Court pardons Hamza's nonappearance from Ramzan Sugar Mill hearing

An accountability court on Tuesday accepted Punjab Assembly Opposition Leader Hamza Shahbaz’s plea to excuse him for skipping today’s hearing of the Ramzan Sugar Mills case.

Accountability Judge Amjad Nazir directed jail authorities to present him at the next hearing on December 7.

Hamza’s lawyer stated before the court that his client has been released from prison on five-day parole to attend the funeral of his grandmother Begum Shamim Akhtar and receive people coming to offer their condolences.

The judge expressing resentment over the accused’s absence asked who visits in the morning to extend condolences? Hamza should have appeared, he remarked.

The counsel requested the judge to excuse his client’s absence as there is only one day left before he returns to prison.

On November 27, PML-N president Shehbaz Sharif and his son Hamza Shahbaz were released from Kot Lakhpat Jail on a five-day parole.

Federal cabinet likely to approve cut in injections prices for COVID-19 patients

Prime Minister Imran Khan has summoned a session of the federal cabinet today in order to discuss a 14-point agenda which includes mulling over the reduction in injections’ prices for COVID-19 patients, as well as reviewed notification regarding rates of medicines, reported on Tuesday.

A summary will be presented by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the federal cabinet members for taking the policy decision to end diplomatic ties with France. It is pertinent to mention here that the high court had issued directives for presenting the summary for taking policy decision by the federal cabinet.

Moreover, the federal cabinet members will be given briefings on Bundal Island, Ravi Riverfront urban development project and Naya Pakistan Housing Authority (NPHA), as well as utilisation of state assets in Jammu and Kashmir.

The federal cabinet is expected to approve cut in injections’ prices for COVID-19 patients. The cabinet members will also decide on reviewed notification regarding the prices of medicines.

COVID-19: Pakistan records 2,458 new cases and 67 deaths in last 24 hrs

Pakistan has recorded fresh 2,458 COVID-19 cases and 67 deaths due to the virus in the last 24 hours, reported on Tuesday.

In the past 24 hours, 40 more people succumbed to the disease, taking the death toll to 8,091. 1,863 patients have recovered from the virus during the last 24 hours and 2,165 patients are in critical condition.

The positivity rate of COVID-19 cases reaches up to 5.9 per cent during 24 hours. The total count of active cases increased up to 49,105.

According to the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), with fresh inclusion of the infections in the country the national tally of cases now currently stands at 400,482.

A total of 40,969 tests were conducted across the country during this period. 343,286 people have recovered from the deadly disease while 5,549,779 samples have been tested thus far.

Indonesian aircraft 'wears mask' to spread awareness about coronavirus

Indonesian airlines PT Garuda has painted masks on its aircraft to spread awareness about the worsening coronavirus pandemic.

Indonesia's flag carrier, PT Garuda Indonesia Tbk, presented five of its aircraft with 'masks' to support the government’s "Ayo pakai masker", or Let's Wear Masks, campaign.

Garuda Indonesia has painted a special face mask design in blue colour onto the nose of its plane, the A330-900neo. These aircraft will provide services in Singapore and Japan along with domestic flights.

According to reports, some 60 people together painted the mask onto five planes in nearly 120 hours.

Update on Indonesia's coronavirus situation

Indonesia’s number of daily infections have reached 528,000 while the total deaths have exceeded 16,500.

Dr Wiku Adisasmito, a prominent public health professor leading Indonesia's COVID-19 task force, has blamed ignorance among the public for the virus transmission as people have failed to abide by health protocols.

Phillips blasts fastest T20 century for NZ

Glenn Phillips smashed the fastest Twenty20 International hundred for New Zealand to help the hosts to a 72-run win against West Indies on Sunday and an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

The middle-order batsman hit eight sixes and 10 fours in his 108 off 51 balls as the hosts, who won the opening T20 by five wickets, posted a massive 238 for three in their 20 overs after put in to bat first at the Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui.

West Indies kept losing wickets at regular intervals in their chase and could only reach 166 for nine.

Colin Munro had taken 47 balls to reach his century against West Indies at the same ground in 2018 for New Zealand’s fastest hundred in the shortest format of the game, but Phillips bettered the mark by taking a delivery less for his ton.

None of the West Indies bowlers could make an impact, with fast bowler Keemo Paul returning the worst figures among them, conceding 64 off his four overs.

The 23-year-old Phillips added 184 for the third wicket with Devon Conway, who made an unbeaten 65 off 37 deliveries.

“It was absolutely brilliant,” Phillips said. “Dev is an absolutely amazing player to play with and keeps you calm under pressure. To be a part of a partnership that big is just unbelievable. It was a lot of fun.”

WHO says ‘will do everything’ to discover origin of Covid-19

The World Health Organization insisted Monday it would do everything possible to find the animal origins of Covid-19.

“We want to know the origin and we will do everything to know the origin,” WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told reporters, urging critics who have accused the agency of handing the reins of the probe to China to stop “politicising” the issue.

The World Health Organization chief also voiced deep concern over a sharp increase in Covid-19 cases and deaths in Brazil in recent weeks.

“I think Brazil has to be very, very serious,” WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told reporters, after fresh cases in the country jumped from around 10,000 per day in early November to more than 50,000, and as the daily death rate shot up nearly ninefold in a week.

Petrol price to remain unchanged till December 15

The government on Monday decided to leave the prices of petrol, kerosene, and light diesel unchanged till December 15, a notification from the Finance Division read.

"The Government of Pakistan in its endeavor to provide maximum relief to the public has decided to absorb most of the increase in international prices of petroleum products," the notification said.

The notification, however, said that due to a "significant increase" in the international price of High-Speed Diesel (HSD), its rate has been raised by Rs4 per litre till December 15.

PM Imran Khan keen to resolve gas sector's issues: Omar Ayub

Prime Minister Imran Khan is keen to resolve issues pertaining to the shortage of gas and maintenance of its supply chain across the country, Minister for Energy Omar Ayub Khan said on Monday.

According to Radio Pakistan, the federal minister presided over a consultative meeting on the pricing mechanism of gas and LNG co-chaired by Special Assistant on Petroleum Nadeem Babar in Islamabad.

Babar stated that the production rate, which contributed to the supply-demand gap in the gas sector, has decreased over the years.

He highlighted the premier's vision to resolve the issue within the scope of the constitutional rights of provinces and in accordance with what is acceptable to all stakeholders. The premier's aide also apprised the forum about the cross-subsidy being provided by the government to the energy sector.

Energy ministers of Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Chief Secretary Balochistan represented their respective provinces.

The forum explored the issues, challenges, and plausibility of implementing a country-wide sustainable and affordable gas pricing mechanism.

At the outset of the meeting, Federal Minister Omar Ayub Khan thanked the provincial ministers for joining the meeting and coming together for "a national cause".

Pak Army greatly values time-tested, brotherly relations with China: COAS Bajwa

Pakistan's Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Monday had a meeting with China's Minister of National Defence General Wei Fenghe to discuss matters of mutual interest.

According to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the two leaders talked about regional security and enhanced bilateral defence collaboration, among other issues.

The visiting signatory acknowledged and appreciated the Pakistan Army’s sincere efforts towards maintaining regional peace and providing a secure environment to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects.

The Chief of Army Staff thanked Minister Fenghe for China’s unwavering support to Pakistan on all key issues, both at regional and international forums, the statement read.

“[The] Pakistan Army greatly values our time-tested and brotherly relations with China. We have been standing together all along, and our relations will be no different in wake of future challenges”, Gen Bajwa said.

Aside from the talks, the two leaders also signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the enhancement of defence cooperation between both the Armies.

The Chinese leader also laid a floral wreath at the Yadgar-e-Shuhada spot, while a contingent of Pakistan Army presented a guard of honour to him.

PTI's Khalid Khurshid elected as CM Gilgit-Baltistan

Khalid Khurshid of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has been elected Chief Minister of Gilgit-Baltistan.

Khurshid, who was picked by Prime Minister Imran Khan for the slot, managed to bag 22 votes while his rival Advocate Amjad Bukhari got nine votes.

Khalid Khurshid won Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly seat by defeating Pakistan Peoples Party’s Abdul Hameed Khan in constituency GBA-13 (Astore-I).

In all, the GB Assembly has 33 seats — 24 of which are contested through directed elections; six are reserved for women and three others reserved for technocrats and professionals.

