whole world was suffering from an increase in prices due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

"However, Pakistan is one of the few economies that have successfully dealt with the pandemic," he said.

"If you look at our villages [and] if you look at figures in the newspapers, then you will see how car sales have increased while motorcycle and tractor sales have doubled," he said, adding that the consumption of fertiliser, petrol and electricity had also increased.

The minister said that it would take time for the world to recover from the economic fallout caused by the pandemic.

He also questioned how other economies were posting positive economic growth, claiming that economic growth across the world is "negative" and has only increased in Pakistan.

'Opposition has no leader'

Responding to a question from a reporter about the meeting between PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman earlier today, the minister said that the opposition "has no leader".

"Bilawal [...] does not even know about the streets of Larkana's [so] what does he know of Pakistan's politics. Fazlur Rehman came with a crowd to Islamabad in the first year [of our government].

"The entire opposition is composed of thakkay hue pehalwan (tired wrestlers). They are trying to stand using each other as a means of support."

When asked to comment on the purported conflict with the government's coalition partners, the information minister downplayed the matter and said complaints and disagreements were common in a parliamentary democracy.

"Our coalition parties have expressed confidence in the prime minister and his decisions," he said.

The information minister also talked about Prime Minister Imran Khan's recent appearance in the Supreme Court regarding the Army Public School case. He said the premier's prompt appearance showed how much the ruling PTI respected the judiciary.

Chaudhry also said concern over the situation in Afghanistan was expressed in the core committee meeting. "We want that the whole world — especially the Muslim world — comes together on the Afghan issue and talks about it," he said.

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Instagram tests new 'Take a Break' feature

Instagram is testing a new feature that encourages users to take a break from the app. Adam Mosseri, head of Instagram, announced the feature in a video. "Take a Break" feature is being tested on a hanful of users at the moment.

The opt-in feature will remind you to take a break from Instagram for 10, 20, or 30 minutes after spending some time on the app and is 'part of a broader effort to try and give people more control over their experience of Instagram' according to Mosseri.

After Whistleblower, Frances Haugen testified against Facebook over its negative impact on the mental health of young people, companies felt under pressure to release new features that would deal with the problem. Teenagers had admitted to Facebook researchers that they felt addicted to Instagram and didn't have any self-control to reduce their usage of the app.

Nick Clegg, the company's vice president of Global Affairs, states on CNN, that the company was working on features like "Take a Break" to reduce social media's impact on teenagers.

The prompt feature will have to be activated and may appear as a small glimpse whilst scrolling over the newsfeed. Mosseri believes the feature could be launched officially next month if the test succeeds and is liked by users.

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Pakistan approves Sinopharm, Sinovac vaccines for children above 12

Pakistan approved on Thursday two Chinese vaccines — Sinopharm and Sinovac — for children above 12 years of age, as the country continues its battle against COVID-19.

So far, the country has administered more than 5.5 million vaccines to students between the ages of 12-18 years.

The National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), in a tweet, said the forum's expert committee had approved administering the vaccines — in addition to Pfizer — to the age group from November 15 onwards.

In a parallel development, NCOC chief Asad Umar said more than half the students between the ages of 12 and 18 had been vaccinated with at least one dose.

"Total students vaccinated so far exceeds 5.5 million. GB leads the way with 68% and Punjab is second with 62%," Umar, who is also the federal minister for planning, development, and special initiatives, said.

Pakistan has so far fully vaccinated more than 46 million people, while 76 million citizens have been partially inoculated. The total inoculations in the country have reached 116 million.

In today's morning session, according to the NCOC's statement, the forum was informed that 1.7 million individuals were vaccinated on November 9, which is the highest number of vaccinations administered in a single day.

The forum appreciated reaching an important milestone of 50% of the country's eligible population receiving at least one dose of the vaccine, with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa becoming the second province to vaccinate half its eligible population with at least one dose after Punjab.

The NCOC appreciated the mass vaccination drive, particularly the “Reach Every Door” campaign, and the teams involved in these initiatives.

Meanwhile, in the last 24 hours, the country has reported 637 fresh coronavirus cases and nine deaths, as per NCOC's daily stats.

The total tally of COVID-19 cases has reached 1.27 million, while the death toll has bumped to 28,575, the NCOC website showed.

Moreover, the forum was briefed about the mechanism to carry out necessary COVID-19 protocols and vaccination mechanisms for pedestrians crossing into Pakistan from land borders.

Two days ago, the NCOC had emphasised stepping up the administration of the second dose of COVID-19 vaccine to eligible individuals to sufficiently raise the immunity level of the population for long-term dividends.

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Winter woes: Domestic, industrial consumers to face gas shortage

The Pakistan government has decided to continue gas supply to the power and fertiliser sectors, while domestic and industrial consumers will suffer shortages amid a major gas shortfall in the country during the winter season.

This decision was made by the Cabinet Committee on Energy (CCoE) during a meeting on Thursday which was chaired by Federal Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar.

The CCOE decided supply of gas to "dedicated" consumers, including power and fertiliser plants, would remain stable.

The power plants on SNGPL supply will be provided RLNG during 2021-22 with additional supply. The deficit of the power sector will be recouped through furnace oil. Any gas saved from captive power plants will be diverted towards export-oriented industries.

The total availability of gas from domestic resources stands at 3,300 mmcfd, while with the import of RLNG, there is another 1,000 mmcfd gas coming into the system, the publication reported, citing official sources.

There is a maximum gas supply available in the range of 4,300 mmcfd against the average demand of 6,500 to 7,000 mmcfd. In the severe winter season, this demand goes up to 8,000 mmcfd. 

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COAS Gen Bajwa meets US, China, and Russian diplomats to discuss Afghanistan

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Friday had separate meetings with the envoys of the United States, Russia, and China after the conclusion of the Troika Plus meet which was happening in Islamabad to discuss the situation in Afghanistan.

The meetings took place at the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi, a statement issued by Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said.

