Wednesday, 30 December 2020
WASHINGTON, DEC 30 - The US State Department has approved the potential sale of 3,000 precision guided munitions to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in a deal valued at up to $290 billion, the Pentagon said on Tuesday.
The sale comes in the final days of US President Donald Trump's term. President-elect Joe Biden has pledged to halt arms sales to Saudi Arabia, the Middle East's biggest buyer of American weapons, in a bid to pressure Riyadh to end a war in Yemen that has caused the world's worst humanitarian crisis.
The package would include 3,000 GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb I (SDB I) munitions, containers, support equipment, spares and technical support, the Pentagon said.
“The proposed sale will improve Saudi Arabia's capability to meet current and future threats by increasing its stocks of long-range, precision air-to-ground munitions,” the Pentagon said in a statement.
It added that “the size and accuracy of the SDB I allows for an effective munition with less collateral damage.”
The Pentagon's Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress of the possible sale on Tuesday. Members of Congress have been angered by steep civilian casualties in Yemen and earlier this year tried and failed to block the sale of F-35 warplanes to Riyadh.
Despite approval by the State Department, the notification does not indicate that a contract has been signed or that negotiations have concluded.
The Pentagon said Boeing Co was the prime contractor for the weapons.
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Monday, 28 December 2020
ISLAMABAD, DEC 28 /DN/ - Akan Rakhmetullin, Ambassador of Kazakhstan to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan discussed Kazakhstan's Presidential Political reforms and their importance during an online conference on, "Kazakhstan's Parliamentary Election 2021: A Way Forward for Further Strengthening Democracy & Political Setup" organized by Center for Global & Strategic Studies (CGSS).
Ambassador Akan Rakhmetullin said, Parliamentary elections will be held in Kazakhstan on 10th Jan 2021.
Ambassador of Kazakhstan also discussed various issues of bilateral interest during the online forum.
Later in the discussion Mehmood Ul Hassan Khan, Member Board of Experts, CGSS & Regional Geopolitical Analyst further discussed that Kazakhstan has vowed to implement all International protocols of Elections. It has also given equal participation to all contesting political parties.
Mehmood Ul Hassan Khan discussed Vital actors of preparedness of free and fair elections in Kazakhstan in 2021. He shared that the Election commission is prepared for Structural reforms & people friendly reforms.
Ghazi M. Abdullah, Assistant Professor, Department of HIstory, University of the Punjab, Lahore further highlighted that Kazakhstan's Political system has demonstrated vibrancy and potential in their political and economic development.
Ghazi M. Abdullah, Assistant Professor, History Department, University of Punjab, Lahore discussed blessings of Political system in Kazakhstan. He highlighted the importance of the visionary leadership of Nursultan Nazarbayev in introducing productive reforms in Kazakhstan.
Mahboob Hussain, Chairman, Department of History & Pakistan Studies, University of Punjab, Lahore further commented that many effective reforms have been introduced by Kazakhstan, including 30% representation of women and youth in the upcoming elections.
Mahboob Hussain, Chairman, Department of History & Pakistan Studies, University of Punjab, Lahore discussed, Kazakhstan Parliamentary Election 2021: A Giant Step Towards Liberal and Functional Democracy.=DN
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LONDON, DEC 28 - Britain and Turkey are set to sign a free trade deal on Tuesday, the UK trade ministry said on Sunday, the first since Prime Minister Boris Johnson secured a new trade agreement with the European Union.
The two nations will sign a deal that replicates the existing trading terms between Ankara and London, but British trade minister Liz Truss said that she was hopeful a bespoke deal between the countries could be struck soon.
“The deal we expect to sign this week locks in tariff free trading arrangements and will help support our trading relationship. It will provide certainty for thousands of jobs across the UK in the manufacturing, automotive and steel industries,” Truss said in a statement.
“We now look forward to working with Turkey towards an ambitious tailor-made UK-Turkey trade agreement in the near future.”
The trading relationship was worth $25.25 billion in 2019, and Britain said it was the fifth biggest trade deal the trade ministry had negotiated after agreements with Japan, Canada, Switzerland and Norway.
Britain has now signed trade agreements with 62 countries ahead of the end of the Brexit transition period on Jan 1, when it leaves the EU’s trading arrangements.
It clinched its narrow trade deal with the EU, its biggest trading partner, last week.