In the elections, the PTI emerged victorious on 10 seats, while seven were won by independent candidates. The JUI and Majlis Wahdatul Muslimeen (MWM) won one seat apiece.

Six of the independent candidates have joined PTI after the election and the party already had a seat adjustment arrangement with the MWM.

PDM Rally: Maryam, Aseefa head to Multan

Aseefa Bhutto Zardari, daughter of PPP co-chairperson and former president Asif Ali Zardari, boarded on Monday a Multan-bound chartered flight at Karachi airport to attend the Pakistan Democratic Movement’s (PDM) scheduled rally there.

She was received by former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gillani and other party leaders upon arrival at the Multan airport. She will be representing PPP Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari at today’s rally of opposition parties.
The 27-year-old Bhutto will be making her political debut at the rally by addressing the public meeting in the absence of her brother who has been self-isolating himself after testing positive for the coronavirus last week.

PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz has also left for Multan in convoy. Shortly after her departure, she tweeted: “People of the land of saints, your daughters [Maryam and Aseefa] are coming to you.”

Newly elected GB Assembly to elect leader of House today

The newly elected members of the Gilgit Baltistan Assembly (GBA) will elect the leader of the House today.

Polling to elect the new Leader of the House will be held in the afternoon today, reported Radio Pakistan.

Nomination papers were received till 11:30 am and final list of candidates was displayed at 1200 hours.

Last week, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf clinched both speaker and deputy speaker seats in the Gilgit Baltistan Assembly (GBA).

PTI’s Syed Amjad Ali Zaidi was elected as Speaker of Gilgit Baltistan Assembly. He secured 18 votes while the joint opposition’s candidate Ghulam Muhammad got  8 votes.

Main ceremony of Guru Nanak Dev birth anniversary today

The festivities of the 551st birth anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak will come to its climax today, the last day of the celebrations, on Monday.

Sikh pilgrims from Pakistan, India and other parts of the world attending the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the founder of Sikhism.
The main ceremony of the anniversary will begin today with the morning hymns followed by Kathas and Kirtan in the praise of the Guru. Later a special community lunch will be held followed by night prayer sessions at Gurdwara.

The stalls in Nankana Sahib keeping commemorative postal ticket released by Pakistan’s postal service and commemorative coin issued by the State Bank of Pakistan.

A group of over 600 Sikh pilgrims from India reached Gurdwara Janam Asthan in Nankana Sahib on Saturday.

Sikh pilgrims in their pilgrimage in Pakistan, will attend religious rituals at six Gurdwaras in Punjab.

The main ceremony of the birth anniversary festivities of Baba Guru Nanak being held today at Gurdwara Janam Asthan.

The pilgrims will return back to India via the Wagah border crossing on Dec 1st at the end of their pilgrimage.

The celebrations will end after the Nagar Kirtan procession on Monday, followed by the Bhog ritual at night.

Every year, more than 2,000 Sikhs come to Pakistan to participate in the birth anniversary celebrations of Guru Nanak Dev.

However, the number has reduced this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Pakistan has rich Sikh heritage and culture with several holy places of the religion in the country.

Biden identifies more administration officials, Trump vows continued election fight

President-elect Joe Biden chose more senior aides to lead his administration’s efforts to defeat the coronavirus and rebuild the US economy, and his office confirmed on Sunday he would begin receiving classified briefings that are an essential step toward taking control of national security.

As the Democratic former vice president prepared for his move to the White House, Republican President Donald Trump pledged to maintain his legal fight to overturn the result of the Nov. 3 vote even while indicating in comments to Fox News that he was growing resigned to leaving office on Jan. 20.

On Monday, Biden will begin receiving the classified presidential daily briefing, after weeks of the Trump administration refusing to provide it. The PDB, as it is known, is the first step toward transfer of responsibility for the most sensitive intelligence to a new administration.

Biden also was expected to announce as soon as Monday top members of his economic team, a source familiar with the process said. They include several officials with whom Biden worked when serving as vice president to Barack Obama.

Neera Tanden, president of the progressive Center for American Progress think tank, will be named director of the Office of Management and Budget, and Cecilia Rouse, a labor economist at Princeton University, would be named as chair of the Council of Economic Advisers, the source said.

The picks were initially reported by the Wall Street Journal. The New York Times also reported on Sunday that Brian Deese, who helped lead Obama’s efforts to bail out the automotive industry during the 2009 financial crisis, would head the National Economic Council.

Biden also tapped campaign staff and advisers to lead an all-woman communications team, naming campaign spokeswoman Kate Bedingfield as White House communications director and veteran Democratic spokeswoman Jen Psaki as press secretary.
Separately, the 78-year old Biden visited a doctor as a precautionary measure on Sunday after injuring his ankle when playing with one of his dogs.

5 day nationwide polio vaccination campaign kicked off on Monday

According to the Pakistan Polio Eradication Programme, as many as 39 million children under the age of 5 years will be administered anti-polio vaccine drops across the country during the campaign that will continue until December 04.

Dr Safdar Rana, the head of the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) of the Pakistan Polio Eradication Programme, said a total of 285,000 polio teams will take part in the campaign.

In all, 9 million children will be vaccinated against the crippling disease in Sindh, 20 million in Punjab, 2.5 million in Balochistan, 6.5 million in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 240,000 in Gilgit Baltistan, 360,000 in Islamabad, and 660,000 in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

Dr Safdar appealed to religious scholars of all schools of thought to play their role in making the drive a success. A total of 81 cases of poliovirus have been reported this year thus far, he said. Of them, 23 were reported from Balochistan, 22 from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 22 from Sindh, and 14 from Punjab.

MQM leader Adil Siddiqui dies of coronavirus

Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leader and former provincial minister Sindh Muhammad Adil Siddiqui passed away on Monday due to complications caused by the novel coronavirus.

Adil Siddiqui who had arrived in Islamabad earlier this month was admitted to hospital after contracting coronavirus.

The politician was on a ventilator at a private hospital in Karachi, where he was pronounced dead today by the medical team.

The second wave of the COVID-19 has claimed several lives of people belonging to various walks of life including, journalists, politicians, and judges, and others.

Meanwhile, Pakistan has recorded fresh 2,839 COVID-19 cases and 40 deaths due to the virus in the last 24 hours.

In the past 24 hours, 40 more people succumbed to the disease, taking the death toll to 8,025. 1,613 patients have recovered from the virus during the last 24 hours and 2,046 patients are in critical condition.

According to the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), with the fresh inclusion of the infections in the country the national tally of cases now currently stands at 398,024. The positivity rate has reached 8.5 per cent in a day.

A total of 33,302 tests were conducted across the country during this period. 341,423 people have recovered from the deadly disease while 5,508,810 samples have been tested thus far.

Kaavan sets out on excursion to Cambodian safe-haven

Pakistan’s loneliest elephant, Kaavan, departed for Cambodia in the wee hours of Monday on a special chartered cargo plane from Russia.

A ten-member team, comprising veterinarians and technicians, accompanied the 35-year-old bull elephant on a long journey from Pakistan to a Cambodian sanctuary. On Sunday morning, Kaavan was sedated before being shifted into a special cage in which it was transported to the Islamabad airport.

The plane with the pachyderm on board was to depart yesterday but its departure was delayed by about 10 hours due to India creating obstacles to the elephant’s smooth, non-stop transportation to Cambodia.

Adviser to the Prime Minister for Climate Change Malik Amin Aslam said India should desist from its policy of hatred in the matter involving an animal’s rescue. He demanded of the Indian authorities to allow the plane carrying Kaavan to use the country’s airspace without making any stopover.

He said a reception committee would be ready at the Cambodian airport to receive Kaavan. Initially, a 10-acre area would be given to the elephant where the animal could see other elephants.

It is worthwhile to mention here that renowned pop star and animal rights activist Cher visited Pakistan to see the elephant off.

Kaavan was brought in Pakistan back in 1985 as a gift from Sri Lanka when he was one-year-old, whose inappropriate living conditions in Marghazar Zoo had irked onlookers as he remained chained and that, too, in a tiny enclosure.

Back in May this year, the Islamabad High Court decreed relocation of Kaavan since he was treated cruelly by the authorities concerned. Kaavan’s plight was given a boost over the years by American pop icon Cher, who publicly campaigned for the elephant’s relocation.