Per the military's media wing, during all the three meeting, the COAS and the foreign envoys discussed matters of mutual interest, the current security situation in Afghanistan, and bilateral cooperation between Pakistan and the respective countries.

Pakistan desires to maintain the tradition of bilateral engagement and wishes for long term and multi-domain enduring relationship with the US, China, and Russian, Gen Bajwa told the United States Special Representative for Afghanistan, Thomas West, China's Special Envoy on Afghanistan, Ambassador Yue Xiaoyong, and Russia's Zamir Kabulov, respectively.

The COAS also reiterated the need for global convergence on Afghanistan to avoid the looming humanitarian crisis and coordinated efforts for the economic uplift of the Afghan people.

The visiting dignitaries appreciated Pakistan's role in Afghan situation, special efforts for border management, and the role in regional stability. He pledged to play his part for further improvement in diplomatic cooperation with Pakistan at all levels, the statement said.

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Surprise US-China deal spurs hopes for UN climate talks

A surprise deal between China and the United States, the world’s two biggest greenhouse gas emitters, has boosted the COP26 UN climate summit as it enters two last days of hard bargaining to try to stop global warming becoming catastrophic.

US climate envoy John Kerry and his Chinese counterpart Xie Zhenhua unveiled an outline late on Wednesday in which China, the biggest producer and user of coal, promised to accelerate its transition from the dirtiest fossil fuel.

The deal by two global powers, which have been divided by a raft of diplomatic disputes on other issues, sends a powerful message to delegations at the COP26, including producers of the fossil fuels that are the main cause of manmade global warming.

“Together we set out our support for a successful COP26, including certain elements which will promote ambition,” Kerry told a news conference. “Every step matters right now, and we have a long journey ahead of us.”

Speaking through an interpreter, Xie told reporters that China would strengthen its emissions-cutting targets. “Both sides will work jointly and with other parties to ensure a successful COP26 and to facilitate an outcome that is both ambitious and balanced,” Xie said.

The joint declaration said China, home to half the world’s coal-fired plants, would begin phasing out its coal consumption from 2026-30 and also cut its emissions of methane.

Observers at the climate talks in Glasgow had been worried before the announcement that Chinese President Xi Jinping was not attending and Beijing had made no substantial new pledges to achieve carbon neutrality before 2060.

China’s climate plan had also not addressed its methane emissions, linked largely to its sprawling coal industry. The United States has set a goal to decarbonise its economy by 2050, although President Joe Biden has been struggling to pass crucial legislation to do so through a politically divided Congress.

“It’s really encouraging to see that those countries that were at odds in so many areas have found common ground on what is the biggest challenge humanity faces today,” EU climate policy chief Frans Timmermans told Reuters.

“It certainly helps us here at COP to come to an agreement.” Durwood Zaelke, president of the Institute for Governance and Sustainable Development, said it was “the breakthrough that should set the tone for wrapping an ambitious COP”.

A first draft of the COP26 deal released on Wednesday received a mixed response from climate activists and experts.

It implicitly acknowledged that current pledges to reduce greenhouse gas emissions up to 2030 were insufficient to avert climate catastrophe, asking countries to “revisit and strengthen” their targets next year.

In a first for a UN climate conference, it also called for the huge state subsidies that support the oil, coal and gas industries to be phased out. The final two days of negotiations are likely to be fierce.

The conference host, Britain, says the goal is to “keep alive” hopes of capping global temperatures at 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels, still far out of reach under current national pledges to cut emissions.

The landmark 2015 Paris Agreement legally bound its signatories collectively to keep the rise “well below” 2.0 degrees Celsius (3.6 Fahrenheit) this century, and to “pursue efforts” to keep it below 1.5C.

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Global food trade to hit all-time high: UN

The global food trade could hit an all-time high in 2021-22, in both volume and value terms, says a UN report released on Thursday.

The UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) reported that by the end of 2021, the global food import bill should extend beyond $1.75 trillion, marking a 14 per cent increase from the previous year. The UN agency pointed out that this would be 12 per cent higher than its previous forecast.

In 53 countries households spend more than 60 per cent of their income on necessities such as food, fuel, water and housing, the report added.

FAO’s new Food Outlook report noted that trade in foodstuffs has shown “remarkable resilience” to disruptions throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, but “rapidly rising prices, pose significant challenges for poorer countries and consumers.”

Pakistan, although a major producer of agricultural goods, is also likely to be impacted by this price hike. Pakistan produced a record wheat crop of 27 million tonnes in the 2021-22 marketing year. Yet, it was insufficient to meet the country’s domestic consumption requirements and maintain large strategic reserves.

A recent report from the Foreign Agricultural Service of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) noted that at two percent, Pakistan’s annual population growth rate is among the highest in the world. This forces the country to continue to maintain sufficient reserves for future needs, which often forces Islamabad to import wheat.

The USDA report noted Pakistan’s wheat import estimate for 2021-22 remains unchanged from the previous forecast at two million tonnes.

“Even though in June 2021, the government announced intentions to buy 3 million tonnes during 2021-22, as of Sept 20 only 57,000 tonnes had been imported,” the USDA said, noting that in early October, the government bought another 110,000 tonnes.

The UN report explained that higher price levels of internationally traded food commodities and a threefold increase in freight costs will have a major impact on developing nations, like Pakistan.

The world’s developing regions account for 40 percent of the total consumption and their food import bill could rise by 20 per cent compared to the year before.

The report points out that: In terms of products, developing regions are facing sharp increases in basic staples such as cereals, animal fats, vegetable oils and oilseeds.

World output prospects for major cereals remain robust, with record harvests expected for maize and rice. Cereals for consumption, and animal feed, should grow even faster.

The supply situation for oilseeds and derived products will also increase but their end-season stocks could remain below average.

World sugar production should rebound, after three years of contraction, but still be under the global consumption level. Meat production should expand, as should the milk products.

