China conducts drills near Taiwan Strait

The Chinese army has carried out a “naval and air force combat readiness patrol” near the Taiwan Strait following a contentious visit to the island by a group of American lawmakers, a spokesperson said.

Tensions between Beijing and Washington have soared over the fate of democratic self-ruled Taiwan, which China has vowed to one day retake, by force if necessary.

A group of American lawmakers arrived on the island Thursday offering support for the Taiwanese authorities, who Beijing accuses of seeking independence for the island.

In response, the Chinese army on Friday carried out “a naval and air force combat readiness patrol in the direction of the Taiwan Strait,” a spokesperson for the Eastern Theater Command said in a statement.

“This is a necessary measure in response to the current situation in the Taiwan Strait,” they added, pledging the army would “protect sovereignty and territorial integrity of the nation.”

“The army will continue to be on high alert and take all necessary measures to counter, at any time, any interference by external forces and any conspiracy by separatists aiming at the so-called ‘Taiwan independence’.” No other information about the drills was given.

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Taliban regime won't 'interfere' in other countries' affairs: Afghan PM

The Taliban co-founder and now prime minister of Afghanistan Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund pledged Saturday that his government will "not interfere" in other countries' internal affairs, and urged international charities to continue offering aid to the war-ravaged country.

Hassan's audio speech broadcast on state television -- his first address to the nation since the Taliban seized power in August -- came ahead of next week's meeting between the United States and the Taliban in Doha.

"We assure all the countries that we will not interfere in their internal affairs and we want to have good economic relations with them," said Hassan in a nearly 30-minute speech that came amid criticism on social media for remaining silent since the Islamists took power, even as the nation faced severe challenges.

"We are drowned in our problems and we are trying to get the strength to bring our people out of miseries and hardships with God's help."

The Taliban seized power on August 15 after ousting the previous US-backed government, as Washington hurriedly withdrew its troops from the country after a 20-year war.

The Taliban's previous regime was toppled in a US-led invasion after the 9/11 attacks in the United States that were carried out by Al-Qaeda, whose now-killed founder Osama bin Laden lived in Afghanistan at that time.

Hassan is a Taliban veteran who was a close associate and political advisor to Mullah Omar, the founder of the movement and its first supreme leader.

Said to be in his 60s, Hassan served as foreign minister and deputy prime minister in the movement's previous regime between 1996-2001.

He was placed on a UN Security Council sanctions list connected to the "acts and activities" of the Taliban.

- Plea for aid -

Hassan's government faces a series of challenges, in particular reviving the country's dilapidated economy that has been dried of international aid, which used to make up 75 percent of the national budget under the previous US-backed governments.

Inflation and unemployment have surged in Afghanistan, while the country's banking sector has collapsed since the Taliban takeover.

The financial crunch was aggravated when Washington froze about $10 billion of assets held in its reserve for Kabul, and deteriorated further after the World Bank and International Monetary Fund halted Afghanistan's access to funding.

The United Nations' aid agencies have warned that a major humanitarian crisis is unfolding in Afghanistan, with more than half of the country's 38 million population expected to face hunger this winter.

The rapidly worsening situation has forced Afghans to sell their household goods to raise money for food and other essentials.

"We ask all the international charity organisations to not withhold their aid and to help our exhausted nation... so that the problems of the people could be solved," Hassan said in his speech, insisting that the problems facing the country were the result of the previous governments.

As the Taliban struggles to emerge as a governing body, the group also faces a stiff challenge from the jihadist Islamic State group that has carried out several brutal attacks.

The US-Taliban talks are to address several issues such as fighting the threat of IS and Al-Qaeda, as well as humanitarian aid to Afghanistan.

Talks will also focus on how to offer safe passage out of Afghanistan for US citizens and Afghans who worked for Washington during the 20-year war.

Washington has insisted that any financial and diplomatic support to the Taliban is based on certain conditions, such as installing an inclusive government and respecting the rights of minorities, women and girls including to education.

"Girls' education has resumed to a large extent and there is hope that the education will be further facilitated," Hassan said, indicating that it would be guided according to Islamic principles.

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World Trade Organisation cancels ministerial moot due to Covid variant

Next week’s World Trade Organisation (WTO) ministerial conference, the global trade body’s biggest gathering in four years, was postponed at the last minute on Friday due to the new Omicron Covid-19 variant.

The WTO hoped the four-day gathering in Geneva would breathe new life into the crippled organisation, which has been stuck for years trying to make progress on resolving issues like fishery subsidies.

New director-general Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala was also hoping, against the odds, to make progress towards a deal on lifting Covid vaccine patents, proving the WTO had a relevant role to play in combating the pandemic.