PDM to hold public rally in Multan today

Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) is all set to hold a public rally at Multan’s Qilla Kohna Qasim Bagh today (Monday) at any cost.

The Punjab government and local administration had denied permission to the opposition parties for the meeting owing to increasing virus cases in the second wave of the COVID-19 in the country.

The district administration of Multan has sealed the roads going towards Qila Qasim Bagh by placing containers. Meanwhile, Ghanta Ghar Chowk and several other roads have also been sealed by the administration to stop the arrival of the PDM workers.

The leadership of the Pakistan Democratic Movement including Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Maryam Nawaz, Yousuf Raza Gilani, Aseefa Bhutto Zardari and others are scheduled to address the public meeting.

Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari will address the PDM public meeting in Multan via video link as he is in isolation after being tested for coronavirus.

Coronavirus: Pakistan records 2,839 new cases in 24 hours

Pakistan has recorded fresh 2,839 COVID-19 cases and 40 deaths due to the virus in the last 24 hours,reported on Monday.

In the past 24 hours, 40 more people succumbed to the disease, taking the death toll to 8,025. 1,613 patients have recovered from the virus during the last 24 hours and 2,046 patients are in critical condition.

According to the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), with fresh inclusion of the infections in the country the national tally of cases now currently stands at 398,024. The positivity rate has reached 8.5 per cent in a day.

A total of 33,302 tests were conducted across the country during this period. 341,423 people have recovered from the deadly disease while 5,508,810 samples have been tested thus far.

According to NCOC, Pakistan’s COVID-19 positivity ratio has reached 7.1 per cent.

A meeting of the NCOC was held with Planning and Development Minister Asad Umar in the chair to review the situation of coronavirus cases and implementation on the SOPs across the country.

The forum was informed that the highest test positivity rate was recorded at 24.85 per cent in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), followed by Hyderabad at 22.18%, and Karachi at 18.96 %.

Four killed in Karabakh blast, Azerbaijan blames Armenia

Four Azeri civilians died Saturday after their car hit a landmine planted by retreating Armenian soldiers in the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region, Azerbaijan’s prosecutor general said.

The incident occurred in a village in Fizuli district, a statement said.

“The mine was planted by the Armenian armed forces during their retreat,” the statement said, adding that it was an anti-tank mine.

The statement called the incident a “new type of provocation” from Armenia.

Running along the border with Iran, Fizuli was among the districts claimed by Armenian fighters in a 1990s war that saw separatists declare independence over the Nagorno-Karabakh region and several surrounding territories.

Azerbaijan recaptured Fizuli in renewed clashes over Karbakh that started in late September and continued for six weeks, claiming more than 4,000 lives.

The ex-Soviet rivals signed a Moscow-brokered peace deal on November 9, ending weeks of heavy fighting and documenting that Armenia will surrender to Baku several territories that were under separatists’ control for more than three decades.

 

Coronavirus surge leads to curfew in San Francisco

A surge in coronavirus cases will put San Francisco under a curfew beginning on Monday and trigger other restrictions related to the virus, the city announced.

The curfew requires non-essential businesses to close and prohibits members of different households from gathering between 10 pm and 5 am until December 21, Mayor London Breed said Saturday.

San Mateo county outside San Francisco will also be subject to the same rules after the state of California classified both under its most restrictive tier of locations based on the spread of the virus.

In addition to the curfew, certain indoor businesses will be required to either close or reduce capacity beginning on Sunday at noon, Breed said.

“I don’t know how to be more clear — this is the most dangerous time we’ve faced during this pandemic,” Breed said on Twitter.

“Do not travel or gather with others. We have to get this under control now and we can’t afford to let things continue at this rate.”

On Friday, a temporary ban on gatherings of people from different households, with religious services and protests exempt, was announced for California’s largest city, Los Angeles.

That order affecting the United States’ second-largest city will take effect Monday and last at least three weeks, until December 20, Los Angeles county’s public health department said.

California imposed a night-time curfew across much of the state a week ago, but San Francisco was not affected because it was not at the time classified among the state’s most restrictive tier of locations.

The United States on Friday topped 13 million Covid-19 cases — the world’s highest — and President-elect Joe Biden has warned of difficult weeks ahead before vaccines become widely available.

Canada blocks bulk exports of some prescription drugs in response to Trump import plan

Canada on Saturday blocked bulk exports of prescription drugs if they would create a shortage at home, in response to outgoing US President Donald Trump’s efforts to allow imports from Canada to lower some drug prices for Americans.

“Certain drugs intended for the Canadian market are prohibited from being distributed for consumption outside of Canada if that sale would cause or worsen a drug shortage,” Health Minister Patty Hajdu said in a statement.

“Companies will now also be required to provide information to assess existing or potential shortages, when requested, and within 24 hours if there is a serious or imminent health risk,” the statement said.

The Canadian measure went into effect on Friday, just days before a U.S. “Importation Prescription Drugs” rule that would eventually allow licensed U.S. pharmacists or wholesalers to import in bulk certain prescription drugs intended for the Canadian market.

Neither the White House nor the Department of Health and Human Services had an immediate response to a request for comment.

Trump touted the plan in his first debate with President-elect Joe Biden, who has also said during his campaign that he would set up a similar import plan to try to reduce prescription drug costs for Americans.

“Canada is a small market, representing 2% of global drug sales, that sources 68% of its drugs internationally. The need for vigilance in maintaining the national drug supply continues,” the statement said.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in September he was willing to help other nations with pharmaceutical supplies if possible, adding that his priority was protecting the needs of Canadians.

Many of Canada’s drug suppliers opposed Trump’s plan, saying it could lead to shortages.

Will COVID-19 vaccines protect us? Does efficacy equal effectiveness?

The frontrunners in the COVID-19 vaccine race have emerged with different success rates for their shots in clinical trials, but what does that mean for the global fight against the pandemic?

U.S. drugmakers Pfizer-BioNtech and Moderna have each said their coronavirus vaccines have an efficacy rate of around 95% and a Russian project touted 92% efficacy for its Sputnik V vaccine.

Britain’s AstraZeneca announced an average efficacy rate of 70%, still well above the 50% rate that U.S. regulators have said they want to see before approving a COVID-19 vaccine for use.

WHAT ARE EFFICACY NUMBERS?

If a vaccine has an efficacy of, say, 80%, it means that if 100 people who have not previously been infected by the coronavirus are given the vaccine, on average 80 of them will not get the disease that the virus causes: COVID-19. These rates relate to vaccines administered and monitored in controlled circumstances, such as clinical trials.

DOES THAT MEAN AN INDIVIDUAL’S PROTECTION LEVEL IS THE SAME?

No. A person immunised with a vaccine that has, say, 80% efficacy is very likely to be protected from getting the disease with symptoms, especially severe ones.

They are also very likely to be protected from asymptomatic disease – but this, depending on the vaccine, may be less certain.

Even with 95% efficacy, there is no absolute guarantee of protection for any particular individual.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN IN THE REAL WORLD?

There is a difference between efficacy rates obtained in clinical trials and effectiveness – the real-world protection rate of a vaccine when it is rolled out.

“Efficacy says: ‘Does it work?’. Effectiveness says: ‘Can it be applied? Can you carry the efficacy to the people?’,” said Marcel Tanner, an epidemiologist and president of Switzerland’s Academies of Arts and Sciences.

In the real world, a vaccine’s effectiveness can be influenced by multiple, unpredictable factors including, for example: the rate of spread of a virus; how many, or few, people adhere to the optimum dosing schedule and timetable; how individuals’ immune systems respond; whether the vaccine was stored at the correct temperature; whether people know, or don’t know, if they’ve been exposed before.

Generally, a vaccine’s real-world effectiveness tends to be slightly lower than its efficacy.

WILL THESE VACCINES STOP THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC?

Experts say this is unlikely. More realistic, they say, is that we will have to live alongside the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Evidence so far suggests that COVID-19 vaccines developed by Pfizer-BioNtech, Moderna and AstraZeneca will help stop people developing the disease. Only AstraZeneca’s data, so far, shows signs that its shot may also help prevent transmission of the virus.

“Protection against illness has a value for an individual,” said Penny Ward,” a visiting professor in pharmaceutical medicine at King’s College London. She added, however, that vaccines that do not prevent transmission will not halt the pandemic.