Finally, fisheries and aquaculture output would also increase two per cent.

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The entire team is with you Hassan Ali: Shadab

Pakistani cricketers Hassan Ali and Shadab Khan have always set the bar for friendship goals way too high and the latter gave an endearing shout-out to his best friend after Ali faced severe backlash after he dropped Matthew Wade during Pakistan's semi-clash against Australia.

The right-arm pacer dropped a catch off Matthew Wade in a key moment of the T20 World Cup semi-final which Australia won by five wickets on Thursday, breaking the hearts of thousands of Pakistanis in the near-packed stadium.

However, best friend Shadab Khan, who was the star player last night, was quick to defend his fellow player. Taking to his Twitter handle, Khan wrote: “@RealHa55an you are a champion.”

.@RealHa55an you are a champion. The entire team is with you. To all the fans, everyone goes through tough times, we are all human beings capable of errors. Remember the joy Hasan has given you, don’t do personal attacks please. He is Pakistan’s match-winner. #WeStandWithHasanAli pic.twitter.com/g9UzkGHPim

— Shadab Khan (@76Shadabkhan) November 12, 2021

"The entire team is with you," he said.
The vice-captain urged fans to stop attacking Hassan Ali, telling fans that everyone goes through tough times.

"We are all human beings capable of errors. Remember the joy Hasan has given you, don’t do personal attacks please. He is Pakistan’s match-winner. "

Meanwhile, last night skipper Babar Azam also came to Hassan Ali's defence. "I don't feel like that," Babar said on the defeat being blamed on Hassan's dropped catch.

"He is my main bowler and he has won many matches for Pakistan. Players drop catches but he is a fighter and I will back him.

"Everybody doesn't perform everyday. There is a day when one performs, it was just not his day. He is down and we will lift his mood. People will talk but we keep playing."

Ali was trolled on social media as fans blamed the spoiled chance for their World Cup miss after coming into the semi-final unbeaten and favourites.

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In contact with opp for joint sitting on Nov 20: Qaiser

National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser has said that the government plans to convene the joint sitting of parliament next week by November 20 and is awaiting a positive response from the opposition parties.

“A total of 28 bills will be presented for approval [during the sitting],” the speaker said while talking to the media persons on Thursday.

Qaiser said he was in contact with various opposition leaders and hoped that they would respond positively.

“As a speaker of the National Assembly, I am striving to pass legislation on which everyone can agree,” he said, adding that a meeting would be called as soon as there was any response from the opposition.

“I am in touch with (former prime minister) Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Syed Naveed Qamar and Sardar Ayaz Sadiq,” he added.

Talking to the media, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Parliamentary Affairs Dr Babar Awan confirmed that the National Assembly speaker was in contact with the opposition parties for holding a joint sitting of parliament.

“We are ready to consult with the opposition again as they are not supporting the government in legislation,” Awan said, adding that the joint sitting had been adjourned for a few days, not months.

Awan further said that the overseas Pakistanis wanted the right to vote and legislation on electronic voting machines.

“The government is serious about electoral reforms,” the adviser said, adding that the government wants to “legislate for the country, not the ruling PTI (Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf)”.

He said legislation and electoral reform should not be blocked as they are aimed at curbing fraud and ensuring transparent elections.

The Adviser on Parliamentary Affairs added that legislation for the protection of women's rights is a national agenda.

“The government’s doors are always open for consultation on legislation. Neither the PTI nor its allies have a secret legislative agenda.”

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Germany mulls new measures amid explosion in Covid cases

Germany needs further coronavirus restrictions to combat a record surge in infections and “get through this winter”, the country’s likely next leader Olaf Scholz said on Thursday, calling a national meeting to decide new curbs.

The EU’s most populous country recorded 50,196 new cases in the past 24 hours, according to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) health agency — the first time the figure has exceeded 50,000.

Infections and deaths have been climbing steeply since mid-October, in an outbreak blamed on Germany’s relatively low vaccination rate of just over 67 percent.

After getting through the first three onslaughts of the pandemic better than many of its neighbours, the current fourth wave seemed to take the nation by surprise.

At nearly 250 infections per 100,000 people, Germany is faring much worse than France (94), Italy (73) or Spain (41), according to the Statista data agency.

Scholz’s remarks came as he faced criticism for his relative silence, with detractors saying he was consumed by his Social Democrats’ bid to form a ruling coalition with the Greens and liberal FDP following September’s election.

Presenting proposed measures drafted by the three parties in parliament, Scholz said new restrictions were necessary to “get through this winter”.

“What we need now is for the country to pull together in one direction,” he said, also urging more Germans to get vaccinated.

“Even if the situation is different (from last winter) because so many people have been vaccinated, it is still not good, especially because not enough people have made use of the vaccination option so far,” Scholz added.

The measures proposed by the incoming coalition parties include restricting access to certain facilities to those who are vaccinated or have recovered from the disease — a system known as 2G in Germany.

They also want to tighten testing requirements at workplaces and reintroduce free rapid antigen tests, a measure that had been in place over the summer but was abandoned in mid-October.

The proposals will be scrutinised by the Bundestag lower house of parliament this week and are expected to come into force at the end of the month.

Scholz also announced a meeting between the federal government and the leaders of Germany’s 16 states next week — to be held on Thursday, North Rhine-Westphalia state premier Hendrik Wuest said.

Outgoing Chancellor Angela Merkel has called for urgent action and described the rise in infections as “dramatic”.

“The pandemic is returning in a new spectacular fashion,” her spokesperson said this week, calling on regional authorities to take further steps to quell the outbreak.

However news magazine Der Spiegel slammed the measures — and Scholz’s speech — as totally inadequate to the crisis.

“His address remained as grey as the suit he was wearing,” it said. “He has the unusual talent to consistently sedate his listeners within minutes.”

Hospitals in some regions are already overwhelmed, especially in the east of the country, which has started transferring patients to less affected regions.

