Shoaib Malik and Sania Mirza send warm New Year wishes to fans around the world

Former Pakistan Cricket Team skipper Shoaib Malik and wife Indian tennis star Sania Mirza on Thursday took to social media and sent warm wishes to their fans for the upcoming year.

In a video clip uploaded to Twitter by Shoaib Malik, the couple not only wished their fans a happy year ahead but also sent an important message.

- Stay Strong, Stay Healthy, Stay Safe & Wishing You All A Very Happy New Year from the Malik's ❤#GoodBye2020 #HappyNewYear2021 pic.twitter.com/SrazGO0d37

— Shoaib Malik ?? (@realshoaibmalik) December 31, 2020

"It's been an extremely hard year for everyone and we are no different," said Sania Mirza, who could be seen standing next to her husband, dressed up in a light-blue t-shirt.

"But this year, we have all learnt how to be grateful for the little things in life, for our family, [and] for being safe. We just want to wish you all a happy New Year," Sania Mirza said.

Adding to his better half's comment and referencing the coronavirus pandemic, Shoaib Malik asked fans to support each other during the ongoing tough times.

"I think we need each other's help, we need each other's support, and that makes a very big difference," he said. "Let's all do that, and let's pass this time. Stay strong."

The couple also asked fans to stay safe and healthy.

Sania Mirza also took to her Instagram page shared six throwback pictures to showcase the year 2020.

"Buh-bye 2020. You’ve been difficult, to say the least, but you have taught us so much .. to be grateful for the little things, to be grateful for health, for the family," she stated.

"You have taught us simplicity is enough, you have taught us to find joy in moments we forgot we needed to enjoy. In a year that saw so many hardships, you will be special [be]cause I made my dream comeback after becoming a mother," she wrote.

Within an hour of going live, the snapshots amassed close to 92,000 likes and about 270 comments in which fans and followers praised the famous couple and wished them a happy and healthy year ahead.

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Govt increases petrol price by Rs2.31 per litre in Pakistan

The government has decided to increase the price of petrol by Rs2.31 per litre, according to a press release issued by the Prime Minister House.

According to the press release, PM Imran Khan rejected the summary forwarded to him by the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) which had recommended an increase in the price of petrol by Rs10.68 per litre.

OGRA had also recommended an increase in the price of diesel by Rs8.37 per litre. However, the PM House said that the premier had rejected the suggestions and instead, approved an increase in the prices of petrol and diesel by Rs2.31 per litre and Rs1.80 per litre respectively.

The PM House said that OGRA had recommended an increase in prices of other petroleum products such as kerosene oil by Rs10.92 per litre and light diesel by Rs14.87. However, the premier approved a hike in the price of kerosene oil by Rs3.36 and agreed to an increase in the price of light diesel by Rs3.95.

Petrol will now be available for Rs106 per litre while diesel will be sold for Rs110.24 per litre.

The new price of kerosene oil is Rs73.65 per litre and light diesel oil will be available for Rs71.81. The new prices are applicable from midnight tonight till January 15.

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UAE announces public holiday on January 1

The United Arab Emirates has announced that January 1, 2021, would be a public holiday in the country.

The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation on Tuesday announced that all public and private sector employees will get a day off to mark the new year.

However, with January 1 falling on a Friday, most workers will not get an additional day off.

The country's human resources minister, Nasser Bin Thani Al Hamli, announced that it would be a paid holiday for all private-sector establishments, on the occasion of New Year, as per the decision of the UAE Cabinet on official holidays for 2021.

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Trump supporters launch yet another move to stop Biden

Conservative lawmakers in both chambers of the US Congress launched yet another bid on Wednesday to prevent US President-elect Joe Biden from taking oath on Jan 20.

Supporters of the outgoing US President Donald Trump needed a senator and a member of the House of Representatives to challenge the election results, and on Wednesday a Republican senator — Josh Hawley of Missouri — offered to back the move.

A group of conservative lawmakers in the House have already pledged to back Trump’s move to overturn the results of the presidential election.

Although Senator Hawley’s endorsement completes the process, other Republican senators also have indicated their intention to back President Trump’s move.

The letter that Congressman Mo Brooks, an Alabama Republican, sent to the House and Senate leaderships, has the signatures of 18 congressmen and women. In the letter, they wrote that they want Congress to “hold an election fraud hearing ahead of the Jan 6 electoral college vote submissions”.

"I cannot vote to certify the electoral college results on Jan 6 without raising the fact that some states, particularly Pennsylvania, failed to follow their own state election laws," Senator Hawley said in his statement.

All 438 members of the House and 100 Senators will meet on Jan 6 to consider and endorse the Dec 14 proceedings when all 538 electors met in the state capitals to cast their votes. A total of 306 electors voted for Biden while 232 voted for Trump.

If Congress meets on Jan 6 to consider submissions of the electoral votes, Biden will be confirmed and will take oath as the 46th president on Jan 20.

As the US media pointed out, the objections raised on Wednesday are unlikely to change the outcome of the election, but they can delay Biden's affirmation.

Democrats, who have a majority in the House, have already said they will reject the move and multiple Republican senators have also urged Trump to end his efforts to undo the results.

