The DOH said in the bulletin that the death toll climbed to 9,257 after four more patients died from the viral disease…reports Asian Lite News
The Department of Health (DOH) of the Philippines reported 891 new confirmed Covid-19 cases on Sunday, increasing the overall infection tally in the country to 477,807.
In a statement, the DOH said the low daily tally of cases is “due to a decrease in the number of patients seen in Covid-19 laboratories during the New Year”, Xinhua news agency reported.
“The DOH reminds the public to be cautious in interpreting these numbers as an increase in cases in the coming weeks is still possible,” the statement said.
The DOH said in the bulletin that the death toll climbed to 9,257 after four more patients died from the viral disease.
It added 8,316 more patients recovered, raising the total number of recoveries to 448,258.
The DOH added that it continues to assess the extent of the effects of the holiday season on Covid-19 transmission.
“The DOH asks all stakeholders to be vigilant in guarding against complacency in the fight against COVID-19,” it added said.
The Philippines has tested over 6.39 million people since the outbreak so far.
The Philippines has a population of about 110 million.
An official decision on a lockdown is expected to be taken Monday…reports Asian Lite News
Lebanon’s parliamentary Health Committee has recommended a three-week lockdown to curb the unprecedented surge in Covid-19 cases and reduce pressure on the health sector.
In a statement on Saturday, Head of the Health Committee Assem Araji emphasized the need to close the country for three weeks as the health sector is on the verge of collapse, reports Xinhua news agency.
An official decision on a lockdown is expected to be taken Monday.
Since the onset of the pandemic earlier last year, Lebanon has reported more than 184,000 confirmed coronavirus cases and 1,479 deaths.
After imposing tight restrictions in November 2020 to curb the spread of the pandemic, the Lebanese government eased the curbs before the December holidays, pushed a curfew back to 3 a.m. and allowed nightclubs and bars to reopen, reports Arab News.
Araji further siad in the statement that 100 patients had entered ICUs in the first two days of January.
“The death toll has reached 422 in one month, and the occupancy rate of ICUs has become 95 per cent, which necessitates imposing a three-week full closure across the country as soon as possible because the health sector is also in danger and heading toward disaster.
“There are about 2,000 doctors and nurses in quarantine as they have contracted Covid-19,” the Arab News reported quoted Araji as saying.
“Hospital emergency departments are full of patients,” the committee said.
“There are only 51 vacant intensive care units out of 515 rooms in all Lebanese hospitals. The remaining ICUs are filled with critical cases.”
The Secretary-General of the Lebanese Red Cross, Georges Kettaneh, said that hospitals in Beirut were no longer able to accommodate new cases.
“We are contemplating with the concerned parties the possibility of transferring these patients to hospitals outside Beirut and Mount Lebanon.”
A chief negotiator of the Afghan government has said that the issue of targeted killings will be discussed when the next phase of the peace talks with the Taliban will resume on January 5.
“This (targeted killings) is one of the serious issues that we need to raise and follow,” TOLO News quoted chief negotiator Masoom Stanekzai as saying on Friday.
The remarks come as six journalists have been killed in various incidents of targeted attacks across Afghanistan in the last two months.
On Friday, Bismillah Adil Aimaq, a journalist and civil society activist in Ghor province, was killed in an attack by unidentified armed men in the city of Feroz Koh.
On Thursday evening, Abdi Jahid, a civil society activist from Baghlan was killed in an attack in Kabul’s PD17 area, police said.
“We witnessed the killing of several journalists here in Kabul and in the provinces. This issue has raised concerns among the Afghan media community,” TOLO News quoted Reza Shaheer, a journalist based in the Afghan capital, as saying.
Since January 2020, 11 Afghan journalists and media workers have been killed, making this one of the deadliest years. Meantime, at least 60 militants have been killed and several others injured in clashes and airstrikes in Afghanistan’s restive Helmand province, the army said on Sunday.
On Saturday, Taliban shadow district chief of Helmand, Mullah Shafiullah alias Mawlawi Nazim, and his five associated were killed in airstrikes in surrounding areas of the province, Xinhua news agency quoted the Afghan Army’s Miwand 215 Corps as saying in a statement.
In addition, 54 Taliban militants had been killed and eight others wounded during separate airstrikes and clashes with the army in Sorgodar and Bushran, on outskirts of provincial capital Lashkar Gah, as well as Naway-i-Barakzai, Garmser and Nad Ali districts from early Friday to Saturday morning, the Defence Ministry said in a statement on Sunday.
“Those among the killed militants were a Taliban divisional commander Abdul Salaam and three militants’ bomb experts,” the statement read.
Eight Taliban’s control and command centres, weapons, vehicles and several rounds of guided rockets were destroyed during the airstrikes, according to the statement.