Health Minister Jens Spahn has said the country is facing a “massive pandemic of the unvaccinated” and has urged as many Germans as possible to get a booster vaccine.

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Opposition seeks details in writing from govt on legislation

The Opposition parties on Thursday decided to hold consultations with the government on more than 20 bills only after it receives proposed legislative details in writing from National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser.

The ruling party had earlier announced to approach the Opposition regarding these bills related to electoral reforms and other issues. A joint session of Parliament convened on Wednesday was postponed after PTI allies raised concerns on the bills to be presented for approval.

The NA speaker had said he would contact Opposition leaders for electoral reforms and their reservations would be addressed.

Following the development, a steering committee of the joint opposition in Parliament held its meeting in the chamber of the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate, which was attended by Opposition Leader in the Senate Yousaf Raza Gilani, Syed Naveed Qamar, Senator Sherry Rehman, Senator Farooq H Naek, Shazia Marri, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Khawaja Asif, Khawaja Saad Rafiq, Senator Kamran Murtaza and Shahida Akhtar.

Talking to the media after the meeting, parliamentary leader of the PPP in the Senate, Sherry Rehman, said it was decided that the steering committee would consider further action upon the receipt of a written request from the speaker and after consultation with the party leadership, adding, “There is no question of approaching the government or speaker on our part to seek cancellation or reversion of the joint session they had called.”

The PPP senator asserted they discussed the strategy on the pending legislative business that included the recently promulgated ordinances.

“The steering committee will consider further action after receiving legislation in writing from the speaker regarding the bills and ordinances to be discussed in the joint session,” said Sherry, adding that all those bills and ordinances could be discussed in the parliamentary committee as “we believe in the supremacy of parliament and dialogue but obviously, our leadership will take the final decision after the steering committee deliberations.”

Rejecting the government’s claims that the opposition was behind the cancellation of the joint session, she said the joint session of Parliament was called off by the government because they were politically isolated by their allies and lacked the numbers to bulldoze the bills.

“They are afraid of being exposed and of facing defeats in Parliament while we have our numbers in Parliament and support of the people of Pakistan,” Sherry claimed.

 

 

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Dollar touches new all-time high at Rs176 in interbank trade

The US dollar on Friday reached an all-time high against the rupee, soaring to Rs176 in the interbank market in intraday trading.

In the open market, meanwhile, the dollar rose by Rs1.70 and was being traded at Rs178.

Zafar Paracha, chairman of the Exchange Companies Association of Pakistan, told Dawn.com that the dollar had depreciated to Rs169.50 after Saudi Arabia revived financial support and oil supplies to Pakistan, however, "the statement from the finance adviser (Shaukat Tarin) in which he predicted further rise in the dollar's value provided space to speculators and they manipulated the market."

According to Paracha, the delay in the finalisation of the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) loan programme was also one of the reasons for the dollar rise "because if this programme was approved, we would have received $1 billion immediately".

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Biden, Xi expected to hold virtual summit on Monday: US media

US President Joe Biden is expected to hold a hotly awaited virtual summit with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping on Monday, US media reported, as tensions mount over Taiwan, human rights and trade.

Both CNN and Politico, citing unnamed sources, said the meeting was tentatively scheduled for Monday.

Relations between the world s two largest economies have deteriorated in recent weeks, in particular over Taiwan, a self-ruling democracy claimed by China, which last month made a record number of air incursions near the island.

Washington has repeatedly signaled its support for Taiwan in the face of Chinese aggression, but the United States and China reached a surprise agreement on climate at a summit in Glasgow.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said this week that the two presidents, who have not met in person since Biden took office in January, will hold virtual talks "soon."

Asked about the meeting at a press briefing on Thursday, China s foreign ministry said the two heads of state had "agreed to maintain frequent contact through multiple means."

"At present, China and the US are in close communication over the specific arrangement for the leaders summit," said ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin.

Biden and Xi have talked by phone twice since the veteran Democrat moved into the White House. The pair also met extensively when Biden was serving as vice president to Barack Obama, and Xi was vice president to Hu Jintao.

Biden had hoped to meet Xi at a recent Group of 20 summit in Rome, but the Chinese leader has not traveled since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic and instead agreed to virtual talks by the end of the year.

The US president has largely kept the tougher approach on Beijing of his predecessor Donald Trump, with both administrations considering a rising China to be the top challenge of the 21st century.

On Thursday, Xi warned against a return to Cold War-era divisions in the Asia-Pacific, in remarks to a virtual business conference on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit hosted by New Zealand.

"Attempts to draw ideological lines or form small circles on geopolitical grounds are bound to fail," he said.

"The Asia-Pacific region cannot and should not relapse into the confrontation and division of the Cold War era."

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IHC dismisses Faisal Vawda's plea to stop ECP disqualification case against him

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday rejected PTI Senator Faisal Vawda's appeal to stay proceedings of the disqualification case against him in the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

Vawda had filed the petition on Thursday against the decision of the ECP dated October 12 through which his application to stop the proceedings regarding his disqualification case was rejected. He had adopted the stance that the case against him in the ECP had become invalid as the body could not make a decision within the prescribed time limit.

During today's hearing, Vawda's counsel, Hasnain Ali Chauhan, argued that the ECP had to decide the application against the senator within 60 days of him being elected and thus the petition against Vawda was overdue and should be declared invalid.

"According to which law are you saying this?" asked IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah, who was presiding over the hearing. The counsel responded that the ECP was bound to make a decision within 60 days according to the Elections Act, 2017.

The judge noted that an application had been filed against Vawda within 60 days and called upon the senator to prove his innocence and let the ECP take action in accordance with the law if he was in the clear.

"What are you afraid of? Let the Election Commission hear the case. Do you want the court to decide the [original] petition?" Justice Minallah asked.

He further inquired whether the issue was not challenged in 60 days and how many times the ECP was requested to adjourn the hearing.