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ANKARA, DEC 2020 - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan believes his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin to be an honest man who keeps his word.
Earlier, Putin told his annual press conference that Erdogan is a person "who sticks to his word" despite the fact that their views "can differ on certain issues."
"In fact, these are the words that describe him [Putin] as well," Erdogan told reporters after his Friday prayer. "After meeting Mr. Putin, this is what I learnt about him. He is indeed an honest man."
Erdogan also stressed that Russia has become "a rare country to keep its promises."
The Turkish leader also noted that "strong ties" were established with Moscow. "We [Turkey and Russia] are confidently moving towards our goals and I am certain we will continue to do so," he added.
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RAWALPINDI, DEC 2020 - A week-long photographic exhibition
to pay tribute to the father of nation Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah,
portraying his life and freedom struggle movement continue to attract visitors
of twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad at Punjab Council of Arts (PCA).
More than one hundred rare photographs were displayed in the
exhibition to highlight personal life of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and
his struggle for an independent state.
Aim of the exhibition was to introduce the struggle of
Quaid-i-Azam to the new generation, an official told APP.
A large number of art lovers, students, intelligentsia, researchers and general public were visiting the photo show to have a glimpse of the historical rare pictures of Quaid-i-Azam, he said.
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SARAI NAURANG, DEC 2020 - The Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) "demands" an Islamic system in Pakistan as the ruling PTI, as well as the Opposition-led Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), are "pursuing the agenda of British imperialism", party chief Sirajul Haq said Sunday.
Speaking at a rally in Qila Ground in Sarai Naurang town,
Lakki Marwat, Senator Sirajul Haq said the JI did not believe in caste,
ethnicity or heredity but that "we are trying to implement the Islamic
system" and that his party's politics was different from that of the PDM.
"Islam cannot be implemented" if there was PPP Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on one side and PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz on the other, he said, adding that the biggest reason the JI did not join the Opposition's coalition and its campaign against the PTI regime was because they "deceive the people".
In Pakistan, killers were not punished but rather protected
by the system, Haq added, lambasting the authorities for failing to arrest to
date the killers of "honourable and courageous Naqeebullah Mehsud", a
27-year-old native of Waziristan shot dead during a "police
encounter" in Karachi in January 2018.
"The police killed 400 people in Karachi. This system
is for the killers, the oppressors, the sugar mafia, the land mafia, and the
flour thieves," he noted. "No one can punish these oppressors here.
"We want an Islamic system where the law is the same
for all," he added.
'Ignoramus student
failing despite cheating'
Blasting Prime Minister Imran Khan, Sirajul Haq termed him
an "ignoramus student [who is] failing despite cheating" and
underlined that when the PTI chief had confessed to not being prepared,
"then why did he sit for the exam"?
"If he was not prepared, then why did he take the Prime
Minister's Office? This ignoramus student Imran Khan and his cabinet have
failed despite cheating."
The JI chief said that "clouds of danger hung above
Pakistan," as the country, according to him, has been "under the
pressure to recognise Israel".
'Will eliminate
interest system from Pakistan'
"Imran Khan had said he would become the ambassador of
Kashmir [but] the ambassador of Kashmir has handed over Kashmir to [Indian
Prime Minister Narendra Modi]," he said.
The senator added that the International Monetary Fund (IMF)
was putting pressure on Pakistan due to which electricity and gas were becoming
more expensive by the day.
"The government stands with its feet on people's necks. If we get a chance, we will eliminate the system of interest from the country," Haq vowed.
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ISLAMABAD, DEC 28 - The Capital Development Authority (CDA) administration is working on several projects to provide clean drinking water to the citizens. An estimated Rs495 million have been earmarked for other projects including repair and maintenance of rusting water pipelines, tube wells, water tankers, replacement, installation of new pipelines.
According to an official, the water supply department of CDA is active in providing clean drinking water to the citizens. In this regard, not only rusting and broken water lines are being repaired but also tube wells. Minor faults and damaged motors are also being repaired and replaced.
On the other hand, tankers of water supply department are also serving the city day and night for the supply of water to the city, while the said water tankers are also being repaired.
Tube wells have been repaired and renovated in G-10, G-11, F-11, I-9 and I-10. The water supply reservoirs are also being repaired. Water supply has been restored by repairing tube wells in G-6, G-7, G-8, G-9, G-10, G-10/3, G-11, F-6 F-7, F-8, F-10, I-9, I-10, H-9, H-10, Humk Town, Rawal Dam, Poona Faqiran and other areas.