Helmand province, notorious for poppy growing, is a known Taliban stronghold.
The militant group is yet to make comments on the development.
Meanwhile, the Afghan Supreme Court has sentenced Mohammad Adil, the mastermind of the November 2020 Kabul University attack that claimed the lives of 22 people, to death.
In a statement on Friday, the Supreme Court said that five other collaborators of the attack were sentenced to various jail terms on charges of treason, transfer of explosive materials and cooperation with the Islamic State (IS) terror group which claimed responsibility, TOLO News.
Adil, a resident of Panjshir province, was recruited by Sanaullah, a member of the Haqqani Network terror group, according to Vice President Amrullah Saleh.
He was arrested just a few days after the attack.
Adil had been missing for the last three years and it was rumoured that he has gone abroad for “studies and war”, Saleh added.
On November 2, 2020, at least 22 people were killed and over 40 others were wounded after two gunmen attacked the University.
The victims included 18 students — 16 from the Public Administration Faculty and two from the Law Faculty.
Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Irrigation of Sudan, Egypt and Ethiopia are expected to participate in the talks…reports Asian Lite News
Sudan, Egypt and Ethiopia will hold a new round of talks on Sunday over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) on the Nile river under the patronage of African Union (AU).
“This meeting will discuss Sudan’s proposal aimed at reactivating the negotiations via giving a greater role for the AU experts to reach a binding legal agreement on the GERD according to Sudan’s previous request and then look into the draft of understanding prepared by the AU experts to reach a satisfactory deal for the three parties,” Xinhua news agency quoted Sudanese state media as saying in a report on Saturday.
Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Irrigation of Sudan, Egypt and Ethiopia are expected to participate in the talks.
Sudan, Egypt and Ethiopia have been negotiating under the AU over technical and legal issues related to the filling and operation of the GERD.
Ethiopia, which started building the GERD in 2011, expects to produce more than 6,000 megawatts of electricity from the project.
But Egypt and Sudan, downstream Nile Basin countries that rely on the river for its fresh water, are concerned that the dam might affect their water resources.
KUWAIT CITY, May 19, 2019 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi speaks at a press conference in Kuwait City, Kuwait, on May 19, 2019. Pakistan is ready to facilitate de-escalation of tension in the region and support peace and stability, visiting Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said here on Sunday. (Xinhua/Asad/IANS)
Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi (Xinhua/Asad/IANS)
The incumbent Imran Khan-led government of Pakistan will not resign on January 31 as demanded by the 11-party PDM opposition alliance, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi confirmed on Saturday.
Qureshi made the remarks while speaking to Geo News after the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) announced to intensify its anti-government campaign and again asked the Prime Minister to step down before the January 31 deadline.
“Prime Minister Imran Khan enjoys the confidence of the National Assembly. Why would he resign on the Opposition’s demand?” the Foreign Minister queried.
He said that the PDM had earlier announced to resign from the provincial assemblies on December 31, 2020, but the date has passed.
“The public has realised the Opposition’s true agenda and their ‘jalsas’ (rallies) do not have that strength,” Qureshi told Geo News.
Last week, Pakistan Peoples Party chief Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari’s had threatened to lead a long march to Islamabad if Khan did not resign by January 31, insisting that the there was no time left for dialogue.
The PDM has become a major resistance for Prime Minister Khan’s government, who maintains that the prime agenda of the opposition movement is to seek leverage and relief for political leaders from corruption cases.
Khan, in a recent statement said that no matter how strong the opposition parties may become, he will never be giving them any leverage against what he called stolen money of the people and the country.
A high court in London has ordered debiting at least $28.7 million from the accounts of the Pakistan High Commission in London over non-payment of the penalty by Pakistan’s National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to the foreign assets recovery firm Boardsheet LLC…reports Hamza Ameer
Pakistan’s National Accountability Bureau (NAB), an institution accused and blamed by political leadership for taking political maneuvering of the government and using it to nab top leaders of major political parties on charges of money laundering, assets beyond means and corruption worth billion of dollars, has been penalised for playing the delaying tactics in submitting the penalty amount of at least $21 million to the country in the infamous Broadsheet LLC case.
A high court in London has ordered debiting at least $28.7 million from the accounts of the Pakistan High Commission in London over non-payment of the penalty by Pakistan’s National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to the foreign assets recovery firm Boardsheet LLC.
As per the court’s order, the amount had to be debited from the accounts of the Pakistan High Commission in the UK by December 30.
The development was also confirmed by Pakistan Foreign Office sources, who said that London had ordered debiting millions of dollars from the Pakistan High Commission accounts.
Referring to the court order, the United Bank Limited UK had also written a letter to the Pakistan High Commission on December 29, requesting to provide written payment instructions along with debit account details to ensure smooth transaction of $28,706,533.35, which should be as per the Final Third Party Order issued by the high court.