"Did you submit a response in the ECP?" the judge asked Vawda's counsel.

After hearing the counsel's arguments, Justice Minallah rejected Vawda's plea, declaring it inadmissible.

A citizen, Dost Ali, had filed an application in the ECP against Vawda, seeking his disqualification over hiding information pertaining to his dual nationality. The petition was filed in 2020 challenging his election as a member of the National Assembly on account of the fact that when Vawda filed his nomination papers for contesting the elections he held dual nationality as he was a US citizen as well.

The petition stated that since Vawda had furnished an affidavit to the ECP to the effect that he was not a national of any other country at the time of contesting the elections, he had made a false statement on oath, hence he was disqualified under Article 62 (1)(f) of the Constitution.

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Bilawal Bhutto to meet Fazlur Rehman today

PPP has made contact with the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) after it parted ways with it several months ago, Geo News reported Friday, citing sources.

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto is scheduled to meet PDM chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman today, which is being considered as an ice-breaker between the two sides, by political experts.

The development comes amid close coordination among the Opposition parties in the Parliament to adopt a joint strategy against the PTI government.

PPP had resigned from all PDM offices in April 2021 saying that no party "should try and impose their will and dictation on any other political party".

The PDM had asked the PPP to explain why it sought support from the treasury benches for Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani's election to the post of Leader of the Opposition in Senate.
Since then multiple attempts have been made to bring the PPP back into the PDM fold but remained unsuccessful as the party refused to budge from its stance of rejecting the show-cause notice it had been issued.

The recent camaraderie between the PML-N and the PPP leadership taking a joint stance against the ruling party created an amiable atmosphere between the two parties.

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No one should raise fingers at any player: Babar gives heartening speech in dressing room

After Pakistan's defeat against Australia in the knockout stage of the ICC T20 World Cup, national cricket team captain Babar Azam said that everybody is sad and feeling the pain, but that they will learn from this defeat.

The only undefeated team of the Super 12s met a five-wicket drubbing in the second semi-final of the ICC T20 World Cup. Australia will now face New Zealand in the final of the major cricketing event.

"No one should point a finger at anyone. No one should blame the other for whatever they did," Babar Azam said, while talking to his teammates after the match.

"All of us know where we went wrong. We don't need outsiders to tell us this. We didn't play well today as a team, but as a captain, I back everyone."

Babar Azam, Saqlain Mushtaq and Matthew Hayden are proud of their side despite a five-wicket defeat in #T20WorldCup semi-final. pic.twitter.com/kAem5PrWjj

— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) November 11, 2021

 

In a video shared on social platforms by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Azam said that in every match, every player showed responsibility and this is what a captain expects from his team.

Encouraging the visibly dejected players, he told them that the unity the Green Shirts have developed should not be broken. The current unity [in the team] has been created with a lot of difficulties, he said, adding that this single defeat [in the semi-final] should not be allowed to break this unity.

The skipper said everybody has put in a lot of effort by also maintaining the atmosphere of a family and no one tried to withdraw their support for others.
In a video shared on social platforms by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Azam said that in every match, every player showed responsibility and this is what a captain expects from his team.

Encouraging the visibly dejected players, he told them that the unity the Green Shirts have developed should not be broken. The current unity [in the team] has been created with a lot of difficulties, he said, adding that this single defeat [in the semi-final] should not be allowed to break this unity.

The skipper said everybody has put in a lot of effort by also maintaining the atmosphere of a family and no one tried to withdraw their support for others.

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India deploys thousands of more troops to occupied Kashmir

India has sent thousands of more paramilitary troops into occupied Kashmir, already one of the world´s most militarised zones, after a string of targeted killings by suspected rebels in recent weeks, officials said Wednesday.

New Delhi has for decades stationed at least 500,000 soldiers in the occupied Kashmir.
"Around 2,500 troops have arrived and they were deployed all over Kashmir valley," Abhiram Pankaj, a spokesman for the paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), told AFP.

More were on their way to the restive territory, he added.

Around 5,000 extra paramilitaries in all were being deployed from this week, including from India´s Border Security Force (BSF), according to a police officer speaking to AFP on the condition of anonymity.

Some of the troops are housed in civilian community halls that have been fortified with new sandbag bunkers, reminiscent of the early 1990s when an armed insurgency against Indian rule was at its peak.

That rebellion has significantly waned in the years since tens of thousands of people, mostly civilians, were killed in the conflict.

A dozen people have been gunned down since last month in what appeared to be targeted assassinations, including police, migrant workers from northern Indian states and local members of the Sikh and Hindu communities.

Some of those killed were accused by the Resistance Front, a local rebel group, of being in the employ of security forces.

Police and paramilitary troops in bulletproof gear and wielding automatic rifles have intensified frisk searches of residents, including children, on the streets.

Newly deployed troops are now visible around many new checkpoints set up in recent weeks across the main city of Srinagar.

Anger has simmered in the region since August 2019 when New Delhi revoked its partial autonomy and brought its section of Kashmir under direct rule.

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Corona claims 9 more lives in Pakistan in last 24 Hrs

Pakistan has reported 9 deaths in the last 24 hours by novel coronavirus as the number of positive cases has surged to 1,279,142. The nationwide tally of fatalities has jumped to 28,584 on Friday.

According to the latest figures issued by the National Command and Operation Center (NCOC), 391 persons tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 24 hours.
Punjab remains the worst-hit province in terms of deaths followed by Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

473,052 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Sindh, 441,631 in Punjab, 178,926 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 107,249 in Islamabad, 34,501 in Azad Kashmir, 33,383 in Balochistan and 10,400 in Gilgit-Baltistan.

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Astronauts return to Earth in SpaceX craft after six-month mission

Four astronauts returned to Earth on Monday in a SpaceX craft after spending six months on the International Space Station, a Nasa live broadcast showed, marking the end of a busy mission.