“Until the vaccination and other measures result in the virus being close to elimination in any particular country, and worldwide, there will still be a need for distancing, masks and hand washing to reduce transmission further than will be achieved by the vaccine alone,” said Stephen Evans, a professor of pharmacoepidemiology at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

“(A) vaccine is no good until people are vaccinated, and even then, it will not result in a situation where all other protective measures can be immediately abandoned.”

Suicide car bomb kills 30 Afghan security personnel

A suicide car bomber struck an army base in Afghanistan on Sunday, killing at least 30 security personnel, officials said, in one of the bloodiest attacks in recent months.

The attack occurred on the outskirts of Ghazni city, capital of the eastern province of Ghazni, which has seen regular fighting between the Taliban and government forces.

It came as the government and Taliban are engaged in peace talks to end the war in the impoverished country that has killed tens of thousands of people in nearly two decades.

“Thirty bodies and 24 wounded people have been brought to hospital. All of them are security personnel,” Baz Mohammad Hemat, director of Ghazni hospital, told AFP.

Interior ministry spokesman Tariq Arian said a suicide bomber had detonated a vehicle full of explosives.

“The bomber drove a Humvee vehicle right inside the base and detonated it,” Ghazni governor spokesman Wahidullah Jumazada told AFP.

No group has so far claimed responsibility for the attack.

The Ghazni attack comes just days after two bombs killed 14 people in the historic city of Bamiyan, ending years of calm in the isolated town famous for its ancient Buddhist heritage.

In another suicide car bomb attack on Sunday, one civilian was killed and 20 others wounded in the southern city of Qalat in the province of Zabul, provincial police chief Hekmatullah Kochi told AFP.

He said the attack targeted the vehicle of Zabul provincial council chief, Atta Jan Haqbayan, who was wounded.

Violence surges

Sunday's bombings marked the latest carnage in Afghanistan, where violence has surged since the start of peace talks on September 12 in the Qatari capital of Doha.

Brutal attacks have killed more than 50 people in Kabul in recent weeks, including two assaults on educational centres and a rocket attack.

The three Kabul attacks were claimed by the militant Islamic State group, but Afghan officials blamed the Taliban — who denied any involvement.

The Taliban have launched daily attacks targeting Afghan forces despite engaging in the peace talks. The talks had been bogged down by disputes on the agenda, the basic framework of discussions and religious interpretations, but agreement has now been reached on all issues, according to sources close to the talks.

United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called for “expedited discussions” during a visit to Doha last week during which he met with both Taliban and Afghan government negotiators.

The Pentagon said earlier this month that it would soon pull out some 2,000 troops from Afghanistan, speeding up the timeline of a full withdrawal by May 2021 as agreed with the Taliban in a separate deal signed in February.

Brilliant Bairstow powers England to victory in first T20

England’s Jonny Bairstow bludgeoned a brilliant unbeaten 86 from 48 balls as the tourists chased down 180 to beat South Africa by five wickets with four balls to spare on a slow wicket in the first Twenty20 International at Newlands on Friday.

Sent into bat, South Africa posted a respectable 179 for six in their 20 overs, before claiming early wickets to have England in trouble in their reply.

But Bairstow, batting in an unfamiliar number four position, led the fightback as he sat deep in his crease and smashed nine fours and four sixes with the kind of exquisite timing few other batsmen found on the day.

The win will be pleasing for captain Eoin Morgan, who said this week he did not know his best XI in the shortest format but could already have had some questions answered ahead of the second fixture in the three-match series in Paarl on Sunday.

South Africa’s innings was anchored by their experienced former captain Faf du Plessis (58 from 40 balls), who was especially brutal on Tom Curran (1-55), smashing the England seamer for 24 runs in his second over that contributed to the bowlers most expensive figures in international Twenty20 cricket.

Brother Sam Curran (3-28) exac­ted some family revenge when he had du Plessis caught on the boundary by Chris Jordan and was the pick of the visitors attack with his career-best figures, and clever change of pace and ability to surprise with the short ball on a slow wicket.

Captain Quinton de Kock (30 from 23 balls) and Rassie van der Dussen (37 from 28 balls) also provided useful runs for the home side.

England were in early trouble in their reply, losing Jason Roy (0) second ball to debutant George Linde as South Africa took pace off the ball at the start of the innings.

When Jos Buttler (7) and Dawid Malan (19) fell the visitors had slumped to 34-3 in the sixth over. But Bairstow and Ben Stokes (37 from 27 balls) rallied, putting on 85 in 8.4 overs for the fourth wicket to drag England back into the contest.

England still needed 51 from the final four overs, but when Beuran Hendricks conceded 28 runs in his last over, the game swung heavily in their favour.

De Kock refused to blame the Hendricks over. “I don’t think it was just the one over. It was the way Jonny and Ben played. We didn’t play badly. They played really well.”

Bairstow survived one chance, when du Plessis leaped and dropped a one-handed chance on the boundary. Apart from that, Bairstow was utterly fluent, crunching boundaries over the leg-side or easing them away off the face of the bat on the off-side.

Man-of-the-match Bairstow said he didn’t care where batted after being a regular opener in white-ball cricket. “It’s something you’ve got to enjoy. You learn to craft your innings in different ways.”

'Loneliest' elephant Kaavan set to leave for Cambodian sanctuary

After years of campaigning by animal rights advocates and pop star Cher to rescue him from grim conditions with no companion, Kaavan was finally set to be airlifted to an elephant sanctuary on Sunday.

Experts spent hours coaxing a slightly sedated Kaavan into a specially constructed metal crate — at one point using ropes to help pull him in — that was to be hoisted onto a lorry and taken to Islamabad airport.

From there, Kaavan will be sent via a Russian transport jumbo jet for the lengthy flight to Siem Reap in northwestern Cambodia. The plane will stop for refuelling in New Delhi. A 10-member medical team is also accompanying the 36-year-old elephant.

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Climate Change (SAPM) Malik Amin Aslam, in a brief address on the occasion, said that a reception committee would receive Kaavan at the Cambodian airport.

Initially, Kaavan will be kept in a 10-acre area prepared for him, from where he will be able to see others of his species, Aslam said.

“Sending him to a place where he can be with other elephants of his kind [...] is really the right choice,” SAPM Aslam told AFP.

“We will be happy to see him happy in Cambodia and we hope he finds a partner very soon.”

Cher, the famed singer and Oscar-winning actress, spent recent days at the Islamabad zoo to provide moral support to Kaavan — an overweight, 36-year-old bull elephant — whose pitiful treatment at the dilapidated facility sparked an uproar from animal rights groups and a spirited social media campaign by the artist.

She spent several days in the Pakistani capital to visit Kaavan before the trip to a 10,000-hectare (25,000-acre) Cambodian wildlife sanctuary, with Prime Minister Imran Khan personally thanking the 74-year-old star.

“My wishes have finally come true,” Cher said in a statement thanking her charity Free The Wild.

“We have been counting down to this moment and dreaming of it for so long and to finally see Kaavan transported out of [the Islamabad] zoo will remain with us forever.” Cher was due to fly to Cambodia on Sunday to be in the Southeast Asian nation when the elephant arrives.

Kaavan's case and the woeful conditions at the zoo resulted in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) top judge this year ordering all the animals to be moved.

“Thanks to Cher and also to local Pakistani activists, Kaavan's fate made headlines around the globe and this contributed to the facilitation of his transfer,” said Martin Bauer, a spokesman for Four Paws International — an animal welfare group that has spearheaded the relocation effort.

On Friday, the IHC expressed best wishes for Kavaan and hoped that the animal would live a happy life in its natural habitat.

“This court wishes Kaavan bon voyage and expects that other animal species would be safeguarded from harm by seeking guidance from its example,” the court remarked after a hearing.

On Monday, officials and well-wishers gathered at Islamabad Zoo to bid farewell to Kaavan. He also received a farewell from President Arif Alvi and First Lady Samina Alvi at Islamabad's Marghzar Zoo on Tuesday.

'Loneliest' elephant

Dubbed by the press as the world's loneliest elephant, Kaavan is the only Asian elephant in Pakistan — the tiny number of other pachyderms at other zoos are African.

A team of vets and experts from Four Paws have spent months working with Kaavan to get him ready for the trip to Cambodia, which has included training the elephant to enter the massive metal transport crate that will be placed in a cargo plane for the seven-hour flight.

Zoo officials have in the past denied Kaavan was kept in substandard conditions or chained, claiming instead the creature was pining for a new mate after his partner died in 2012.