But the conference was postponed four days before it was due to start, hours after Omicron was declared a variant of concern by the World Health Organisation.

Fears surrounding the spread of the variant saw countries banning flights from southern Africa, where the strain was first detected on November 9.

“This has not been an easy recommendation to make,” Okonjo-Iweala said.

“But as director-general, my priority is the health and safety of all MC12 participants – ministers, delegates and civil society. It is better to err on the side of caution.”

WTO General Council chair Dacio Castillo called an emergency meeting of all 164 member states to tell them about the Omicron situation, including travel restrictions and quarantine requirements.

The members unanimously supported the postponement call.

Okonjo-Iweala said the travel constraints would have prevented many ministers from reaching Geneva, rendering equal participation impossible.

The beleaguered WTO’s 12th ministerial conference (MC12) has already been postponed once before due to the pandemic. It was originally due to take place in Kazakhstan’s capital Nur-Sultan in June 2020.

The WTO intends to reconvene “as soon as possible when conditions allow”, said Castillo.

IP waiver must wait: The conference normally takes place every two years.

It was expected to draw more than 100 ministers to Geneva, where the organisation is based, including heads of state, plus 4,000 or so delegates.

The gathering was being seen as a test of Okonjo-Iweala’s ability to fulfil promises to turn around the crisis-hit institution.

The Nigerian former foreign minister, who in March became the first African and first woman to lead the WTO, has been widely hailed for her revitalisation efforts.

She has helped kick-start blocked trade negotiations, and made reaching a long-elusive deal to end harmful fishery subsidies a top priority for the conference.

She also stressed the urgency of agreeing on how to remove trade barriers blocking access to Covid-19 vaccines.

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UK scientist backs vaccines against Omicron

The British scientist who led the research underpinning AstraZeneca’s coronavirus jab said on Saturday a new vaccine could be developed against the emerging Omicron variant “very rapidly” if needed.

Professor Andrew Pollard, the director of the Oxford Vaccine Group, also said existing vaccines should work against the new strain, but that would only become apparent after more research in the coming weeks.

“It’s extremely unlikely that a reboot of a pandemic in a vaccinated population like we saw last year (with the Delta variant) is going to happen,” he told BBC radio.

But if required, “The processes of how one goes about developing a new vaccine are increasingly well-oiled, so if it’s needed that is something that could be moved very rapidly.”

The UK government announced new travel restrictions affecting inbound passengers from six African countries including South Africa.

The United States and European countries have followed suit on the restrictions, and the variant has been confirmed in Belgium.In a statement, AstraZeneca said it had “developed, in close collaboration with Oxford University, a vaccine platform that enables us to respond quickly to new variants that may emerge”.

The UK-based drugs company said it was “already conducting research in locations where the variant has been identified”.

Vaccine makers Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna and Novavax have also said they are confident of being able to combat the Omicron strain.

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SSGC stops gas supply to all captive power plants in Sindh, Balochistan

Gas supply was halted by the Sui Southern Gas Company Limited (SSGC) on Saturday to all captive power plants (CPPs) for general non-export industries across Sindh and Balochistan. It was done to meet the increasing demand of domestic consumers in winters on a priority basis.

Supply discontinuation will come into immediate effect and it will remain suspended till further orders.

Minister for Energy Hammad Azhar said a gas shortfall is being witnessed due to the use of heaters and geysers in winter season.

Meanwhile, the federal cabinet Saturday approved the agreements about depositing of $3 billion aid from Saudi Arabia in the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) and receiving fuel from it for one year on deferred payment.

Saudi Arabia will provide fuel worth $100 million on a monthly basis to Pakistan on deferred payments for one year, as per a private TV channel's report. The Pakistan government will pay 3.8% in interest to Saudi Arabia.

This agreement will initially last for a year, but could later be extended. A summary in this regard was sent by the Economic Affairs Division. The finance ministry, SBP and the FBR agreed on the agreement draft. The federal cabinet endorsed both deals via circulation summaries on Saturday.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman had promised to maintain a reserve of $3 billion at the SBP and provide fuel to Pakistan on extended payment facility for one year during a recent visit of Prime Minister Imran Khan to Saudi Arabia.

The agreement was that aid would remain in the SBP deposit account for one year. The SBP has finalised all arrangements and the amount is expected to be received within the next couple of days. Pakistan will, however, pay the Saudi government a 4% yearly profit on this sum.

The agreement with the Saudi government was forwarded to the Ministry of Law and the Office of the Attorney-General for Pakistan which reached an agreement on a draft.

Following a legal opinion, a copy of the agreement was submitted for approval to the federal cabinet.

