Bitcoin reaches $34,000 milestone as 2021 kickstarts

The world’s largest cryptocurrency, Bitcoin, has shattered the $34,000 benchmark just weeks after passing another major milestone, Bloomberg reported.

Supporters of the currency have opined that the coin could act as a store of wealth amid supposed rampant central-bank money printing, even as inflation remains mostly muted.

It advanced by almost 50% in December when it surpassed $20,000 for the first time, however, the currency gained as much as 7.8% to $34,182.75, before slipping to about $33,970 as of 3:05 pm on Sunday in Singapore.

According to the report, the latest gains top an eye-popping rally for the controversial digital asset in 2020, which rebounded sharply after a severe crash in March that saw it lose 25% amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The managing director of the world's biggest crypto lender, Nexo, said that the currency “will be on the road to $50,000" probably in the first quarter of 2021.

"Institutional investors returning to their desks this week will likely boost prices further after retail buying over the holidays," he added.

Meanwhile, experts suggest that there are reasons to be cautious, partly since Bitcoin remains a thinly-traded market.

The currency slumped as much as 14% on November 26 amid warnings that the asset class was overdue a correction. The big run-up in price in 2017 was followed by an 83% rout that lasted a year, the publication highlighted.

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International flights to Saudi Arabia resume as Kingdom lifts ban

Saudi Arabia has lifted a temporary travel ban imposed last month as a precaution after the emergence of the potentially more contagious variant of Covid-19 in a number of countries.

Entry to the Kingdom by air, land, and sea will resume at 11am Sunday, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The Saudi government, however, laid down some restrictions, including asking non-Saudis arriving from the United Kingdom (UK), South Africa, and other countries where a new variant of the virus has been detected to stay at least 14 days out of these countries before entering Saudi Arabia.

Citizens, who are allowed to enter into the Kingdom for humanitarian and urgent cases coming from countries where the new coronavirus variant has been reported, shall be quarantined in their homes under observance for 14 days, with two PCR examinations of the first shall be carried out after arrival within no more than 48 hours and the second before ending the quarantine on the 13th day.

Travelers coming from countries where the variant has been reported, they must quarantine at home under supervision for 7 days and take a PCR test on the sixth day from arrival.

Travelers coming from countries where the variant has not been detected, they must self-isolate at home for 7 days or self-isolate at home for 3 days and take a PCR test.

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A dozen US senators plan to overturn Joe Biden's victory

In a final attempt to support Donald Trump´s efforts to undermine the US vote, a group of Republican senators said on Sunday they will challenge Joe Biden's election win.

The senators are led by veteran lawmaker Ted Cruz in an initiative, which appears certain to fail as it flies in the face of rulings in dozens of courts and the findings by officials in several key states, that there were no widespread voting problems.

The Republicans' statement, signed by Cruz and six other current senators along with four senators-elect, asserts that "allegations of fraud and irregularities in the 2020 election exceed any in our lifetimes."

The group said that when Congress convenes in a joint session on Wednesday — for what normally would be a pro-forma certification of Biden's victory — they will demand the creation of a special commission to conduct an "emergency 10-day audit" of the election results.

The statement says individual states could then convene special legislative sessions and potentially revise their vote totals.

"An attempt to steal a landslide win. Can´t let it happen!" Trump tweeted Saturday.

Posting a list of the 11 senators, Trump added: "And after they see the facts, plenty more to come...Our Country will love them for it!"

They join Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri, who said earlier that he planned to raise objections on Wednesday.

A Republican member of the House of Representatives, Louie Gohmert, has also announced his plan to oppose certification, and more than 100 House Republicans reportedly will back his challenge.

Gohmert sought to further raise the stakes with a lawsuit that would have given Vice President Mike Pence — traditionally in a ceremonial role in Wednesday´s session — the power to overturn the election result.

Pence opposed that effort, and a federal judge in Texas on Friday rejected the suit.

On Saturday, a federal appeals court upheld that dismissal.

The Hawley and Gohmert challenges will ensure that Congress must meet to hear the complaints.

'The Electoral College has spoken'

The Congress sessions, sure to be contentious, will play out against a backdrop of pro-Trump rallies in Washington next week encouraged by the president himself.

As with Trump´s other attempts to reverse his election defeat, the latest political maneuvering appears doomed. Democrats control the House, and many Republicans are expected to vote Wednesday for certification.

The 11 senators conceded that most Democrats and "more than a few Republicans" would likely oppose their initiative.

Among them is Republican Senator Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania, whose state was a battleground that helped tip Biden into the win column. Its result is expected to be among those contested on Wednesday.

"A fundamental, defining feature of a democratic republic is the right of the people to elect their own leaders," Toomey said on Twitter.

"The effort by Sens. Hawley, Cruz, and others to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election in swing states like Pennsylvania directly undermines this right."

