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AssAssinAtionwon’thAveimpActonirAnnucleArprogrAmme

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the roadside assassination, last week, of the Iranian nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh was an elaborate intelligence operation that played out like a blockbuster thriller, according to unusually candid accounts by the Iranian media. Fakhrizadeh, who was around sixty and had a graying beard, and also a bit of a paunch, has often been compared to J. robert Oppenheimer, the father ofAmerica’s atomic bomb, and A. Q. Khan, the father of Pakistan’s nuclear program. Fakhrizadeh had enough secrets in his head that he was followed around by a team of bodyguards; he also held the title of brigadier general.

On Friday, the Muslim holy day, he was reportedly travelling with his wife, in a black Nissan sedan, from Tehran to visit his in-laws in Absard, a town famed for its apple and cherry orchards, about forty-five miles away. highways around the capital are notoriously clogged, but travel restrictions imposed during the COVID-19 crisis have meant far less traffic. As Fakhrizadeh’s car neared a roundabout, a blue pickup truck parked near an electricity transmitter opened fire on the car and then exploded, cutting off local power, including to a nearby clinic; roadside cameras were disabled. One account claimed that a dozen gunmen—one group jumped out of a parked S.U.V. and another arrived on motorcycles, while snipers were hidden nearby— opened fire. A separate account, by Fars, the nation’s semi-official news agency, reported that all the fire came from the pickup truck, which was remote-controlled. Fars claimed that there were no human assailants at the scene; the whole operation took three minutes, the agency said. Both accounts said that Fakhrizadeh, hit multiple times, fell out of his car and bled out on the ground.The Iranian media released photos of the bulletriddled car and the blood stream. By the time a rescue helicopter got Fakhrizadeh to Tehran, he was dead.

The attack sparked fury in Iran, breathless headlines around the world, and a lot of speculation about retaliation, which could, in turn, spark a mini-war. No one claimed responsibility. But the hit, which required detailed intelligence about a secretive official’s weekend plans, his timing, and his route, mirrored four previous assassinations of Iranian nuclear scientists. Carried out between 2010 and 2012, the previous operations were BBC Soutik BiSwaS India uninterruptedly since 2014, has become the country ’s dominant party. Led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, it has won two genfastly expanded its pan-Indian footprint. The main

Political scientist Suhas Palshikar calls the BJP widely associated with Mossad, the Israeli intelligence agency. “Terrorists murdered an eminent Iranian scientist

“THE IRANIANS MASTERED THAT TECHNOLOGY TWENTY YEARS AGO. THIS GUY WAS IMPORTANT, NO QUESTION, BUT HE WAS NOT CRUCIAL TO IT. NOBODY IS CRUCIAL TO IT ANYMORE. THAT’S WHY DESCRIBING THIS AS A DEVASTATING BLOW IS NONSENSE”

today, ” the Iranian foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, tweeted, on Friday. “This cowardice—with serious indications of Israeli role—shows desperate warmongering of perpetrators. ” Iranian leaders vowed revenge. “Iran’s enemies should know that the people of Iran and officials are braver than to leave this criminal act unanswered, ” President hassan rouhani said, in a nationally televised cabinet meeting. “In due time, they will answer for this crime. ” rouhani added, though, that the government would not rush into a hasty decision.

The glaring irony of the sensational operation is that it will probably have a negligible impact on Iran’s nuclear program. “No individual is crucial in a nuclear program like this anymore, ” Bruce riedel, a former senior U.S. official who served in the National Security Council, the C.I.A., and the Pentagon, and who is now at the Brookings Institution, told me. “The Iranians mastered that technology twenty years ago. This guy was important, no question, but he was not crucial to it. Nobody is crucial to it anymore. That’s why describing this as a devastating blow is nonsense. ”

Fakhrizadeh was pivotal in developing the infrastructure for a weapons program and assembling the team to run it until 2003, Ariane Tabatabai, a fellow at the German Marshall Fund and the author of the new book “No Conquest, No Defeat: Iran’s National Security Strategy, ” told me. But in 2003, in a deal struck with the three major european powers,Tehran agreed to suspend its program. By then, Iran had most of the know-how anyway. Tehran has since shifted its focus to enriching uranium, the fuel needed for both atomic weapons and peaceful nuclear-energy reactors. The C.I.A. has repeatedly concluded that Iran has not returned to weaponization. Fakhrizadeh later moved to the Defense Ministry ’s Organization of Defensive Innovation and research.

