Pakistan team released from managed isolation in New Zealand

The Pakistan cricket squad has been allowed to leave managed isolation to begin its preparation for Twenty20 and Test series against New Zealand.

All members of the squad tested negative on the 12th day of their 14-day stay in isolation and were allowed to travel to the South Island resort of Queenstown, where they can now train as a group.

The team’s exemption to train in smaller groups after the third day in isolation was revoked by New Zealand health authorities when players breached protocols by mingling in corridors and sharing food. Six members of the 53-strong squad tested positive for Covid-19 on arrival and two more subsequently returned positive tests and were moved to the quarantine wing of their hotel.

Earlier, New Zealand’s Ministry of Health reported 52 members of the Pakistan squad would be released from the quarantine facilities in Christchurch.

“One case will remain in the Christchurch quarantine facility until fully recovered,” the ministry said in a statement. “One person repeatedly tested negative and is being released from the Auckland quarantine facility today, where they had been transferred on arrival as a precaution.”

The person was reported to have shown symptoms of Covid after arriving in New Zealand from Dubai but has since tested negative.

“After extensive testing and completion of their time in managed isolation in Christchurch, the medical officer of health is satisfied these people pose a very low risk to the community,” the ministry said.

Cricketer Shadab Khan shared a picture with his teammates on Twitter with the caption "life and smiles after quarantine".

Head coach Misbahul Haq earlier was quoted as saying the players had suffered “mentally and physically” during their time in isolation.

“Top professional athletes require a certain environment to prepare so that they can perform at the minimum expected levels every time they represent their countries,” Misbah said in a statement issued by the Pakistan Cricket Board.

He said Pakistan players and officials “respect and understand” the health and safety regulations implemented in New Zealand to protect the community against Covid-19.

New Zealand is currently leading a two-test series against West Indies, and will host Pakistan in three T20s on Dec 18, 20 and 22 before a two-Test series starting Dec 26.

New Zealand’s borders have been closed to all but returning New Zealand citizens and residents, though exemptions have been allowed in the case of the touring West Indies and Pakistan teams. New Zealand has had only 25 deaths from Covid-19 and currently has no community cases.

“There is no denying the fact that the implementation of certain regulations has affected our athletes, both mentally and physically prior to an international series,” Misbah said. “I want to compliment my players and the management team for their patience, sacrifices and the hardships they have endured to ensure they not only lead the safe resumption of international cricket during the Covid-19 pandemic but also try to give their best every time they step on the field.”

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Decision time nears as Brexit talks hit the wall

Post-Brexit trade talks between the EU and UK neared a decisive point on Monday as Europe pushed a leaders’ summit later in the week as the final chance for a deal.

Chief EU negotiator Michel Barnier told MEPs that Wednesday was the effective deadline for a breakthrough as talks with his UK counterpart David Frost dragged on in Brussels.

Barnier and Frost were wrangling once more on Monday before reporting back to their respective bosses, EU chief Ursula von der Leyen and UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

The two leaders will speak by phone at around 5pm Brussels time (1600 GMT), a call that a diplomats said would assess where matters stood and would likely ask that the negotiators push ahead.

Barnier told a briefing of EU envoys that negotiations were still blocked over fishing rights, rules for fair trade and an enforcement mechanism, still the thorniest problems since talks began eight months ago.

All eyes are on an EU summit on Thursday, when the outline of a deal — or an admission of the failure to find one — will be put to the bloc’s 27 leaders.

A senior EU diplomat said the leaders would either “welcome a deal” if there was one there, or demand for the urgent preparation of contingency measures in the event talks failed.

“These are going to be decisive hours for the future of our UK relations, and I guess we are at the make it or break it moment,” the diplomat told reporters.

Ratcheting up the drama, Michael Gove, a top UK minister and close ally of Johnson was sent to Brussels for separate talks to discuss implementing the existing divorce treaty, which Britain has threatened to redraw.

Ireland’s Foreign Minister Simon Coveney told RTE News that Barnier was “very gloomy” and that the chief negotiator was “obviously very cautious about the ability to make progress today”. Time is pressing with European officials arguing the Brussels needs least two weeks to ratify an accord before the UK leaves the single market on Dec 31.

Britain left the EU on January 31 but will exit the EU’s single market at year’s end, following a transition period originally intended to give time to shape future ties.

The goal of the negotiations is to establish a trade relationship with zero tariffs and zero quotas in hopes of avoiding major disruptions come January 1.

Most sources agreed that the hardest issue was how to guarantee fair trade in future ties and establish a quick penalty mechanism if either side were to backtrack on, for example, environmental or health standards.

Britain is very reluctant to accept a broad and binding arrangement, seeing it as an infringement on its new-found sovereignty after 47 years of EU membership.

“In essence, if the talks fail now, the two sides didn’t manage to agree what constitutes foul play and what to do about it,” an EU diplomat said.

Johnson has insisted Britain will “prosper mightily” whatever the outcome of the talks, but he will face severe political turbulence if he cannot seal a deal.

Without a deal, tariffs would be levied on the huge volumes of trade passing between the UK and the European continent, through the Channel tunnel and by ship, starting on January 1.

Travellers between both sides would also be affected with further passport delays and red tape for foreign residents and businesses.

France meanwhile is seen as the most reluctant to compromise among the Europeans after repeated threats of a veto if a deal does not protect French interests.

“Barnier is trying to make a good deal. If minds are not ready for that in December 2020, let’s meet again next year,” said French MEP Nathalie Loiseau, a close ally of French President Emmanuel Macron.

In an unexpected twist, UK minister Gove travelled to Brussels to discuss the 10-month-old Brexit divorce deal, on the same day as British parliament was to consider a bill that would violate it.