 

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Pakistan bans entry from six southern African countries, Hong Kong over Omicron fears

Pakistan on Saturday announced a ban on entry from six southern African countries as well as Hong Kong "due to threat" from the new COVID-19 variant Omicron.

A statement by the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) said that a ban on direct or indirect inbound travel from South Africa, Hong Kong, Mozambique, Namibia, Lesotho, Botswana, and Eswatini has been imposed, with the countries placed in Category C "with immediate effect".

NCOC said Pakistani passengers travelling from these countries on "extreme emergency" will only be allowed after obtaining exemptions and ensuring the following protocols:

Vaccination certificate;

Max 72-hour-old negative PCR report before boarding;

Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) on arrival at the airport;

RAT negative cases will undergo 3 days mandatory home quarantine and re-RAT will be conducted on third day;

RAT positive cases will undergo 10 days mandatory quarantine at government or self-paid facilities;

Their PCR test will be conducted on the 10th day in quarantine.

However, to facilitate stranded Pakistanis, travel from these countries will be allowed till December 5, 2021, without exemption, but the aforementioned protocols will be applicable, the NCOC said.

In the statement, the NCOC also directed Aviation Division, airport management, and the Airport Security Force to devise a mechanism for screening passengers traveling from the above-mentioned countries through indirect flights and share it with all the concerned authorities by November 29.

NCOC urged people to take coronavirus safety precautions "seriously" in view of the new variant.

"Please ensure that your vaccination is complete, wear a mask and isolate yourself or get tested in case of any symptoms! Stay safe!!!" it wrote.

Earlier, Federal Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives and NCOC chief Asad Umar had said travel curbs were imposed on six southern African countries and Hong Kong.

"The emergence of new variant makes it even more urgent to vaccinate all eligible citizens 12 years and older," the federal minister said.

UK detects two cases, others suspect infections

The discovery of the new Omicron coronavirus has variant sparked global concern and triggered a sell-off on financial markets. But indicating that such curbs may not stem the spread of the variant, Britain said on Saturday it had detected two cases, and authorities in Germany and the Czech Republic also said they had suspected cases.

Although epidemiologists say travel curbs may be too late to stop Omicron from circulating globally, many countries around the world — including the United States, Brazil, Canada, and European Union nations — announced travel bans or restrictions on southern Africa on Friday.

On Saturday, Australia said it would ban non-citizens who have been in nine southern African countries from entering and will require supervised 14-day quarantines for Australian citizens and their dependents returning from there.

Japan said it would extend its tightened border controls to three more African countries after imposing curbs on travel from South Africa, Botswana, Eswatini, Zimbabwe, Namibia, and Lesotho on Friday.

Omicron, dubbed a "variant of concern" by the World Health Organisation, is potentially more contagious than previous variants of the disease, although experts do not know yet if it will cause more or less severe COVID-19 compared to other coronavirus strains.

The variant was first discovered in South Africa and had also since been detected in Belgium, Botswana, Israel, and Hong Kong.

Dutch authorities said that 61 out of around 600 people who arrived in Amsterdam on two flights from South Africa on Friday had tested positive for the coronavirus. Health authorities were carrying out further tests to see if those cases involved the new variant.

Financial markets plunged on Friday, especially stocks of airlines and others in the travel sector, as investors worried the variant could cause another surge in the pandemic and stall a global recovery. Oil prices tumbled by about $10 a barrel.

The new variant has also thrown a spotlight on disparities in how far the world's population is vaccinated. Even as many developed countries are giving third-dose boosters, less than 7% of people in low-income countries have received their first COVID-19 shot, according to medical and human rights groups.

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Pakistan Bar Council restores former IHC judge Shaukat Siddiqui's license

The Enrollment Committee of the Pakistan Bar Council on Saturday restored the practice license of former Islamabad High Court (IHC) judge Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui with immediate effect.

In a statement, the PBC stated that its committee on enrollment consisting of Syed Qalb Hassan Shah and Azam Nazeer Tarar met on November 24 in Islamabad under the chairmanship of Supreme Court judge Qazi Faez Isa, following a petition filed by the former judge to be allowed to practice as a lawyer.

According to the PBC, the committee considered the applicable rules, including Rules 106, 107, 108 and 108-0 of the Pakistan Legal Practitioners and Bar Councils Rules, 1976, to ascertain if any disqualification to have the applicant's license restored is attracted.

Article 18 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan also guarantees that every citizen shall have the right to enter any lawful profession or occupation, it said, and added that the committee was satisfied to restore the license with an immediate effect.

Siddiqui was removed from his post as per recommendations of the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) under Article 209 of the Constitution for conduct unbecoming of a judge during a speech delivered at the District Bar Asso­ciation, Rawalpindi, on July 21, 2018.

He will now be able to practice as a lawyer.

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