The international crew conducted thousands of experiments in orbit and helped upgrade the solar panels on the ISS during their “Crew-2” mission.

Its descent slowed by four huge parachutes, their Dragon spacecraft — dubbed “Endeavour” — splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico at 10:33pm before it was lifted onto a recovery ship.

Nasa astronauts Megan McArthur and Shane Kimbrough, Akihiko Hoshide of Japan and Frenchman Thomas Pesquet from the European Space Agency were then taken out of the capsule and placed on stretchers as a precautionary measure — human bodies need to re-adjust to gravity after extended periods in space.

“It’s great to be back to Planet Earth,” Kimbrough was heard saying on the Nasa live broadcast after Dragon splashed down.

The ISS activities of the Crew-2 astronauts included documenting the surface of the Earth to record human-caused changes and natural events, growing Hatch chile peppers, and studying worms to better understand human health changes in space.

“Proud to have represented France once again in space! Next stop, the Moon?” Pesquet had tweeted ahead of the trip home.

Their journey back to Earth began when Endeavour undocked from the ISS at 2:05 pm, Nasa announced.

It then looped around the ISS for around an hour-and-a-half to take photographs, the first such mission since a Russian Soyuz performed a similar maneuver in 2018.

The Dragon, which flew mostly autonomously, has a small circular window at the top of its forward hatch through which the astronauts can point their cameras. The departure was delayed a day by high winds.

Bad weather and what Nasa called a “minor medical issue” have also pushed back the departure of the next set of astronauts, on the Crew-3 mission, which is now set to launch on Wednesday.

Until then, the ISS will be crewed by only three astronauts — two Russians and one American.

SpaceX began providing astronauts a taxi service to the ISS in 2020, ending nine years of US reliance on Russian rockets for the journey following the end of the Space Shuttle programme.

The crew faced a final challenge on their journey home — they had to wear diapers after a problem was detected with the craft’s waste management system, forcing it to remain offline.

The astronauts had no access to a toilet from the time the hatch closed at 12:40pm until after splashdown — around 10 hours.

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Afghanistan's Ariana Airlines begins flights from Kabul to Islamabad

The Afghan flag carrier, Ariana Airlines is beginning regular twice-weekly aviation services from Kabul to Islamabad, the state-owned operator said on Thursday, joining Kam Air which has begun flying five times a week between the two cities.

Ariana, which began regular services to Dubai this week, will operate flights between Kabul and Islamabad on Thursdays and Mondays, charging $400 from Kabul and $100 from Islamabad.

Earlier this week, privately owned Kam Air started services five times a week to Islamabad as international air traffic gradually reopens following the Taliban's seizure of power in Kabul in August.

The announcement from Ariana came as acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi was visiting Islamabad for talks that are expected to cover issues including aviation links between Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Some charter services have been flying to Kabul since the Taliban takeover but normally scheduled commercial flights had been suspended.

With an economy in deep crisis and continuing concerns about Afghanistan's future under the Taliban, there has been huge demand from people wishing to leave Afghanistan, made worse by repeated problems at land border crossings into Pakistan.

Pakistan International Airlines suspended its charter service to Kabul from Islamabad last month, citing interference from Taliban authorities, who had warned the airline it should cut its ticket prices.

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Opposition claims victory as govt postpones joint Parliament sitting

The Opposition leaders are terming the government’s decision of postponing the joint Parliament session as their victory.

A day earlier, President Arif Alvi had withdrew the order for a joint session of the parliament, scheduled for 11 am today (Thursday).

Speaking at the Parliament House, PML-N President and Opposition Leader in National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif has said that the adjournment of the joint session of the Parliament means that the government has been badly beaten on its ‘black laws’ it sought to bully through the Parliament.

“Imran Niazi should resign after it was clearly exposed that he had lost the trust of his members and allies,” he added.

Shehbaz Sharif said by postponing the joint meeting, Imran Khan had once again upheld his long tradition of taking U-turns.

“The hasty convening of the joint meeting and then the hasty adjournment shows the seriousness of the government that had made sensitive and serious issues like legislation a child's play, he said.

Earlier, talking to media at the Parliament House, Shehbaz Sharif said that the government lost twice in the Parliament and the joint opposition had more votes than the government. “The nation had united against these black laws that were malicious,” he said.

He said, PTI wanted to repeat what they did in 2018 through RTS by bringing a bill with electronic voting machine. “The united opposition was constantly saying that these black laws will not be passed and the government’s own allies were not with them on this issue, and were distancing themselves from PTI completely, he added

Shehbaz Sharif said it seemed that the defeat of the previous day has forced the government to postpone the meeting. “Those claiming to compete on the field have fled the field, he said. Shehbaz Sharif said that the postponement of the joint session of the Parliament proves that the government has confirmed its defeat on legislation of black laws.

‘Kaptaan bhag gaya’

Commenting on the development, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said that the government opted out of the Parliament’s joint session as it had “foreseen its defeat”.

Taking to Twitter, Bilawal said “Kaptaan bhag gaya” (the captain ran away), as he shared President Arif Alvi's notification for the postponement of the session.

“Yet another victory for the United opposition in the Parliament today. Government ran away from joint sessions when they saw they would be defeated yet again. Kaptaan Bagh[sic] gaya.”

"Due to the opposition’s contacts with the government’s allies, the government had to retreat and cancel the joint session. Thanks to [leader of the Opposition] Shahbaz Sharif who gathered the Opposition parties,” Bilawal had said.

He had said that the president of Pakistan had issued a notification for the joint session of the Parliament but the government revoked the notification by announcing to postpone the session.

"Postponing the session is also a disgrace to the president", he had said.

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Pakistan again calls for int’l engagement with Afghanistan to 'avoid economic collapse’

To avert economic collapse and civil war in Afghanistan, it is crucial for the international community to "avoid repeating mistakes of the past" and pursue a positive engagement, says Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi.