The crucial factor today is that Iran has the knowledge needed to fashion a nuclear device, but it lacks the material—highly enriched uranium or plutonium—necessary to build nuclear bombs, Daryl Kimball, the executive director of the Arms Control Association, in Washington, D.C., told me. “Whatever role Mr. Fakhrizadeh has played in the Iranian nuclear program, his assassination will not have material effect on Iran’s capability to amass more enriched uranium, ” Kimball said.The enrichment program falls under theAtomic energy Organization of Iran, which is headed byAliAkbar Salehi, an M.I.T. graduate. Salehi was a key player during the two years of intense international diplomacy that led to the Iran nuclear deal, in 2015. he and his organization were sanctioned by the TrumpAdministration, in January. “But since Iran now has the know-how, no single Iranian scientist is essential to assembling that technology into a bomb, ” Tabatabai said. Instead, that decision would be political, and would be made by the Supreme National Security Council, then submitted to (VhP), a group described by a political scientist as a From a very early age, cadres belonging to the rSS, the 95-year-old bedrock of hindu nationalism, are taught a particular version of hindu history where “glorious hindus lose out because they stab each other in the back and they are not united” , says Prof Sitapati, who teaches political science and legal studies at Ashoka University. This is reinforced, among other things, through selective telling of history and the group’s fabled physical training exercises which are “not just exercise, but exercise done together” . Cadres are taught to march together, stand on top of each other with team bonding exercises in private firms. “All this lief has become an organisational ethic. This is not like aims at uniting hindus, who comprise more than 80% of Indians, and make them vote as one. That’s why it downplays caste - which has traditionally divided hindus and their political allegiances “ ups the volume on Supreme LeaderAyatollahAli Khamenei for his final approval. This is the same decision-making process that was involved in agreeing to talks with the United States in 2013, and to the eventual nuclear deal.

The domestic fallout from Fakhrizadeh’s assassination could be more impactful than the operation itself, partly because of the humiliation.The regime faces pressure to respond with bigger and bolder military action than it has in the past. “This is a truly serious blow to Iran, primarily in the eyes of the Iranian public, ” a leader of a Middle eastern country, who asked not to be named, told me. “This has very profound implications to its internal dynamics.Therefore, they may choose to retaliate to overcome the sense of embarrassment and vulnerability. ” Kayhan, a hard-line paper close to the Supreme Leader, urged the government to attack haifa, the Israeli port city, as a “deterrence, because the United States and the Israeli regime and its agents are by no means ready to take part in a war and a military confrontation. ”

The Fakhrizadeh assassination follows the U.S. drone strike that killed Major General Qassem Suleimani, the commander of the élite expeditionary wing of the revolutionary Guards, after he landed in Baghdad, in January.Tehran has long charged thatWashington and Jerusalem are in cahoots on Iran strategy.The White house did not comment on Fakhrizadeh’s assassination, although President Trump retweeted a Times story about it and two tweets—in english and in hebrew—by an Israeli journalist who wrote that Fakhrizadeh’s death was “a major psychological and professional blow for Iran. ” After the Suleimani assassination, Iran fired missiles at two Iraqi bases that also housed U.S. troops. NoAmericans were killed, but more than a hundredAmerican personnel suffered various degrees of traumatic brain injury; more than seventy of the troops returned to duty within weeks.