But Kaavan's behaviour — including signs of distress such as continual head-bobbing — raised concerns of mental illness.

Activists also said Kaavan was not properly sheltered from Islamabad's searing summer temperatures. Kaavan's mate Saheli, who also arrived from Sri Lanka, died in 2012.

Rights groups and conservationists have said that the abysmal conditions at the Islamabad zoo resulted in part from the lack of legislation in Pakistan aimed at protecting animal welfare.

“There's a lot of improvement to be made,” said Rab Nawaz with the World Wildlife Federation in Pakistan.

“Kaavan is just one animal. There's (sic) lots of animals in Pakistan [...] which are in miserable conditions."

NAB is blackmailing people: Deputy Chairman Senate

Senate Deputy Chairman Saleem Mandviwalla on Sunday said that it is the first time in history that the "Senate of Pakistan" is facing a tough time because of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

The NAB has recently frozen Mandviwalla's assets in connection with a fake accounts case. According to a report submitted by the anti-corruption watchdog on Tuesday, Mandviwalla had allegedly bought Benami shares in the name of a person accused in the fake accounts case. Later that day, the Senate chairman had categorically denied the allegations, calling the case "unfair and prejudicial."

Addressing a press conference on Sunday, the senator said that NAB is involved in "blackmailing people," adding that the National Commission on Human Rights, as well as the Supreme Court, have criticised the bureau for violations.

"When institutions like NAB violate human rights in this country, why is it that no one raises their voice against them?" Saleem Mandviwalla questioned. "When I raise my voice against the bureau's wrongdoings, I am served a notice."

He said that several members of the national assembly (MNAs) and senators have landed in trouble because of the NAB and people are blackmailed and humiliated in closed rooms during investigations.

"I will now take up the issue on the Senate floor and discuss it," Saleem Mandviwala maintained. "The NAB has accused me of making an anonymous transaction but I will show to the world that I have not done any such thing."

Defending himself, Mandviwalla added that NAB's Director-General Irfan Mangi has been accusing him of not doing any business despite him being related to the business industry for the last four generations.

"We must ask Engineer Irfan Mangi the basis of his promotion within the NAB. Earlier, I used to write letters to the prime minister but now I will reveal every information I have to the media. All members of the NAB should disclose their assets too and I will raise this matter in the Senate."

NAB halts further proceedings against Mandviwalla

On the other hand, NAB Chairman Justice (Retd) Javed Iqbal has taken notice of the allegations levelled by Saleem Mandviwalla and has ordered to stop further proceedings on the graft case against him until further orders.

"We have summoned the record of the case and will investigate it thoroughly," the chairman said.

"The NAB respects all parliamentarians in accordance with the law," he said, adding that the decision to continue or stop the proceedings of the case against Mandviwalla would be taken in light of the detailed scrutiny of the record.

"We will also give a chance to Saleem Mandviwalla to explain his position in accordance with NAB's rules."

PM Imran Khan lambastes Opposition, says PDM leaders 'lack empathy'

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Sunday lambasted the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), for holding rallies and jalsas amid a worsening coronavirus situation in the country and the Opposition parties' bid to save what he termed was "looted wealth and corruption".

In a series of tweets Sunday afternoon, PM Imran Khan said Pakistan is facing not only the COVID-19 pandemic but a "a political leadership that has never gone through any democratic struggle" and is not well-versed with the challenges ordinary citizens experience.

The premier criticised the Opposition leaders for lacking empathy and their families that "looted national wealth to further impoverish our masses".

Problem confronting us in Pak during COVID 19 is of a political leadership that has never gone through any democratic struggle, nor worked with ordinary citizens to understand the problems they confront, nor contributed in any substantive way for betterment of ordinary citizens.

— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) November 29, 2020

"These entitled 'leaders' living like royalty in their secluded mansions, have simply inherited their positions because of their families," he said. "Now their sole and desperate goal is to save their families' looted wealth and corruption of which they are an integral part."

PM Imran Khan reiterated his earlier stance that the Opposition parties and their leaders were only focused on a concession under the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO), which "is all that guides their politics, not any concern for the lives of ordinary citizens".

"Their desperation to get NRO any which way they can motivates them," he said.

The prime minister further slammed the Opposition for earlier opposing the smart lockdown strategy to curb the spread of the deadly coronavirus — Pakistan recorded over 2,800 new infections and has so far lost close to 8,000 people to COVID-19 — and "now, with [a] new spike, when we again need smart lockdown" in the country.

"They want jalsas, not caring for the lives and safety of people. They think this is their last means of pressuring us for NRO — which will never happen," he stressed.

The premier also took a jibe at the lifestyle of the Opposition leaders, which he said was no less than that of royals, and said they had "never worked a day in their lives".

"Having never worked a day in their lives, their 'shahi' lifestyles are directly dependent on saving their families ill-gotten, illegally acquired wealth through robbing and impoverish the nation," PM Imran Khan wrote.

PDM adamant on holding Multan rally, Fazlur Rehman terms govt's moves 'state terrorism'

Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Sunday vowed to go ahead with a public gathering in Multan scheduled for November 30 despite the PTI-led government's efforts to stop the Opposition coalition.

Addressing a press conference in the city, flanked by former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and PML-N's Rana Sanullah at a JUI-F seminary, Maulana Fazlur Rahman said the Multan rally would be held at all cost and all the leaders would reach the venue come what may.

The PDM leadership held a consultative meeting at a JUI-F seminary to review the situation after the Punjab government launched a crackdown against the PDM workers who had entered Multan's Qila Qasim Bagh stadium by breaking down the gates and removing containers.

Over 30 Opposition workers including Yousaf Raza Gilani's son, Ali Qasim Gilani, were arrested in the late-night operation by the police to take back the control of the stadium.

"PDM will hold the rally tomorrow at the same venue at all cost and all the leaders would reach the venue despite government threats of legal action," Fazl said. "This is state terrorism."

Fazl said that the Opposition alliance has formulated the strategy to counter government action.

"We are not ready to accept the lawlessness in the country and if they try to stop our rally, the flood of the people will sweep them away."

He threatened to use force if authorities stopped them.

Rana Sanaullah said that Maryam Nawaz will reach Multan at all cost.

Yousuf Raza Gilani said Aseefa Bhutto Zardari will address the rally tomorrow and condemned the police highhandedness against political workers.

Opposition 'looted national wealth'

Separately, Prime Minister Imran Khan lambasted the Pakistan Democratic Movement for holding rallies and jalsas amid a worsening coronavirus situation in the country and the Opposition parties' bid to save what he termed was "looted wealth & corruption".

In a series of tweets Sunday afternoon, PM Imran Khan said Pakistan was facing not only the COVID-19 pandemic but a "a political leadership that has never gone through any democratic struggle" and was not well-versed with the challenges ordinary citizens experienced.

The premier criticised the Opposition leaders for lacking empathy and their families that "looted national wealth to further impoverish our masses".

FIA arrested individuals selling fake papers for MDCAT

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on Sunday nabbed a group of individuals selling fake papers for the Medical Dental and College Admission Test (MDCAT) being held across the country today.

Taking to Twitter, the Pakistan Medical Commission (PMC) confirmed that the papers obtained from their custody are fake." The MDCAT examination has started and remains fully secure," the commission said in a tweet.

After multiple delays and hiccups, thousands of aspirants are appearing in the MDCAT exam today.

The MDCAT is taking place in designated centres under the strict implementation of the coronavirus-related standard operating procedures, the PMC stated.

The FIA arrested a group of individuals trying to sell fake MDCAT question papers to students. The papers obtained from their custody are fake.

The MDCAT examination has started and remains fully secure.

— Pakistan Medical Commission (@pmc_org) November 29, 2020

Police arrested several workers of PDM in multan

The police has launched crackdown against political workers in various cities and towns of South Punjab and arrested several workers of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) ahead of a scheduled public meeting of the opposition alliance in Multan on November 30.

According to reports, police arrested local leaders of PML-N Chaudhry Shahbaz Jutt, Sohail Butt, JUI’s Qari Khalilur Rehman and Maulana Muneer Ahmed Abbasi from Tiranda Mohammad Panah in the vicinity of Liaquatpur.

The police also conducted raids at the homes of political workers in Liaquatpur and arrested PDM local leaders Jam Javed Laar, Allahwasaya Khan, Usman Chandia, Imran Ashfaq Bagga and Ali Mansoor.