Addressing the opening session of the ninth meeting of Troika Plus, the foreign minister said engagement with Afghanistan is important as nobody wished to see a relapse into civil war and an economic collapse to spur instability.

“Everyone wants terrorist elements operating inside Afghanistan to be tackled effectively and we all want to prevent a new refugee crisis,” he said.

The meeting, held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was attended by Special Representatives of China, Pakistan, Russia and the United States, and the visiting delegation of the interim government of Afghanistan led by Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi.

FM Qureshi said the Troika Plus meeting reflected the common desire to see a “peaceful, stable, unified, sovereign and prosperous Afghanistan”.

Qureshi expressed confidence that Troika Plus’s engagement with the new Afghan government would help consolidate peace and stability, promote sustainable economic development and help constrict space for terrorist outfits operating from and within Afghanistan.

He mentioned that today, Afghanistan stands at the brink of an economic collapse and with international funding dried up, it had become difficult to pay even salaries, let alone pursue development projects.

He said the common man is reeling under the effects of a severe drought, adding that any further downward slide would severely limit the new administration’s capacity to run the government.

“It is, therefore, imperative for the international community to buttress provision of humanitarian assistance on an urgent basis,” he stressed, and added that health, education and municipal services required urgent attention.

The foreign minister said enabling Afghanistan to access its frozen funds would dovetail into the efforts to regenerate economic activities and move the Afghan economy towards stability and sustainability.

Similarly, he said, the UN and its agencies must be urged to find ways to reach out to the common Afghan and help stabilise the situation.

Qureshi said being an immediate neighbour, Pakistan had a direct stake in Afghanistan’s peace and stability

With a shared heritage and history, we consider every ethnic community of Afghanistan important in the final destiny of the country, he said.

“Located next door, we have borne the brunt of four decades of conflict and instability in the shape of refugees, drugs and terrorism,” he said. “We see the current situation as an opportunity to end the prolonged conflict”.

He mentioned that Pakistan had already taken a number of steps to facilitate the common man in Afghanistan. These include a waiver of customs duties on perishable food items to support farmers in Afghanistan, provision of humanitarian assistance, facilitating pedestrian movement, keeping the border open during COVID-19 and visa on arrival for medical cases.

He expressed gratitude to the neighbours of Afghanistan for supporting Pakistan’s call for a regional platform to discuss common concerns and opportunities. The two meetings, he said, yielded substantive and forward looking outcome documents.

He recalled that his visit to Kabul last month helped understand the new Afghan government’s expectations from the international community.

“It also provided us the opportunity to share our assessment with the Taliban leadership and highlight the international community’s expectations of them,” he said.

“We believe Taliban are interested in engagement, as they seek international acceptance and support,” he said.

Qureshi reaffirmed the resolve of Prime Minister Imran Khan to help Afghanistan on its path towards peace, progress and prosperity.

 

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Pakistan has always stood by Afghans, world must fulfil its responsibility: PM Khan

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday said that Pakistan has always stood by the Afghan people in their time of need and urged the international community to fulfil its collective responsibility and do the same.

The prime minister's remarks came amid a visit to Islamabad by acting Afghan foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, who was extended an invitation to attend the Troika Plus meeting.

"We have assured [Muttaqi] and his delegation we will provide all possible humanitarian aid to Afghanistan. We are sending essential food items, emergency medical supplies and winter shelters to provide immediate relief to Afghan people," he wrote.

The premier followed by saying that free COVID-19 vaccines will be administered to all Afghans travelling across the border into Pakistan.

"Again I urge the international community to fulfil its collective responsibility to avert a grave humanitarian crisis confronting the people of Afghanistan," PM Imran Khan said.

Muttaqi attends Troika Plus meeting

Muttaqi's visit is in continuation of Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi’s visit to Kabul last month.

The visit will be centered on bilateral relations between the two countries, with a focus on enhancing inter-alliance trade, facilitation of transit trade, cross-border movement, land and aviation links, people-to-people contacts, and regional connectivity, a statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

The statement further stated that Pakistan, given the prevalent situation, has been urging the international community to urgently provide humanitarian assistance and economic support on an immediate basis to alleviate the sufferings of the Afghan people.

“For its part, Pakistan is extending humanitarian and economic assistance to the brotherly people of Afghanistan” and remains committed to its support for a “peaceful, stable, sovereign, prosperous and connected Afghanistan,” it read.

Pakistan extended a special invitation to the acting Afghan foreign minister to attend the Troika Plus meeting, which was held in Islamabad today.

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Covid cases declining everywhere except in Europe: WHO

The World Health Organisation reported on Wednesday that coronavirus deaths rose by 10pc in Europe in the past week, making it the only world region where both Covid-19 cases and deaths are steadily increasing. It was the sixth consecutive week that the virus has risen across the continent.

In its weekly report on the pandemic, the UN health agency said there were about 3.1 million new cases globally, about a 1pc increase from the previous week. Nearly two-thirds of the coronavirus infections — 1.9 million — were in Europe, where cases rose by 7pc.

The countries with the highest numbers of new cases worldwide were the United States, Russia, Britain, Turkey and Germany. The number of weekly Covid-19 deaths fell by about 4pc worldwide and declined in every region except Europe.

Out of the 61 countries WHO includes in its European region, which includes Russia and stretches to Central Asia, 42pc reported a jump in cases of at least 10pc in the last week.

In the Americas, WHO said that new weekly cases fell by 5pc and deaths declined by 14pc, with the highest numbers reported from the United States. On Tuesday, pharmaceutical company Pfizer asked the US Food and Drug Administration to authorise booster shots of coronavirus vaccines for all adults.

WHO has pleaded with countries not to administer more boosters until at least the end of the year; about 60 countries are actively rolling them out. In Southeast Asia and Africa, Covid-19 deaths declined by about a third, despite the lack of vaccines in those regions.