Since it abandoned the nuclear deal and resumed punitive economic sanctions against Iran, in 2018, the Trump Administration has orchestrated an escalating “maximum pressure” campaign to convince the Islamic republic to accept sweeping new provisions that cover its missile program, support for extremist movements, intervention in the Middle east, and human-rights abuses. The Administration has sanctioned dozens of Iranian institutions, banks, foundations, and government ministries and ministers, and has threatened to sanction nations and third-party companies that do business with Iran. So far, Trump’s strategy has failed. Iran has demanded assurances that sanctions will be lifted in any Islamophobia” , and emphasises the importance of ancient hindu texts, according to Prof Sitapati. caste. Dissent and intra-party conflict are common. from the Congress to form successful regional parties. new diplomatic arrangement.

Since the Fakhrizadeh assassination, the question increasingly being asked in Washington and in the fragile Middle east is about motive:Was the attack, now widely assumed to have been orchestrated by Israel, intended to kill one expert, or was it more broadly designed to undermine an initiative by the incoming Biden Administration to reëngage diplomatically with Iran—or both? The President-elect has repeatedly said that he wants to return to the nuclear deal. “I think the three amigos— Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Mohammed bin Salman, the crown prince of Saudi Arabia—share an overwhelming determination to prevent Joe Biden from reviving U.S. Iran diplomacy and the nuclear deal, ” riedel, the former U.S. official, said. earlier this month, Pompeo travelled to Israel and Saudi Arabia, and reportedly facilitated a meeting with Netanyahu and Bin Salman that many experts believe focussed more on joint efforts against Iran than on normalization of relations. reidel said that the Trump administration and Saudi officials are eager to thwart the type of diplomacy during the Obama years. “When you think back to 2016, when John Kerry called up his Iranian counterpart every week and spoke to him on the phone—it was extraordinary, ” riedel said. “The Saudis and Israelis are desperate to prevent that from happening again. how do they set up a situation where Biden is boxed in and can’t do anything about it?”

On November 12th, Trump asked Pentagon brass and cabinet officials, including Pompeo, about conducting a military strike on Iran’s nuclear program before he leaves office, on January 20th. In the end, the Times reported that Trump ceded to their concerns about the repercussions. riedel, like others, believes thatTrump is still considering military options, including a strike on Iran’s main nuclear facility, in Natanz.

Yet the assassination does not necessarily kill diplomacy, Wendy Sherman, the former chief U.S. negotiator on the Iran nuclear deal, told me. It “complicates diplomacy but does not foreclose it, ” she said. Both countries face challenges, particularly Iran. “It has a Presidential election in June. Will this strengthen the revolutionary Guards and the hard-liners? Or are the revolutionary GuardsandtheMinistryofIntelligenceandSecurityweakened,astheydidn’tprotecthim?”Shermansaid. “Whoinside Iran does this help or hurt?And does it make it more difficult to come to the table? Iran still has a devastated economy and COVID-19. Will that be most important?”

At Fakhrizadeh’s funeral service, on Monday, the Supreme Leader rejected negotiations with the United States. “OurenemiesopposethenatureoftheIslamicrepublic establishment, ” he said, in a statement read on his behalf. “They will never put an end to their hostilities towardus. ”Throughouthisthirty-one-yearreign,Khamenei has always said that the United States and its Western allieswerenottobetrusted.Yethehasrepeatedlyapproved negotiations, even as he warned against them.

With the ball now in Iran’s court on both military retaliationanddiplomacy,thecountryisdeeplydividedinto rival teams. hard-liners are pushing for tit-for-tat retaliation and rejection of new diplomacy with the BidenAdministration, hadi Semati, a former political scientist at Tehran University, told me. “They say, ‘enough is enough. ’ ” Some are talking about making the political decision to walk out of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treatyandmanufactureanatomicbomb.YetanotherfactioninIranadvocateslimitedretaliationthatdoesnottrigger a wider conflict, and encourages engagement with hard-linersintheU.S.andIsrael, ”Sematisaid. “Theyunderstand that the game is bigger than one assassination. ”

there is little doubt that the hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has ruled eral elections decisively and despite losing states, steadopposition party, Congress, is adrift and enfeebled; the once-powerful regional parties appear to have exhausted much of their potential; and no credible challenger to Mr Modi is visible on the horizon.