Moreover, police arrested PML-N’s former chairman municipal committee Hafiz Jameel Ahmed from Layyah and shifted him to the City Police Station.

JUI-F local leader Mian Ajmal Abbas and two PML-N workers arrested from Khanewal, another local party leader Ghulam Shabbir Saqi from Mohsinwal and 10 PML-N workers including a nephew of Chaudhry Shafiq MPA from Sadiqabad.

According to reports, 23 political workers including three leaders of People’s Party have been detained in Multan. Five political workers have been detained at Haram Gate police station and 10 others at Gulgasht.

Moreover, four People’s Party workers have been locked up at Cantt police station and three workers at Daulat Gate police station in Multan.

PM Khan briefed over a proposed bill to safeguard old-age parents

Federal Minister for Law Farogh Naseem on Saturday called on Prime Minister Imran Khan and briefed him over a proposal to draft law regarding safeguarding old-age parents.

Farogh Naseem presented three suggestions to the prime minister regarding the bill. Imran Khan directed the law minister to prepare a draft of law while including three suggestions presented by him.

Farogh Naseem while shedding light on the draft of the law, said that the legislation would cover parents who live in the residence, owned by their children.

The law would bar children from expelling the parents from their home, he said adding that it was aimed at adopting the government’s policy to strengthen the weak segments of the society.

He said that the parents who own property would have the right to ask their married children to arrange a separate housing facility for them.

“The parents would have the right to ask the son and daughter-in-law to arrange for their separate accommodation within 10 days of the notice,” the minister said.

Sharing the third suggestion, he said that the parents would have the right to stay in the residence owned by the children but constructed with the former’s money.

US court rejects Trump's Pennsylvania election case

A federal appeals court on Friday rejected an attempt by U.S. President Donald Trump’s campaign to block President-elect Joe Biden from being declared the winner of Pennsylvania, dealing another significant setback to Trump’s bid to overturn the Nov. 3 election.

“Free, fair elections are the lifeblood of our democracy. Charges of unfairness are serious. But calling an election unfair does not make it so,” wrote Stephanos Bibas on behalf of a three-judge panel.

“Charges require specific allegations and then proof. We have neither here,” wrote Bibas, who was nominated by Trump.

The Trump campaign and its supporters have tried and failed to convince judges of election irregularities in Michigan, Georgia, Arizona and Nevada, all critical to Biden’s victory.

“Voters, not lawyers, choose the President. Ballots, not briefs, decide elections,” said the appeals court opinion.

“On to SCOTUS!” wrote Jenna Ellis, a Trump campaign attorney, on Twitter after the ruling, referring to a planned appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. “The activist judicial machinery in Pennsylvania continues to cover up the allegations of massive fraud.”

Pennsylvania certified Biden, who won the state by 80,000 votes, as its winner this week. Under Pennsylvania law, the candidate who wins the popular vote in the state gets all of the state’s 20 electoral votes.

Trump, a Republican, has refused to concede to his Democratic rival and continues to claim, without evidence, widespread voter fraud.

But as his legal challenges to the results fail, Trump said on Thursday he will leave the White House if the Electoral College votes for Biden when it meets on Dec. 14, the closest he has come to conceding the election.

On Monday, Trump’s administration cleared the way Biden to transition to the White House, giving him access to briefings and funding even as Trump vowed to continue fighting the election results.

Biden won the election 306-232 in electoral votes, including Pennsylvania’s 20. Even if Trump overturned the outcome in Pennsylvania, he would still need to reverse the result in at least two other states to remain as president.

TIME RUNNING OUT
While Trump and his supporters continue to wage legal battles, time is running out as states as states have until Dec. 8 to resolve election disputes.

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to reporters after he participated in a Thanksgiving video teleconference with members of the military forces at the White House in Washington, U.S., November 26, 2020. Erin Scott
Legal experts have said the cases have no chance of success and may be aimed at undermining confidence in the election. Polls have showed a majority of Republicans believe Trump won the election and many believe the election was tainted, despite a lack of evidence.

Soon after Friday’s ruling, Trump posted a video from Newsmax on Twitter about alleged voter fraud in Nevada.

The Trump campaign filed the Pennsylvania case earlier this month, saying that county election officials had treated mail-in ballots inconsistently and asking U.S. District Judge Matthew Brann to halt certification of the results.

Some counties had allowed voters to fix minor deficiencies with their ballots, such as a missing “secrecy envelope,” while others did not.

Brann dismissed the case on Nov. 21, saying the case was based on “strained legal arguments” and “speculative accusations.”

The Trump campaign said it appealed on the “narrow” question of whether Brann improperly refused to let it amend the lawsuit a second time.

The campaign wants to add back allegations it dropped from the case, including a claim that its due process rights were violated.

The appeals court said many of the claims by Trump campaign are matters of Pennsylvania law but noted the campaign already lost on those issues in state court.

“It never alleges that anyone treated the Trump campaign or Trump votes worse than it treated the Biden campaign or Biden votes,” said the opinion. “The campaign’s claims have no merit.”

The other judges on the panel, Brooks Smith and Michael Chagares, were nominated by George W. Bush, a Republican.

Weekly inflation decreases of 0.92% due to a decline in food prices

Weekly inflation for the combined group during the period ended on November 26 recorded a decrease of 0.92 per cent due to a decline in prices of essential food items, according to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS).

The Sensitive Price Index (SPI) is calculated on the basis of the prices of 51 essential items collected from 50 markets in 17 cities of the country.

A report compiled by the PBS said the decrease was witnessed mainly due to a drop in prices of food items, including tomatoes, 10.26%; onions, 8.48%; chicken, 8.28%; sugar, 4.78%; mash pulse, 0.73%; moong pulse, 0.49%; masoor pulse, 0.25%; wheat flour bag, 0.20% and potatoes, 0.71%.

On the other hand, an increase was observed in the prices of food items i.e. bananas, up 1.76% and eggs, 1.08% and among non-food items firewood, up 1.04%. During the week, out of 51 items, prices of 11 (21.56%) items increased, 10 (19.62%) items decreased and 30 (58.82%) items remained constant.

The year on year trend depicts an increase of 7.48% with most of the items increased mainly chilies powder (up 86.31%), potatoes (69.19%), eggs (56.99%), chicken (45.14%), sugar (30.92%), match box (24.40%), sufi washing soap (20.79%), pulse moong (18.71%), pulse mash (18.25%), gur (18.18%), long cloth (16.57%), pulse masoor (16.25%), vegetable ghee 1kg (15.99%), bread (15.95%), mustard oil (15.89%) and shirting (15.72%). While a major decrease was observed in the price of tomatoes (down 33.23%), diesel (20.25%), garlic (18.15%), onions (15.89%), petrol (11.75%), electricity for Q1 (8.77%) and LPG (2.40%).

COVID-19: Sindh reports nearly 1,400 cases in a day

As many as 1,389 more people got infected from COVID-19 in the Sindh province during the past 24 hours on Saturday, reported quoting Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah.

Giving a routine briefing on COVID-19 situation in the province, Murad Ali Shah said that the positive cases were reported after they performed 9,072 tests in the province during the past 24 hours. “We have so far performed 1,961,855 tests in the province so far.”

“A total of 14 patients lost their battle against COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, raising the COVID-19 death toll to 2,911 in the province,” he said.

The chief minister further said that as many as 150,765 people have recovered from the deadly infection in the province so far including 1,650 overnight.

Pakistan’s COVID-19 tally
Pakistan recorded as many as 3,045 fresh Covid-19 infections and 45 deaths in the last 24 hours, according to the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC).

The total number of infections thus far reported across the country has reached 392,356 with the addition of new cases while the death toll from the highly infectious disease has soared to 7,942.

A total of 48,223 tests were conducted over the previous 24 hours, out of which 3,045 turned out to be positive. The positivity ratio of cases stands at 6.3, the NCOC said.

The number of active coronavirus cases has climbed to 46,861 while 672 people recovered yesterday, pushing the number of those recuperating from the disease to 337,553. At present, 2,172 of the patients under treatment are said to be in critical condition.

I broke Bano Qudsia's home's tube light: Ex-Captain reveals

Former Pakistan skipper Ramiz Raja, paying tribute to the acclaimed novelist Bano Qudsia on her 92nd birthday, shared an anecdote that most people are not aware of.