The water supply department has also repaired 12 faulty water filtration plants after which now 35 water filtration plants have become operational. On the other hand, repair work of rotten water lines in Sector I-9, I-10, G-11, F-11 and F-10 is underway.
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Saturday, 26 December 2020
TAXILA, DEC 26 - Aviation Minister Ghulam Sarwar on Saturday hoped that the ban on the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) to operate flights to and from the European countries would be lifted soon as the concerns raised by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency's (EASA) over the safety atandards have been addressed.
Addressing the media in Taxila, the federal minister said eight new planes are being added to the national flag carrier and the EU’s concerns raised regarding the process of issuing licences to commercial pilots have been addressed.
The suspension imposed by Easa took effect on July 1, 2020, after it came to light that countless pilots possessed "fake" licences.
The ban was a big blow to PIA, which was already under scrutiny across the world due to the recently uncovered pitfalls within Pakistan's aviation industry.
In December, however, Easa had expressed its satisfaction over certain steps taken by the Civil Aviation Authority to improve the situation. The Easa had said a further audit by the agency's officials was imperative to revoke the ban.
The startling revelations came as the aviation minister presented the interim report on the probe into the May 22 PIA plane crash.
Following the report, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) had expressed concern over the "serious lapse in-licensing and safety oversight by the aviation regulator".
Criticising opposition leaders and its anti-government coalition Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), Sarwar said that PDM's tactics will not hinder the process of accountability.
He said that PDM is increasing pressure to bargain and the Opposition wants an amendment to the NAB rules. “Most people of PPP will not resign. A group within PML-N will also not resign,” he claimed.
He went on to add that the Opposition just wants a show of hands to avoid horse-trading in the Senate elections.
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ISLAMABAD, DEC 2020 - Experts at a webinar held on Wednesday called for elucidating newer efforts to increase awareness, foster connectivity and implement solutions in developing countries on air pollution and work with partners in the Global South to chart the way forward for this decade.
The webinar titled ‘Air Quality under South-South
Cooperation: What Works for Developing Countries, through the Lens of Science,
Technology and Governance?’ was jointly organised by COMSATS Centre for Climate
and Sustainability (CCCS) and Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organisation (ICESCO).
This webinar was 9th webinar of CCCS Webinars Series and
started with the welcome remarks of Head CCCS, Ambassador Shahid Kamal who
talked about importance of Air Quality research for policy formulation,
followed by message of Dr Raheel Qamar, Head of Science and Technology, ICESCO.
The webinar was moderated by Hassan Sipra, Senior Research
Officer, COMSATS University Islamabad (CUI).
Scientists from different regions of world talked about
crises of poor air quality and health issues especially in global south
countries.
Emphasising on health issues mediated from poor air quality,
they observed that to achieve Sustainable Development Goals, clean air plays
very important role in the context of, SDG 3 Good Health, SDG 7 Clean Energy,
SDG11 Sustainable Cites and SDG13 Climate Action.
Scientists talked about research in the area of air monitoring,
developing countries and even developed world are lacking research in this
area. Scientific and evidence-based knowledge is very important for policy
formulation.
Experts showed interest to conduct collaborative research projects with CCCS Network institutions in addressing the issue of air pollution.
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Friday, 25 December 2020
ISLAMABAD, DEC 25 - Australian High Commissioner to
Pakistan, Geoffrey Shaw has paid homage to Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah for
promoting the cause of democracy, equality, and freedom of belief.
In a special message on Quaid's birthday, he said it was an honour to visit the Pakistan Monument to pay respects to Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.
“Jinnah will always be the Quaid-i-Azam who millions admire - not just in Pakistan, but around the world.
His vision for a Pakistan based on the ideals of democracy, equality, and freedom of belief remains as important today as when he first addressed Pakistan’s Parliament in 1947,” he said.
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Thursday, 24 December 2020
BRUSSELS, DEC 24 - Britain and the European Union on Thursday finally
struck a post-Brexit trade deal that they hope will cushion the economic blow
of the UK's departure from the bloc after months of tortuous negotiations.
"The deal is done," British Prime Minister Boris Johnson tweeted, declaring that the UK would remain Europe's ally and "number one market".