India’s “second dominant party system” , the first being former PM Indira Gandhi’s Congress which ruled the republic for more than half a century. The BJP is the only and first party to win clear majorities since rajiv Gandhi ofCongressdidsoin1984elections.AfterIndiraGandhi, who was murdered in 1984, Mr Modi is the “only leader to truly claim mass appeal almost throughout the country ” . The BJP’s electoral success is largely attributed to Mr Modi’s charisma and the politics of religious polarisation and strident nationalism. Its campaign is powered by an indefatigable network of workers, many of whom

the secret behind success of india’s ruling party BJp

MANY BJP, RSS AND VHP LEADERS I INTERVIEWED ADMIRED MR MODI’S FIDELITY TO IDEOLOGY AND KNACK FOR WINNING ELECTIONS. BUT MANY FOUND HIM RUTHLESS, SELF-AGGRANDISING AND SOLITARY, ” SAYS PROF SITAPATI

arefootsoldiersofitsideologicalfountainhead,rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (rSS), or Vishwa hindu Parishad “clamorous and militant sibling of the rSS” .

In recent years, the BJP has also thrived on generous and “opaque funding”; and the unwavering support of a wideswatheofuncriticalmainstreammedia.Butstepback a bit and the “secret sauce” of success of the BJP, as well astherSS,maywellbetheir“ unbendingfocusonunity ” , arguesVinaySitapati,apoliticalscientist,inhisnewbook Jugalbandi:TheBJPBeforeModi.(Thetitlelooselymeans aduetoftwosolomusiciansinIndianclassicalmusic,and alludes to the partnership of two of BJP’s well-known founders,Atal Behari Vajpayee and LKAdvani.)

in a pyramid, and play “games” that are more associated is to highlight the importance of unity.This unifying beevery cadre based party, ” Prof Sitapati told me.The BJP

Like other parties, the BJPhas suffered from its share of discord. It has been in power for barely 12 years of the four decade-long life in electoral politics. Being out of power meant there was no patronage to dole out to its workersforalongtime.relationsbetweenthetopleaders - Atal Behari Vajpayee and Lal Krishna Advani - were often rocky. It is well documented, for example, howVajpayee - now deceased - and a few members of his cabinet were unhappy with Mr Modi’s continuation as the chief minister of Gujarat after the 2002 anti-Muslim riots in the state under the latter’s watch. The riots began after 60 hindupilgrimsdiedwhenatraincarryingthemwasseton fire. Still the party stuck together. “They have sometimes been like an unhappy family which stays together. Their obsession with unity is based on the deep understanding of the flaws of Indian society, ” says Prof Sitapati.

Political parties are coalitions of competing interests and factions usually held together by charismatic leaders, ideologies, organisational prowess and, in India’s case, India’s parties have been splintered by competing egos of leaders and factional feuds. Leaders have broken away Biden. “They don’t want to play into the hands of the

Nothing of that sort has happened with the BJP - yet.

LedfirstbyVajpayeeandMrAdvani,andnowbyMr Modi and home Minister Amit Shah, the party, with ample support from the rSS, has held together. “I am revealing no secrets when I say that many BJP leaders dislike Mr Modi. Many BJP, rSS and VhP leaders I interviewed admired Mr Modi’s fidelity to ideology and knackforwinningelections.Butmanyfoundhimruthless, self-aggrandisingandsolitary, ”saysProfSitapati.Ithelps that the BJP, in the words of Milan Vaishnav, a political scientist, is an “ unusual party ” . “It is the political wing of abroaderconstellationofhindunationalistorganisations. It is very hard to separate the political entity from allied andnominallypoliticalentitiesassociatedwithit.Thenetworked model means that the BJP gains a lot of strength from its grassroots organisations and its dense networks help keep individuals inside the tent, so to speak, ” Prof Vaishnav, a senior fellow at the Carnegie endowment for International Peace in Washington, told me.

It is not that dissenters have not left the BJP. “The puzzle is that they don’t survive politically and return to the party. Perhaps the reason is BJP is a deeply ideological party and the ideological glue holds it together - and you will find this in the parties on the Left and right, ” says rahul Verma, a political scientist and co-author of Ideology and Identity, a book which explores the role of ideology in Indian politics.