The former captain, in a tweet, said: "Today’s Google Doodle honours Bano Qudsia, writer [and] a spiritualist."

"[I] remember as a kid while playing tennis ball cricket at her home I broke her verandas tube light," the cricket commentator said.

However, as Raja readied himself for a scolding, he got nothing but affection from Qudsia as she, with a warm expression, just wanted to know whether he was fine or not.

Google honours legendary writer
Google today honoured the legendary Urdu writer on her 92nd birthday with a special doodle.

 

Today’s Google Doodle honours Bano Qudsia, writer & a spiritualist. Remember as a kid while playing tennis ball cricket at her home I broke her verandas tube light. Readying myself for a dressing down, all I got from her instead was a warm expression to know if I was ok. pic.twitter.com/a2lcinpIIC

— Ramiz Raja (@iramizraja) November 28, 2020

"Today’s Doodle honours the life and legacy of Pakistani novelist and stage and television playwright Bano Qudsia, affectionately known as Bano Aapa (Elder Sister), who is widely credited as one of the most significant Urdu language authors in modern times," said the US-based search engine.

Qudsia was known for writing on love and hope and had written Urdu classics like “Aadhi Baat” (Half Talk, 1968) and the novel “Raja Gidh” (The Vulture King, 1981).

She was born on November 28, 1928, in Firozpur, British India and started writing short stories when she was a child. She earned her Master's degree in Urdu after moving to Lahore post-partition. It was then when she also met her future husband and fellow luminary of Urdu literature Ashfaq Ahmad.

Qudsia was credited for writing thought-provoking television plays that led her to become a cultural trendsetter. She wrote 25 novels and also founded her own magazine called “Dastango”.

"Even as her legend grew throughout her six-decade career, she maintained a reputation for her radical acceptance and kindness, known to embrace those from all walks of life who approached her for mentorship or assistance," said Google.

The Pakistani governments honoured her with the Sitara-e-Imtiaz in 1983 and the Hilal-e-Imtiaz in 2000.

Hundreds of PDM workers take over venue for Nov 30 Multan

Hundreds of activists of the PPP and PML-N on Saturday overcame containers and obstacles set up by Multan authorities to reach the venue of the opposition Pakistan Democratic Movement's (PDM) November 30 pubic gathering.

Police and the district administration had placed at least 30 containers around the venue, Qila Kohna Qasim Bagh Stadium, and more were being brought in to block roads leading to the city. Police was also deployed outside the stadium as part of efforts to stop the PDM rally.

But on Saturday, hundreds of PPP activists reached the venue in the form of a rally led by former prime minister Yusuf Raza Gilani's son, Ali Musa Gilani, and broke the stadium's gate to enter and set up a camp there. They are expected to make preparations for the Nov 30 public gathering.

PML-N workers arrived at the stadium as a group led by Abdul Rehman Kanju.

The government and opposition have been at odds over the holding of public rallies at a time when Pakistan is in the throes of a second coronavirus wave. The Multan district administration has refused permission for the Nov 30 rally citing the high incidence of coronavirus infections.

Nonetheless, trucks carrying equipment could be seen arriving at the venue on Saturday and the stage was being prepared.

"The government can do whatever it wants to; the jalsa will end up taking place," Ali Musa Gilani and Haider Gilani told supporters.

"This is the plan A, B and C," added Musa.

PPP activists first gathered at the Gilani House for a workers convention from where they left for the venue in the form of a rally. They faced little resistance in entering the stadium from police personnel, who appeared unprepared for the situation.

Musa declared that the PPP workers will remain at the venue until the Nov 30 public gathering, which will coincide with the PPP's 53rd foundation day.

Meanwhile, Yusuf Raza Gilani also declared that the rally will take place at Qila Kohna Qasim Bagh Stadium "at all costs".

"A minister said a tragedy could take place at the jalsa; the government should tell what has been done in this regard so far. The focus is on arrests instead of ensuring security," the senior PPP leader said.

He claimed that generator suppliers had been asked not to provide generators for the public gathering, and accused the police of forcing arrested PDM workers to take the oath that they will "submit Rs1 million in the Punjab government treasury if they attend the jalsa".

Police sources earlier told that more than 200 workers of PDM constituent parties were arrested and raids were being conducted to arrest more. Lists of workers, particularly from the PPP and PML-N, were provided to respective police stations.

PM says PDM rally won't be allowed
On Friday, Prime Minister Imran Khan asked the PDM to call off its scheduled public gatherings in view of the rising number of Covid-19 cases in the country, categorically saying that the government would not give permission to the opposition to hold its rallies in Multan and other cities.

“The coronavirus is spreading dangerously, therefore the opposition should postpone PDM public meetings,” the premier said while talking to his spokespersons at Prime Minister House.

Quoting Prime Minister Imran, a participant of the meeting said: “The government will strictly enforce standard operating procedures and not allow the opposition to hold rallies as the health guidelines do not permit large gatherings.”

Some of the spokespersons suggested that those attending the public meetings be sent behind bars.

Criticising the opposition, the prime minister reiterated that he would not give any National Reconciliation Ordinance-like concession to the opposition leaders "no matter how many rallies they stage".

The PDM has so far held four anti-government public meetings in Gujranwala, Karachi, Quetta and Peshawar while two are scheduled for Nov 30 and Dec 13 in Multan and Lahore, respectively.

Bilawal Bhutto slams PTI govt for sacking Pakistan Steel Mills employees

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto on Saturday lashed out at the “heartless” PTI government for sacking over 4,500 employees of the Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM) and vowed to restore them once his party is in power.

The PPP supremo was reacting to the removal of thousands of the PSM workers who were laid off by the government in order to revive the industrial unit.

“The heartless government’s sacked 4500 workers of Pakistan Steel mills. PPP will return each and everyone back to work,” Bilawal Bhutto tweeted.

Terming their sacking an “economic murder”, he said the land of this historical industrial asset belongs to the people of Sindh.

 

The heartless government’s sacked 4500 workers of Pakistan Steel mills. PPP will return each & everyone back to work. The land of this historical industrial asset belongs to the people of Sindh, we will not let the PTI get away with this economic murder. Sack Imran not workers.

— BilawalBhuttoZardari (@BBhuttoZardari) November 28, 2020

We will not let the PTI get away with this economic murder,” he said and added: “sack Imran not workers.”

On Friday, the PSM sacked 4,544 of employees, including the divisional and assistant managers.

The management confirmed that officials belonging to category 2,3, and 4 pay groups have been dismissed from their jobs.

The PSM spokesperson had stated that dismissal letters have been sent to sacked employees by post.

However, he clarified that corporate secretaries of departments have been fired neither have the staff working in schools and colleges been let go.

 

New Zealand authorities ease some restrictions for Pakistan squad

The authorities in New Zealand have started to ease some restrictions on the Pakistan Cricket squad that is currently in a managed isolation facility in Christchurch.

A team source confirmed to Geo News that following a discussion between board officials and two negative tests of 47 members of the squad, some exemptions were granted to the players and officials.

“Those who have returned with two negative COVID19 test results since arrival in New Zealand are now allowed to have a walk in an adjacent ground during the allocated time to their group,” the source said.

It is worth mentioning that Pakistan’s squad was divided into four groups at their arrival in New Zealand and each group was physically disconnected from other groups.

The source added that players are also allowed to go to their balconies and interact with other group members from there maintaining a reasonable distance.

The PCB has also requested the authorities in New Zealand to allow the players to start training at earliest and a decision is likely to be made soon.

Earlier, the New Zealand health officials had imposed strict isolation rules to the visiting team that meant players were restricted to rooms.

There were incidents of some breaches of the rule that led to a final warning being issued to the team. However, since then things have improved and Pakistani squad members have cooperated with authorities in New Zealand.

The easing of restrictions also comes at a time when seven members of the squad have been in quarantine after testing positive for the coronavirus.

Pakistan’s active Covid-19 cases climb to 46,861 as 3,045 fresh infections emerge

Pakistan recorded as many as 3,045 fresh Covid-19 infections and 45 deaths in the last 24 hours, according to the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC).

The total number of infections thus far reported across the country has reached 392,356 with addition of new cases while the death toll from the highly infectious disease has soared to 7,942.
A total of 48,223 tests were conducted over the previous 24 hours, out of which 3,045 turned out to be positive. The positivity ratio of cases stands at 6.3, the NCOC said.