Both Republican and Democratic lawmakers have also pointed out that Biden has beaten Trump in the popular vote too — winning 81,283,485 votes against his Republican rival’s 74,223,744.

Reports in the US media suggest Republican lawmakers want to avoid being asked to vote on whether to side with Trump or with the popular will of the voters. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has privately urged Senate Republicans not to join the move to undo election results.

Senate Majority Whip John Thune has argued against it publicly, but Trump still wants the Republicans to support him on Jan 6.

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NZ's Kane Williamson overtakes Steve Smith, Virat Kohli to be top Test batsman

New Zealand captain Kane Williamson enters the New Year as the top-ranked Test batsman after leapfrogging Australia's Steve Smith and India skipper Virat Kohli in the latest official rankings issued on Thursday.

Williamson, who returned from paternity leave this month, hit a match-winning century in the opening Test against Pakistan to help New Zealand win by 101 runs at Mount Maunganui on Wednesday.

The New Zealand skipper described it as “humbling” to overtake Smith, who held the top spot for 313 days this year, and Kohli, who was number one for 51 days.

“They are incredible players of our generation,” Williamson said as he arrived in Christchurch ahead of the second Pakistan Test which starts on Sunday.

“Those two players are the best so for me to sneak up perhaps in some way, is very surprising and humbling.”

All three players were this week named in the International Cricket Council's team of the decade with Smith also named as the individual Test player of the decade. Kohli took the award for the best one-day player.

Smith is in the middle of a rare slump in form and dropped behind Kohli after registering four single-digit scores at the halfway stage of the ongoing four-Test series against India.

Kohli, who topscored for India in their eight-wicket thrashing by Australia in the series opener in Adelaide, has returned home for the birth of his first child.

India's stand-in skipper, Ajinkya Rahane, jumped to number six after his stellar hundred in the second Test inspired the tourists to a series-levelling victory in Melbourne.

Australia's Pat Cummins remains the top-ranked Test bowler, while compatriot Mitchell Starc jumped two places to enter the top five.

India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin (seventh) and quick Jasprit Bumrah (ninth) improved their top 10 positions after their impressive performance in the Melbourne Test.

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Bismah withdraws from South Africa tour

Just one day before the announcement of Pakistan women’s cricket team for their tour to South Africa next month, captain Bismah Maroof withdrew from the tour and left the training camp in Karachi citing some family reasons.

Urooj Mumtaz, who is performing the dual role of chief selector and head of the women’s wing, is to announce the 17-member squad for the said tour on Thursday. The new captain in place of Bismah, 29, will also be announced on Thursday.

She had been attending the camp in Karachi since Dec 20.

“Pakistan national women’s team captain Bismah Maroof has withdrawn from next month’s tour to South Africa due to family reasons,” said a PCB press release issued on Wednesday. “Bismah had participated in the training camp in Karachi since Dec 20 before returning to Lahore on Wednesday to rejoin her family.”

Commenting on the development, Urooj said, “Bismah approached us with a request to be exempted from next month’s tour to South Africa for family reasons, which we have accepted. She was obviously disappointed to miss the series, but the family always has to come first.

“When we announce the 17-player squad on Thursday, we’ll name the stand-in captain as well for the South Africa tour, which comprises three ODIs and three T20Is,” Urooj added.

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Coronavirus vaccine: Pakistan to purchase 1.2m doses from China's Sinopharm

Pakistan will purchase 1.2 million doses of coronavirus vaccine from China's Sinopharm, Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudry said on Thursday.

"The Cabinet Committee has decided to initially purchase 1.2 million doses of the vaccine from the Chinese company Sinopharm, which will be provided free of cost to frontline workers in the first quarter of 2021," the science minister announced on Twitter.

China approved a COVID-19 vaccine developed by an affiliate of state-backed pharmaceutical giant Sinopharm on Thursday, its first approved shot for general public use.

Fawad Chaudhry added that the private sector can also import the vaccine approved internationally.

Sources said a decision to this effect was taken Wednesday at the second meeting of the Special Cabinet Committee constituted as an oversight body for procurement of the COVID-19 vaccine.

The meeting was chaired by Minister for Planning Asad Umar and attended by Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry and Minister for Industries Hammad Azhar. The Special Assistant to PM on Poverty Alleviation Dr Sania Nishtar and SAPM on Health Dr Faisal Sultan attended the meeting on the invitation.

The committee was apprised that a number of countries have pre-booked COVID-19 vaccine based on preliminary or incomplete results in order to ensure timely availability of vaccines for their populations. In some situations, vaccines were pre-booked even in development stages to ensure availability.

The committee was informed of the deliberations of an expert committee formed by DRAP which is in process of reviewing and analyzing available data from clinical studies performed so far. Of available options, data from one company has been submitted for review to the committee for a final adjudication for emergency use.

In line with global practices at present whereby emergency procurement has to be made at times with incomplete and evolving information, the committee decided to pre-book COVID-19 vaccine from Sinopharm.

It was also decided that other manufacturers of COVID-19 vaccine will continue to be engaged in for future bookings for the remaining phases of vaccination, based on further data and availability.

The committee reiterated that the private sector will also be encouraged to approach DRAP and follow the laid down procedures for emergency use authorization of any available and safe COVID-19 vaccine.

 

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