He added: "I voted for President Trump and endorsed him for re-election. But, on Wednesday, I intend to vigorously defend our form of government by opposing this effort to disenfranchise millions of voters in my state and others."

Utah Senator Mitt Romney, a vocal Trump opponent and onetime presidential candidate who lost a 2012 White House bid to Barack Obama, dismissed his colleagues´ rationale as "nonsense."

"The egregious ploy to reject electors may enhance the political ambition of some, but dangerously threatens our Democratic Republic," Romney said in a statement.

"Members of Congress who would substitute their own partisan judgment for that of the courts do not enhance public trust, they imperil it," he said, adding, "Has ambition so eclipsed principle?"

Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell has urged fellow Republicans to vote to certify and avoid a divisive political brawl, saying, "The Electoral College has spoken."

Biden won in the all-important Electoral College by a vote of 306 to 232.

Cruz is considered a likely 2024 presidential candidate. Hawley is also said to be positioning himself for a 2024 run — and so is Pence.

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PIA to resume flights to Saudi Arabia today as kingdom resumes international travel

The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) announced Sunday that it will resume flight operations to Saudi Arabia from today after the kingdom announced it was resuming international travel again.

Riyadh had closed its borders for travel last month after a new strain of the novel coronavirus had been detected in the United Kingdom.

On Sunday, the kingdom's civil aviation authority, the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) announced the country was resuming international travel in a notification following which PIA made the announcement regarding resumption of its travel.

A few days ago, the PIA had announced that it would repatriate Pakistani who had been stranded in Saudi Arabia following the outbreak of the second wave of the virus.

"Passengers will be able to travel to Saudi Arabia from today on all PIA flights," said the national flag carrier's spokesperson. "All travelers must obtain a [negative] PCR test before they travel."

PIA flights to Saudi Arabia suspended

Last week, all PIA flights to Saudi Arabia were suspended until further notice.

The development came after Saudi government temporarily suspended entry into the Kingdom after a new strain of the coronavirus was identified in the United Kingdom. The mutation is believed to be more contagious.

A PIA spokesperson had said that the national carrier had suspended 18 flights to and from the Kingdom on the directives issued by the Saudi aviation authority.

The PIA spokesperson had asked effected passengers to register through the airline’s UAN 11-786-786 with their working phone numbers to receive timely updates.

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Opposition struggle aimed at getting rid of 'illegal occupation' in Islamabad: Fazl

JUI-F chief and head of the anti-government coalition, the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Sunday said that Opposition leaders are struggling to get rid of the illegal occupation of the government in Islamabad.

Speaking to media in Multan, the JUI-F chief said that all PDM leaders are firm and united on their position and there has been no change in it. “Claims of change in policy are exaggerated and hold no degree of truth,” he added.

He said that Opposition lawmakers have submitted their resignations to party leaders, adding that the process was still underway.

“Islamabad is not someone's property, we are undertaking a legitimate struggle to get rid of an illegal occupation,” he stressed.

Referring to the Bahawalpur rally, the PDM chief said that today's show would be historic and would set a precedent for future rallies and public gatherings.

PML-N vice president Maryam Nawaz Sharif will host the PDM rally under Fazl's leadership.

PML-N spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb said that the rally will reach Lari Ada Chowk via Dera Iqbal Chandar, and will end at Chowk Seraiki where all three — Fazlur Rehman, Maryam Nawaz, and Yousuf Raza Gilani — are expected to address the rally.

Arrangements are underway for the rally. A venue has been set up at the lawn of MPA Malik Zaheer's residence. In addition, workers of the Muslim League Youth Wing also staged a motorcycle rally in the city.

Meanwhile, spokesperson for the district police said the administration had not yet given permission for the rally.

Warning notices have been issued to the organisers to cancel the rally and panaflexes as well as billboards in the city advertising the rally have been removed, he said.

The police spokesperson added that cases have been registered against local PDM officials and workers for violating coronavirus safety protocols.

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PDM has asked for democracy, not relief: Bilawal

PPP chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said on Sunday that the opposition Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) had never asked for "relief", and that it was instead seeking "democracy, [a] level playing field, and an end to unemployment, inflation and poverty".

Bilawal was talking to reporters in Thatta when he made the remarks in response to a question about the government's stance that the PDM was formed only to "seek an NRO (National Reconciliation Ordinance)"-like concession.

He said the government only brought up the NRO when it had no answer to the PDM's criticism but the people could "clearly see through these tactics".

Addressing questions regarding any disagreements between the PDM and PPP, he said: "Our CEC (Central Executive Committee) has endorsed every decision of the PDM." He emphasised that the decisions regarding contesting the upcoming by-elections or any other elections will be made from the PDM's platform "with consensus".