Whether the BJP will stick together forever is impossible to predict. Its take-no-prisoners style of politics means they have thrown open their doors to defectors often tainted - from other parties. This can lead to inevitable contradictions over ideological ‘purity ’ . “how long you can manage the contradictions?” wonders Mr Verma. For as long as the party is winning, surely.

That’s why elections are the cornerstone of BJP’s existence. Mr Verma says BJP’s social base is expanding but their leadership still remains predominantly upper caste. That’s another contradiction the party might have to grapple with in the future. Critics believe BJP’s unabashedly majoritarian politics is altering the “idea of India” , one which was more tolerant and informed by secular values. “Their idea of India won, ” says Prof Sitapati, “because they worked as one. ”

corporate corner BUSINESS 09 ECC APPrOvES gAS SUPPLY TO PSM, EndS rEgULATOrY dUTY On COTTOn IMPOrT

KARACHI: Easypaisa, Pakistan’s leading digital payments platform has yet again added another feather to its cap by winning the Emerging Payments Award 2020 for the ‘Best Financial Inclusion Payments Initiative’ . The renowned mobile banking platform was one of the two winners, out of four contestants, to bag the awards. PRESS RElEASE

Jazz World becomes Pakistan’s largest local app with 7 million monthly users

KARACHI: Jazz World, the self-care platform of Pakistan's number one 4G operator, has crossed seven million monthly active users. This milestone cements Jazz World as the largest local app in Pakistan. This is a translation of Jazz’s customer-centricity ambitions into a consistent, digital experience that allows subscribers timely and effective assistance with most of their account requirements. Jazz World’s popularity has played a critical role in maintaining the connection with, and confidence in, the Jazz brand, which today serves more than 64 million subscribers. “Jazz World is a testament to our commitment of developing best-in-class digital products to facilitate our customers. 7 million monthly active users is a big milestone and we would like to thank all our users for placing their trust in us. Jazz remains committed to providing best-in-class customer experience to our loyal users, ” said Jazz Chief Digital & Strategy Officer Aamer Ejaz. PRESS RElEASE

UBL declared ‘Bank of the Year 2020 – Pakistan’ by The Banker

ISLAMABAD: UBL has been recognized as the “Bank of the Year 2020 - Pakistan” at the Banker Awards. The virtual awards ceremony was held on 2nd December 2020 in London. The Banker, an affiliate of the Financial Times UK, is the world’s leading financial publication for the last 94 years. Shazad G. Dada, President & CEO UBL, said on the occasion, “Being declared the ‘Bank of the Year’ by The Banker, the world’s leading financial publication, for the fourth time in a decade is indeed a great accomplishment. While the year has been tough and challenging given Covid-19, it has also given us ample opportunities to serve our customers more efficiently using our unparalleled digital solutions and geographical reach. I would like to thank all our stakeholders including State Bank and Government of Pakistan who have firmly supported us during these unprecedented times. ” PRESS RElEASE

LAHORE STAFF REPORT

THE Economic Coordination Committee (ECC)oftheCabinetonWednesdayapproved the release of Rs410-million grant to the Sui SouthernGasCompany(SSGC)forsupplyof gas to the Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM).

The decision was made during the ECC meeting which was held under the chairmanship ofAdvisor to Prime Minister on Finance Abdul Hafeez Shaikh to discuss a 10-point agenda.

Planning Minister Asad Umar, Industries & Production Minister Hammad Azhar, Privatisation Minister Muhammadmian Soomro, Adviser to PM on Commerce Abdul Razak Dawood, Power & Petroleum Minister Omar Ayub Khan, Maritime Affairs Minister SyedAli Haider Zaidi, SAPM on Petroleum Nadeem Babar, SAPM on Revenue DrWaqar Masood andAdviser to PM on Institutional Reforms andAusterity Dr Ishrat Hussain were also present on the occasion. State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Governor Reza Baqir joined the meeting through a video link.