The bank had also notified the Pakistan High Commission that in case the written payment instruction was not received by December 30, the bank would still proceed with unilaterally debiting the high commission’s account to meet the orders of the court.
Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan. (File Photo: IANS)
On the other hand, the high commission responded to the bank, stating that any unilateral attempt of debiting their accounts for the payment would be a violation of the international law and a breach of trust, which would impact future course of relationship with the bank.
As per reliable sources, NAB’s ignorance towards the sensitivity of the case and issue, has led to Pakistan’s loss of millions of dollars.
NAB was awarded a penalty of $17 million by London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA) in 2018, which was later added with a $3 million case cost. And in March 2019, the court awarded a $20 million final award.
As NAB did not pay the amount, addition of interest rate shot up the award amount to $28.7 million.
The penalty slapped with embarrassment on Pakistan’s top anti-corruption watchdog, comes with reference to the case, in which Broadsheet LLC was hired by NAB during Musharraf’s regime to trace hidden assets of 200 Pakistanis, which included former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and former President Asif Ali Zardari.
However, NAB terminated the agreement in 2003, due to which the firm’s claim against Pakistan was worth at least $600 million.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan
Renowned Albanian historian Dr. Olsi Jazexhi says India Pakistan must become friends to fight Chinese Expansionism …. Interview by Nadir Ali Wani
Dr. Olsi Jazexhi
Albanian Historian Dr. OlsiJazexhi said that India and Pakistan must forget their past differences and become friends, so as to fight Chinese Imperialism.
“Because after all Indians and Pakistanis are the same people the only difference is some are Muslims, and some are Hindus,” the renowned historian said in an exclusive interview. “They come from the same origin and moreover, you are Indo Europeans and you are different from Chinese in every aspect.
“In my opinion instead of spending money and time fighting on each other they should build economic bridges,” he added. “Pakistan and India have been historically together. They should come again together today.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan
“Believe me if the Chinese will one day annex Pakistan and parts of India, they will do the same thing as what they are doing to the Uighurs in China. They are very intolerant and they do not tolerate religion. They don’t tolerate other cultures too. If the Chinese imperialism captures Pakistan and India, there will be no Muslims and Hindus anymore. The Chinese will send both countries to concentration camps and enforce you to speak Chinese.”
Dr Olsi jazexhi was invited by Chinese authorities as a part of a delegation of journalists to showcase their re-education camps in Xinjiang province. This is how he managed to gain access to two vocational training centers in the city of Exudate and another in Kashgar. The historian has returned from a sponsored trip to Xinxiang province of China where he visited the local Uighur people.
He visited the Chinese re-education camps set up for the Uighur people.
Chinese President Xi Jinping
“The Uighurs are not allowed to practice their religion, nor allowed to observe their faith in that country and if one grows a beard in China one is not allowed access to social media,” said Dr Olsi.
He noted that there is no difference between Taliban, Al-Qaida. and the Chinese authorities. The radical Islamist Organisations either kill their opponents or forcibly convert them into Islam. China uses the same approach to de-Islamize Uighurs. China is brainwashing, jailing, and de-Islamising the Muslims in Xinjiang while simultaneously colonizing Xinjiang by settling Han Chinese colonists who are being brought from other regions of China in order to change the demography of the Muslim majority province of China.
The Chinese are advancing their imperialistic advance through the Himalayas and Central Asia. They are trying to rebuild the silk road and to penetrate through these roads. The Chinese had not been very successful like the Ancient Greeks who built colonies throughout the sea. They are not as good in the sea as they are good on land. It is in this context that Xinjiang is at the heart of a big clash between two imperialisms Anglo Imperialism on one hand and Chinese Imperialism on the other. India, Pakistan, Taliban, are just secondary players in this contest.
Finally, he requested the Indian government to take some Uyghur refuges and to host them in India as it does with Tibetans and Afghans. By doing so Indians are going to win hearts and minds of people of Muslims of the world.”
(Nadir Ali Wani is Director of Center for Peace and Justice, a research group based in Srinagar)
His new party has been named “The Israelis”…reports Asian Lite News
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4f8DGGGdio
Ron Huldai, Mayor of the Israeli capital of Tel Aviv, has announced that he was running in the upcoming national elections and has established a new party.
In a televised press conference on Tuesday, Huldai said:”We will not get used to a Prime Minister under indictments. I have decided that I can no longer stand on the sidelines.”
His new party has been named “The Israelis”, reports Xinhua news agency.
Justice Minister Avi Nissenkorn will be in second place on the new list.
Nissenkorn, who was also a lawmaker with the Blue and White party, announced earlier on Tuesday that he was resigning to join Huldai’s new party.