"We have finally found an agreement," the
president of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen said.
"It was a long and winding road, but we have a good
deal at the end of it," she said. "The single market will be fair and
remain so."
Britain formally left the EU in January after a deeply
divisive referendum in 2016, the first country to split from the political and
economic project that was born as the continent rebuilt in the aftermath of
World War II.
But London remains tied to the EU's rules during a
transition period that runs until midnight on December 31, when the UK will
leave the bloc's single market and customs union.
'Solid foundations'
The final 2,000-page agreement was held up by a last-minute
dispute over fishing as both sides haggled over the access EU fishermen will
get to Britain's waters after the end of the year.
Von der Leyen said that although the UK would become a
"third country" it would be a trusted partner.
"This agreement is in the United Kingdom's interest, it
will set solid foundations for a new start with a long term friend," she
said.
"And it means that we can finally put Brexit behind us
and Europe is continuing to move forward."
Johnson — who rode to power pledging to "get Brexit
done" — insisted it was a "good deal for the whole of Europe and for
our friends and partners as well".
"It will not be a bad thing in my view to have a
prosperous, dynamic and contented UK on your doorstep," he said from
Downing Street.
Leaders around the continent were quick to herald the
11th-hour accord that heads off the threat of Britain crashing out of the EU
after 47 years of shared history with no follow-on rules.
Irish premier Micheal Martin — whose EU member state would
have been hard hit by a no-deal — said the accord was the "least bad
version of Brexit possible".
"There is no such thing as a 'good Brexit' for Ireland.
But we have worked hard to minimise the negative consequences," he said.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she was
"confident" that the deal was a "good outcome" as it now
goes over to EU member states to agree.
For French President Emmanuel Macron — often portrayed as a
bogeyman by the British tabloids — "Europe's unity and firmness paid
off".
EU states to ratify
Following the announcement of the political accord, von der
Leyen's Commission will send the text to the remaining 27 European member
states.
They are expected to take two or three days to analyse the
agreement and decide whether to approve its provisional implementation.
The UK parliament will also have to interrupt its end of
year holidays to vote on the deal before the December 31 cut-off.
Once it is signed off and the text published in the EU's
official journal it will go into effect on January 1 when Britain has left the
bloc's single market.
The European Parliament will then have a chance to
retrospectively approve the deal in 2021, speaker David Sassoli said.
Assuming the process goes as planned, the negotiating teams
will have agreed the mammoth deal in record time.
But with Britain outside the EU single market and customs
area, cross-Channel traders will still face a battery of new regulations and
delays.
Economists expect both economies, already weakened by the
coronavirus epidemic, to take a hit as supply chains are disrupted and costs
mount.
Despite this, the threat of a return to tariffs will have
been removed, and relations between the former partners will rest on a surer
footing.
All sides will look to put a positive spin on the deal to
make it look like they gave did not give too much away.
But it will be seen as win by Johnson, as well as a success
for von der Leyen and her chief negotiator Michel Barnier, who led almost 10
months of intense talks with Britain's David Frost.
After the shock 2016 referendum, in which British voters
narrowly chose to leave the union, Brexiteers boasted that they could win the
"easiest trade deal in history".
But European capitals were concerned that if such a large
rival on their doorstep were to deregulate its industry their firms would face
unfair competition.
Brussels insisted the only way to keep the land border
between Ireland and the UK open was to keep Northern Ireland, a British
province, within its customs union.
And members balked at giving up access to Britain's rich
fishing waters, which support fleets in France, Belgium, Denmark, Ireland and
the Netherlands.
It was the question of fish that emerged as the last
stumbling block as late as this week, when member states — led by France —
rebuffed UK demands.
London pushed to reduce EU fishing fleets' share of the
estimated 650-million-euro annual haul by more than a third, with changes
phased in over three years.
The EU was insisting on 25% over at least six years.
In the end, the final agreement settled on the EU's figure
but cut the length of the transition period during which it would be phased in
to five-and-a-half years, an EU official said.
After this time access to Britain's fishing grounds will be
negotiated on an annual basis.
The spectre of yearly uncertainty had caused major concern
for European fishing communities whose political symbolism far outweighs the
sector's economic worth.
But Barnier insisted after the deal was struck that the EU "will support its fishermen and women. It will accompany them".
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