European Parliament has said it will reject any trade deal if Britain delivers on its threat to undo the divorce agreement that guarantees an open border between UK-ruled Northern Ireland and the EU-member Republic of Ireland.

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China, Nepal jointly announce revised height of Mount Everest

China and Nepal jointly announced on Tuesday the newly-measured height of Mount Everest at 8,848.86 metres (29,032 feet), a little bit higher than its past measurement.

The announcement came after both countries undertook to measure the exact height of the world’s highest peak to end a discrepancy between the two nations.

“8848.86 metres is the newly-measured height of Mount Everest,” media reports quoted Nepal’s Foreign Minister as saying.

The previous height of Mount Everest was 8,848, according to the measurement done in 1954.

China’s largest newspaper, People’s Daily, tweeted: “President Xi Jinping and Nepali President Bidya Devi Bhandari exchanged congratulatory messages on Tuesday, jointly announcing the newly measured height of Mount #Qomolangma, world’s tallest peak — 8,848.86 meters.”

 

President Xi Jinping and Nepali President Bidya Devi Bhandari exchanged congratulatory messages on Tuesday, jointly announcing the newly measured height of Mount #Qomolangma, world’s tallest peak --- 8,848.86 meters. pic.twitter.com/bhpYTNs0CM

— People's Daily, China (@PDChina) December 8, 2020

 

 

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Karachi businessman Siraj Kassam Teli passes away in Dubai

Prominent businessman of Karachi Siraj Kassam Teli on Tuesday died of a heart attack.

Former president of Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industries (KCCI) Siraj Kassam Teli was in Dubai when he suffered a heart attack and could not survive. He was 67.

Siraj Kassam Teli was a distinguished industrialist and belonged to a renowned family that has been active in business since the inception of Pakistan.

As Chairman of the Businessmen Group (BMG), Siraj Teli was recognized for his extraordinary leadership of the Business and Industrial community over the past 19 years. He brought about revolutionary and progressive changes in trade politics and in the functioning of the Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry, the SITE Association of Industry and other platforms of public service and social work.

He also served as Director of Pakistan Beverage Ltd., (Pepsi-Cola)Karachi, Hyderabad and Quetta. Apart from the beverage sector, he possessed considerable experience in textiles, dairy products and energy.

Siraj Teli’s outstanding contribution to the national economy and public service, philanthropic work, and extra-ordinary indulgence in Ashura incident the then president of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari conferred the award “Sitara-e-Imtiaz”.

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Imran Abbas prays for architect Yasmeen Lari after her health deteriorates

Pakistani actor Imran Abbas is requesting the public to pray for the country’s first female architect, Yasmeen Lari who is currently hospitalized.

Turning to his Instagram, the Khuda Aur Mohabbat star shared the news about Lari fighting for her life in the intensive care unit while her husband passed away earlier today.

“Prayers needed. Pakistan's first female architect and a woman known for helping out tons of people with livelihood, the legendary Yasmeen Lari is in ICU. Today, her husband has also died due to coronavirus contraction,” he wrote.

“My sincerest thoughts go out to her and family for the loss and I pray that her husband rest in peace. May Allah (SWT) grant her husband with elevated ranks in Jannah and also bestow her with speedy recovery. Ameen,” he continued.

“The first woman to study and get a degree in architecture. Yasmeen Lari,” he added.

Lari’s husband, Sohail Lari, a renowned historian and author, lost his battle with coronavirus today.

He had written over 60 books on history and had co-founded the Heritage Foundation of Pakistan in 1980 along with Yasmeen Lari.

 

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Karachi businessman Siraj Kassam Teli passes away in Dubai

Prominent businessman of Karachi Siraj Kassam Teli on Tuesday died of a heart attack.

Former president of Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industries (KCCI) Siraj Kassam Teli was in Dubai when he suffered a heart attack and could not survive. He was 67.

Siraj Kassam Teli was a distinguished industrialist and belonged to a renowned family that has been active in business since the inception of Pakistan.

As Chairman of the Businessmen Group (BMG), Siraj Teli was recognized for his extraordinary leadership of the Business and Industrial community over the past 19 years. He brought about revolutionary and progressive changes in trade politics and in the functioning of the Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry, the SITE Association of Industry and other platforms of public service and social work.

He also served as Director of Pakistan Beverage Ltd., (Pepsi-Cola)Karachi, Hyderabad and Quetta. Apart from the beverage sector, he possessed considerable experience in textiles, dairy products and energy.

Siraj Teli’s outstanding contribution to the national economy and public service, philanthropic work, and extra-ordinary indulgence in Ashura incident the then president of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari conferred the award “Sitara-e-Imtiaz”.

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IHC restores suspended licence of pilot

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has nullified the suspension of licence of a pilot by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

The plea of pilot Saqlain Akhtar against the suspension of his licence was taken up by the IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah.

Secretary CAA Hassan Nasir Jafferi appeared before the court. Justice Minhallah asked that who finalised the report of pilots having fake licences. The CAA lawyer said that out of 250 pilots having suspicious credentials, licences of 50 were canceled and 32 were suspended.

The IHC top judge said that an important regulator body is nonfunctional for the last two years and remarked that the federal government cannot give additional charge of DG CAA to the CAA secretary.

The court after hearing arguments from both sides declared the July 14 verdict regarding the suspension of licence of pilot Saqlain Akhtar as null and void.

Aviation Minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan had announced in June that 262 airline pilots, whose credentials may have been falsified, would be grounded at once.

Among these pilots are 141 from Pakistan International Airlines, nine from Air Blue and 10 from Serene Air, he said, adding that the remaining were affiliated with flying clubs, chartered plane services or foreign airlines.

 

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