An opinion poll published by Channel 12 TV news on Monday predicts Huladi might get about six to seven seats in Israel’s 120-seat Knesset (Parliament).
Huldai is considered to be on the centre-left side of Israel’s political map.
The election, which will be held on March 23, will be the country’s fourth within two years.
The snap election was called after the governing coalition, formed just seven months ago, failed to pass the state budget for 2020.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (Yoav Dudkevitch/JINI via Xinhua/IANS)
According to experts, the government, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Benny Gantz, failed to tackle the crisis or any other issues.
Netanyahu is under indictment on three corruption charges.
This new election may pose Netanyahu with the greatest political challenge he has yet to face.
As the scene of the battle appears to be an internal one in the right, Israel may be in store for even longer political instability, the experts added.
The deal was signed on Tuesday by Turkish Trade Minister Ruhsar Pekcan and British Ambassador to Ankara Dominick Chilcott, in virtual presence of UK International Trade Secretary Liz Truss…reports Asian Lite News
Turkey and the UK have Tuesday signed a free trade agreement as the latter formally leaves the European Union (EU) this week.
The deal was signed on Tuesday by Turkish Trade Minister Ruhsar Pekcan and British Ambassador to Ankara Dominick Chilcott, in virtual presence of UK International Trade Secretary Liz Truss, reports Xinhua news agency.
“This is a historic day for Turkish-UK relations. We are taking the first step toward further deepening our ties while maintaining 25-year gains from the Customs Union,” said Pekcan in a speech at the signing ceremony.
The deal will secure existing preferential tariffs for the 7,600 UK businesses that exported goods to Turkey in 2019, ensuring the continued tariff-free flow of goods and protecting vital supply chains in the automotive and manufacturing sectors.
İkili ticaretimizin etkin ve sorunsuz devamı için attığımız bu imza iş dünyamıza hayırlı olsun.
The agreement will ensure preferential trading terms for UK businesses that exported more than 1 billion pounds worth of machinery, and iron and steel exports worth 575 million pounds to Turkey in 2019.
It also ensures UK businesses can continue to import under preferential tariffs, compared with no agreement.
The trade between Ankara and London were earlier subject to the regulations of Turkey’s Customs Union agreement signed with the EU in 1995.
“Today’s deal covers trade worth more than 18 billion pounds, delivers vital certainty for business and supports thousands of jobs across the UK in the manufacturing, automotive and steel industries,” Truss said.
ICYMI: the UK has signed a trade continuity agreement with Turkey. 🇬🇧 🇹🇷
At the virtual signing yesterday, @trussliz explained what this deal means for business and for the UK's future ambitions. 👇 pic.twitter.com/35NJsRXBdX
— Department for Business and Trade (@biztradegovuk) December 30, 2020
“It paves the way for a new, more ambitious deal with Turkey in the near future, and is part of our plan to put the UK at the centre of a network of modern agreements with dynamic economies.
“More trade and investment will drive economic growth across our UK and help us build back stronger from Covid,” she added.
The bilateral trade between Turkey and UK, Turkey’s second largest export market, was worth $25.25 billion in 2019.
The UK’s investments in Turkey are nearly $11.6 billion.
London has signed trade agreements with dozens of countries ahead of the end of the Brexit transition period on January 1, 2021, when it leaves the EU’s trading arrangements.
Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi met Ardakanian, who’s leading a delegation of high-ranking Iranian officials to Baghdad, to discuss the bilateral relations and means to boost cooperation..reports Asian Lite News
Iran’s Minister of Energy Reza Ardakanian has confirmed that his country will resume full natural gas exports to Iraq after reducing the supplies due to unpaid bills, which caused an acute electricity shortage in Iraq.
In an official statement issued on Tuesday in Baghdad, Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi met Ardakanian, who’s leading a delegation of high-ranking Iranian officials to Baghdad, to discuss the bilateral relations and means to boost cooperation, reports Xinhua news agency.
“Ardakanian conveyed the Iranian government’s pledge to urgently resume pumping Iranian gas, which was recently slashed due to technical reasons,” the statement said, without giving further details.
During his visit, Ardakanian also held meetings with Iraqi Minister of Electricity Majid Hantoush, Minister of Trade Alaa al-Jubouri and Iraqi Central Bank Governor Mustafa Mukheef.
Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi.
During the meetings, the two sides discussed financial cooperation, including Iraq’s payment of dues for importing Iranian gas and electricity, the official Iraqiya TV reported.
Ardakanian’s visit aimed to settle Iraq’s energy debts to Iran, which have amounted to more than $5 billion for gas imports from Iran, in addition to $1 billion for electricity imports.
Due to the unpaid bills, Iran slashed its natural gas exports to Iraq from 50 million cubic metres to 5 million two weeks ago, causing an acute power shortage in Iraq, according to Iraqi Ministry of Electricity.