The PPP leader rubbished Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid's comments from the previous day who had said the PDM had accepted defeat and the PPP had won. "I understand that PDM's win is PPP's win and PPP's win is PDM's win so we are one. When PDM wins the people of Pakistan win," he said.

'NAP not being followed'

Bilawal also condemned Sunday’s incident in Balochistan where 11 coal miners were kidnapped and shot dead.

“I strictly condemn the terrorist and murderous action against the coal miners, and demand from the government that it implement the National Action Plan (NAP) and bring it into action,” he said.

He said the NAP had been forgotten and not been followed ever since the incumbent government came to power. Bilawal alleged that “major terrorists are escaping” and that culprits involved in the Army Public School (APS) attack were also being “let go”.

“Our innocent people are being left at the mercy of these terrorists, no investigations are happening and nor is anyone being caught,” Bilawal alleged.

Pointing to the interior minister and the federal government, he said if they did their jobs instead of “doing politics and making noise over PDM” then such incidents might be avoided.

Sindh and Balochistan Islands

The PPP chairperson also addressed the ongoing tussle between the federal and Sindh governments over the planned takeover of Sindh and Balochistan's islands beginning with Bundal and Buddo.

He said the PPP’s voice was the most prominent regarding the issue of the islands and that whenever such attempts had been made under authoritarian rule, the PPP was at the forefront in resisting them.

Bilawal further said the Sindh cabinet and Sindh Assembly had passed resolutions to show the “people of Sindh’s wishes and rejection of this move” and presented them to the whole country. “Sindh assembly doesn’t have the constitutional and legal right to overturn any ordinance but it will become the voice of the people and try where it can,” he stressed.

“In the National Assembly and the Senate, members of the opposition have continuously fought this issue […] and we will fail every such effort like this.”

Speaking about natural gas shortages in Sindh and Balochistan, Bilawal said the issue will be raised regarding the first right of use of the gas that Sindh and Balochistan produced. He said the two provinces had a constitutional right to the gas since they produced the most.

Media 'propaganda'

In reference to Rashid's comments yesterday on the PDM and PPP, Bilawal alleged that propaganda was being done through the media to sow discord in the PDM in which some ministers were involved. He appealed to the media to not give space to such elements.

He said the media had portrayed “Imran Khan addressing empty chairs as a revolution” but was now deliberately campaigning against the PDM on behalf of “undemocratic forces”.

The PDM is running a democratic movement for a “real, organic and national representative government”, Bilawal emphasised.

“PDM's workers [working together] with the people of Pakistan will face this government and send this puppet [government] home.”

He said the PPP had never looked to someone else but always believed in the “power of the people”.

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11 killed as armed men attack coal miners at Machh

Eleven colliers were killed and four others seriously injured after armed men on Sunday opened fire at them at the Machh coal field in Balochistan's Bolan district.

Police said armed men took the coal miners to nearby mountains where they shot them. At least 11 were confirmed dead and the injured were said to be in critical condition.

The wounded colliers were taken to the Machh hospital for treatment.

After news of the incident broke, police and Frontier Corps (FC) personnel arrived at the coal mine.

'Cowardly inhumane act of terrorism'

Prime Minister Imran Khan condemned the incident, referring to it as a "cowardly inhumane act of terrorism".

"Have asked the FC to use all resources to apprehend these killers & bring them to justice," the premier said on Twitter.

"The families of the victims will not be left abandoned by the govt," he vowed.

CM Kamal prays for speedy recovery of wounded

Taking notice of the Machh coal field incident, Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Kamal expressed sorrow over the loss of life and sought a report from the concerned authorities.

Kamal also directed the authorities to spare no effort in arresting those responsible for the terrorist attack, vowing for the elements involved in terrorist incidents to be brought to justice.

The chief minister also directed for the best possible medical treatment for the injured and prayed for their speedy recovery.

Balochistan govt rules out security lapse

Balochistan government spokesperson Liaquat Shahwani said the incident was an act of terrorism. "Investigative institutions are probing the incident from every angle to determine who is responsible for this," he added.

Terrorist activities in Balochistan are on the rise, Shahwani said, adding that the Levies personnel are present in the area to provide security.

"[Law and order in the area] was satisfactory; hence, this incident wasn't expected," he said, adding that the area where the killings took place was quite large.

The Balochistan government official said security in the area would be increased after assessing the situation. He vowed that those responsible for the incident would be brought to the book.

'Incident of sectarianism'
Speaking about the tragic incident, Balochistan Interior Minister Mir Ziaullah Langau said the victims of the attack on colliers by cowardly terrorists could not be identified.

"This terrorism is an incident of sectarianism," Langau added. "We are mourning today on the killing of poor [labourers].

"Irrespective of the sect, race and religion, our innocent brothers were targeted. The evils behind the tragedy will be unveiled soon," he said.

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