The number of active Covid-19 cases has climbed to 46,861 while 672 people recovered yesterday, pushing the number of those recuperating from the disease to 337,553. At present, 2,172 of the patients under treatment are said to be in critical condition.

Begum shamim Akhter dead body reaches Lahore

The dead body of Begum Shamim Akhtar, the mother of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shahbaz Sharif reached Lahore from London today (Saturday).

Begum Shamim Akhtar’s body reached Lahore via British Airways flight and was received in Lahore by members of the Sharif family and PML-L leaders and workers at the Allama Iqbal International airport.
Kosar, the sister of Nawaz Sharif has also reached Lahore along with the body.

Funeral prayers of Begum Shamim Akhtar will be held at 11:30 AM at the Sharif Medical City and she will be laid to rest at Sharif family’s ancestral graveyard next to the grave of her husband, Mian Sharif.

According to sources, the Qul ceremony of Begum Shamim Akhtar will be held at Jati Umra which will be attended by the Sharif family’s members.

PML-N leaders Shehbaz Sharif and his son Hamza Shahbaz Sharif were released from Kot Lakhpat prison on Friday on parole to attend the funeral prayers Begum Shamim Akhtar.

Begum Shamim Akhtar passed away in London on November 22 at the age of 89. She had developed a severe chest infection and was suffering from an advanced stage of Alzheimer’s Disease.

Her condition had deteriorated and she could not regain her health due to old age.

Finch, Smith tons, Hazlewood strikes as Aussies crush India in ODI

Skipper Aaron Finch and Steve Smith blazed centuries and Josh Hazlewood ripped apart the Indian top order as Australia won by 66 runs in the first one-day international at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Friday.

The Indians, coming out of coronavirus quarantine, looked rusty in their first taste of international cricket since February, as the Australians went on a run rampage to reach 374 for six after winning the toss.

Hazlewood then put the skids under the tourists, triggering a top-order wobble. Among his victims was the coveted wicket of skipper Virat Kohli, as India amassed 308 for eight in reply.

Australia enjoyed perfect batting conditions. Finch belted 114 and shared an opening stand of 156 with David Warner, who made 69 off 75 balls.

Smith had some early luck early before taking charge and hitting 105 off 66 balls with four sixes. He was saved by DRS after a confident appeal for leg before wicket on 15.

Then Shikhar Dhawan badly missed Smith's miscue on 38 at long on.

“I've been searching for something for a couple of months now, but a couple of days ago I started to hit the ball where I wanted it, and everything came back, the rhythm came back,” man-of-the-match Smith said.

“Finchy and Davey set an excellent platform, we could come and just take off.”

After Finch raised his 17th ODI century he was out for 114 off 124 balls trying to steer a Jasprit Bumrah lifter behind the wicket in the 40th over.

Glenn Maxwell hit a rumbustious 45 off 19 balls as Australia built a massive total to defend under the evening lights.

India made a fast start, the openers flaying the Aussie attack for 53 before Mayank Agarwal fell to Hazlewood for 22.

Kohli was dropped on one by Adam Zampa at fine leg after top-edging a Pat Cummins lifter.

The reprieve did not last long when the India skipper was cramped by Hazlewood and found Finch at mid-wicket, his night over at 21.

“We got enough time to prepare, I don't think there's any excuses on the field when you don't pull up as a side,” Kohli said.

“It's probably the first long game we've played in a while. The body language after 25-26 overs was disappointing.

“A quality side will hurt you [if you have fielding lapses]. We'll have to find out ways of getting a few overs from a few part-time [bowlers] in the side.”

Barefoot circle

Hazlewood picked up Shreyas Iyer, who failed to get his bat away from a bouncer and skying to Alex Carey for two, leaving the tourists at 80 for three.

Shikhar Dhawan and Hardik Pandya gave India an outside chance of pulling off victory in a 128-run partnership before Dhawan was caught by Mitchell Starc off Zampa for 74.

India's remaining hope went with Pandya who took on Zampa but failed to clear the rope and was caught by Starc for 90 off 76 balls. Zampa finished with four for 54 off his 10 overs.

India had not played international cricket since a tour of New Zealand earlier in the year and it showed with their outfielding ragged at times.

In contrast, Australia came into the match on the back of beating 50-over world champions England in September.

Even getting to the opening toss was an uphill battle for India, with wrangling over quarantine requirements and a recent outbreak of coronavirus in Melbourne complicating matters.

But Cricket Australia was desperate for the blockbuster tour, which also includes four Tests, to go ahead, with the funds generated crucial after the sport was hit hard by the Covid-19 shutdown.

Before play, both teams formed a ceremonial, barefoot circle to acknowledge the traditional indigenous owners of the SCG land.

Both teams also observed a minute's silence for the passing of Australia batting great Dean Jones, who died of a heart attack in India last September.

Trump says he'll leave if Electoral College seats Biden

US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that he will leave the White House if the Electoral College formalises President-Elect Joe Biden's victory even as he insisted such a decision would be a mistake as he spent his Thanksgiving renewing baseless claims that massive fraud and crooked officials in battleground states caused his election defeat.

"Certainly I will. But you know that,” Trump said on Thursday when asked whether he would vacate the building, allowing a peaceful transition of power in January.

But Trump — taking questions for the first time since Election Day — insisted that "a lot of things” would happen between now and then that might alter the results.

"This has a long way to go," Trump said, even though he lost.

The fact that a sitting American president even had to address whether or not he would leave office after losing re-election underscores the extent to which Trump has smashed one convention after another over the last three weeks.

While there is no evidence of the kind of widespread fraud Trump has been alleging, he and his legal team have nonetheless been working to cast doubt on the integrity of the election and trying to overturn voters will in an unprecedented breach of democratic norms.

Trump spoke to reporters in the White House's ornate Diplomatic Reception Room after holding a teleconference with US military leaders stationed across the globe.

He thanked them for their service and jokingly warned them not to eat too much turkey, then turned to the election after ending the call. He repeated grievances and angrily denounced officials in Georgia and Pennsylvania, two key swing states that helped give Biden the win.

Trump claimed, despite the results, that this may not be his last Thanksgiving at the White House. And he insisted there had been "massive fraud,” even though state officials and international observers have said no evidence of that exists and Trump's campaign has repeatedly failed in court.

Trump's administration has already given the green light for a formal transition to get under way. But Trump took issue with Biden moving forward.

"I think its not right that he's trying to pick a cabinet," Trump said, even though officials from both teams are already working together to get Biden's team up to speed.

And as he refused to concede, Trump announced that he will be traveling to Georgia to rally supporters ahead of two Senate run-off elections that will determine which party controls the Senate.

Trump said the rally for Republican Sens. David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler would likely be held Saturday. The White House later clarified he had meant December 5.

One of the reasons Republicans have stood by Trump and his baseless claims of fraud has been to keep his loyal base energised ahead of those run-offs on January 5.

But Trump, in his remarks, openly questioned whether that election would be fair in a move that could dampen Republican turnout.

“I think you're dealing with a very fraudulent system. I'm very worried about that,” he said. "People are very disappointed that we were robbed."

As for the Electoral College, Trump made clear that he will likely never formally concede, even if he said he would leave the White House.

"It's gonna be a very hard thing to concede. Because we know there was massive fraud," he said, noting that, "time isn't on our side".

"If they do," vote against him, Trump added, "they've made a mistake".

Asked whether he would attend Biden's inauguration, Trump said he knew the answer but didn't want to share it yet.

But there were some signs that Trump was coming to terms with his loss.

At one point he urged reporters not to allow Biden the credit for pending coronavirus vaccines.

"Don't let him take credit for the vaccines because the vaccines were me and I pushed people harder than they've ever been pushed before,” he said.

As for whether or not he plans to formally declare his candidacy to run again in 2024 — as he has discussed with aides — Trump said he didn't "want to talk about 2024 yet”.

All states must certify their results before the Electoral College meets on December 14, and any challenge to the results must be resolved by December 8.

States have already begun that process, including Michigan, where Trump and his allies tried and failed to delay the process, and Georgia and Pennsylvania.

Vote certification at the local and state level is typically a ministerial task that gets little notice, but that changed this year with Trump's refusal to concede and his unprecedented attempts to overturn the results of the election through a fusillade of legal challenges and attempts to manipulate the certification process in battleground states he lost.

Biden won by wide margins in both the Electoral College and popular vote, where he received nearly 80 million votes, a record.