WHO’s Europe director, Dr. Hans Kluge, said last week that Europe was once again back at the epicenter of the pandemic. He warned that if more actions weren’t taken to stop Covid-19, the region could see another 500,000 deaths by February.

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South Africa's last apartheid-era president, FW de Klerk, dies at home

South Africa's last apartheid-era president Frederik Willem (FW) de Klerk died on Thursday morning at his home in Cape Town, the FW de Klerk Foundation said in a statement.

"Former President FW de Klerk died peacefully at his home in Fresnaye earlier this morning following his struggle against mesothelioma cancer," the statement said.

He was 85 years old.

De Klerk stunned the world when he scrapped apartheid and negotiated a peaceful transfer of power to a Black-led government under Nelson Mandela.

But while he was feted globally and shared the Nobel Peace Prize with the revered Mandela, de Klerk earned only scorn from many Blacks outraged by his failure to curb political violence in the turbulent years leading up to all-race elections in 1994.

And many right-wing white Afrikaners, descendants of Dutch and French settlers who had long ruled the country under de Klerk's National Party, viewed him as a traitor to their causes of nationalism and white supremacy.

De Klerk's metamorphosis from a servant of apartheid into its wrecking ball mirrored that of the former Soviet Union's Mikhail Gorbachev. Both were good party men who rose to the pinnacle of power before moving to reform or dismantle the systems that had nourished them for decades.

The collapse of Gorbachev's Soviet Union and communism in Eastern Europe helped pave the way for de Klerk to launch his own bold initiatives, as it removed the spectre of the "Red Menace" that had haunted a generation of white South Africans.

"The first few months of my presidency coincided with the disintegration of communism in Eastern Europe," de Klerk wrote in his autobiography, "The Last Trek: A New Beginning".

"Within the scope of a few months, one of our main strategic concerns for decades was gone," he wrote. "A window had suddenly opened which created an opportunity for a much more adventurous approach than had been previously conceivable."

Less than three months after the collapse of the Berlin Wall, he opened the way for an end to more than four decades of apartheid with a bombshell speech to parliament on February 2, 1990, that "unbanned" the African National Congress (ANC) and announced the release of its leader after 27 years behind bars.

Fearing a leak and a backlash from right-wing whites, de Klerk had kept the momentous decision secret from all but a handful of cabinet ministers. Even his wife was in the dark until she and de Klerk were heading to parliament.

At de Klerk's 70th birthday celebrations in 2006, Mandela heaped praise on his predecessor for taking that leap into the political unknown.

"You have shown courage that few have done in similar circumstances," said Mandela, who died in December 2013 at the age of 95, less than six months before the 20th anniversary of South Africa's first all-race elections.

White doyen turned radical

A lawyer from a prominent Afrikaner political dynasty, the urbane de Klerk was cut from the cloth of white apartheid rule and was a member of the Broederbond, a secret Afrikaner society dedicated to white supremacy.

De Klerk launched his parliamentary career in 1972 as a member of the right-wing mining town of Vereeniging and was for several years minister in charge of a schooling system that spent 10 times more on white children than on Blacks.

He challenged then-finance minister Barend du Plessis in the 1989 party election of a successor to ailing apartheid hardliner PW Botha and then ousted Botha from the presidency in a cabinet coup a few months later.

Botha showed no remorse for apartheid until his death in 2006 aged 90.

De Klerk's rise was viewed as a consolidation of white rule and threatened to escalate the vicious racial conflict that already had killed more than 20,000 Blacks.

"When he became head of the National Party, he seemed to be the quintessential party man, nothing more and nothing less. Nothing in his past seemed to hint at a spirit of reform," Mandela wrote in his autobiography, "Long Walk to Freedom".

The negotiations on a peaceful transition to non-racial democracy that followed Mandela's release were held against the backdrop of mounting political violence and often looked as though they would be derailed, a scenario that would almost certainly have plunged the nation into a bloody race war.

Black and white analysts said de Klerk was too cautious in moving against security force right-wingers suspected of fomenting violence and of being out of touch and ill-informed about the horrific gun and spear attacks in Black communities.

But peace prevailed in what many commentators refer to as a "political miracle".

Nobel Peace Prize

In 1993 de Klerk shared a Nobel Peace Prize with Mandela, who would win the presidency the following year in the first multi-racial elections in Africa's biggest economy.

After the vote, the National Party shared power in a "Government of National Unity" in which he served as a deputy president.

But the relationship between de Klerk, a chain-smoking whisky drinker, and the austere Mandela was often strained, and de Klerk pulled out of the government in 1996, saying the ANC no longer prized his advice or guidance.

He retired from active politics in 1997 and later apologised for the miseries of apartheid before Archbishop Desmond Tutu's Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

"History has shown that as far as the policy of apartheid was concerned, our former leaders were deeply mistaken in the course upon which they embarked," he said.

In retirement, he headed the FW de Klerk Foundation, devoted to working for peace in multi-cultural societies.

He divorced his wife of 39 years, Marike, in 1998, and married Elita Georgiadis, the wife of a Greek shipping tycoon.

In December 2001, Marike was murdered in her luxury beachfront home in Cape Town, an incident that underscored South Africa's rampant rates of violent crime.

In an interview with Reuters in 1999, de Klerk said South Africa faced an array of threats ranging from crime to rising unemployment and discontent among potential voters.

"There is growing disillusionment among all sectors of the population in South Africa. All South Africans, all investors, all people with an interest in South Africa are deeply concerned about the crime rate. We need a breakthrough," he said.

However, 10 years later he sought to strike a more balanced tone, saying shortly after President Jacob Zuma's accession to power in 2009 that the polygamous Zulu traditionalist would "confound the prophets of doom".

He also appeared genuinely moved by Mandela's death.

"Tata, we will miss you," he said in a statement, using the affectionate South African term for grandfather by which Mandela was known.

As he walked away from Mandela's body lying in state at Pretoria's Union Buildings, where two decades earlier he handed over power, de Klerk wiped a tear from his eye.

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