Earlier in the meeting, the Ministry of Industries had suggested the ECC to defer the grant till the privatisation of PSM, and to release an overall grant of Rs984 million through technical supplementary grants (TSG). However, the ECC instructed the finance ministry to immediately release Rs410 million to clear SSGC's dues.

It may be mentioned that the SSGC had warned PSM of disconnecting their gas connection if the company fails to pay outstanding gas bills.

According to sources, a low flame gas supply of 2MMCFD is being supplied to PSM for primarily preservingcokeovenbatteriesandrefractorykilnsatanaverage monthly bill of Rs82 million despite the fact that the production activity had been discontinued in 2015.

The government had recently released Rs11bn for retired employees of PSM on court orders. Of the total, Rs3.85bn has been disbursed to employees.

Meanwhile, the committee approved a commerce ministry proposal regarding the removal of 5pc regulatory duty on import of cotton yarn till June 30, 2021, to enhance value-added exports.

Separately, the ministry submitted a summary seeking reconsideration of a decision regarding the procedure for registration under the concessionary regime of electricity, RLNG and gas in export-oriented sectors - erstwhile zero-rated sectors.

After due deliberation, the finance advisor directed to maintain status quo on the condition that the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) may register new manufacturers or exporters in five export-oriented sectors in coordination with the Ministry of Commerce till June next year.

Moreover, the Communication Division requested the ECC for conversion of National HighwaysAuthority (NHA) loans into a government grant or a complete waive-off for much-needed fiscal space. A detailed presentation was made before the forum to remodel NHA as a self-sustaining and performancebased organisation in this regard.

The committee directed the ministry to constitute

LAHORE: A vendor arranges fruits to attract customers to his roadside setup near Bhobatian Chowk. ZUBAIR MEHFOOZ

MARKET DAILY Bulls toss benchmark index above 42,000 level

KARACHI STAFF REPORT

Stocks continued their winning streak for third day on Wednesday, with the benchmark index crossing the 42,000-mark supported by upbeat investor sentiment.

Global equity markets also showed a positive trend, whereas crude oil prices dipped lower from the previous close; WTI crude price falling 0.22pc to $44.45 while Brent crude oil price declining 0.17pc to $47.34. "Pakistan Stock Exchange continued with this week's bullish momentum and finally crossed the 42,000 level on Wednesday. Cement sector led the index on the back of an increase in cement price in the northern region, which coincided with brisk buying activity in small and mid-caps in autos, chemical, steel, refinery and miscellaneous sectors, " a report issued byArif Habib Ltd read. SUMMARY: The KSE-100 Index remained in the green throughout the session, registering its intraday high at 42,074.11 after gaining 408.84 points. It settled higher by 362.11 points at 42,027.38.

Among other indices, the KMI-30 Index accumulated 702.09 points to end at 67,849.54, while the KSE All Share Index added 203.03 points, closing at 29,407.77.

The overall market volumes fell from 489.12 million shares in the previous session to 476.68 million shares (3pc). Average traded value, however, increased by 5pc, from $121.4 million to $127.2 million. Unity Foods Ltd (UNITY-0.98pc), TRG Pakistan Ltd (TRG +5.71pc) and Pakistan Refinery Ltd (PRL +1.13pc) led the volume chart, exchanging 39.73 million, 38.58 million and 34.57 million shares, respectively.

Sectors that drove the benchmark index north included automobile assembling (+73.39 points), banking (+58.32 points) and technology & communication (+36.63 points). Among the companies, Bank AL Habib Ltd (BAHL +40.96 points), TRG Pakistan Ltd (TRG +39.68 points) and Millat Tractors Ltd (MTL +39.05 points) remained the top contributors to the index.

Adding 4.81pc in its cumulative market capitalization, the automobile assembling sector ended as the session's top performer, with Honda Atlas Cars (Pakistan) Ltd (HCAR +3.60pc), Indus Motor Company Ltd (INDU 6.48pc) and Pakistan Suzuki Motors Company Ltd (PSMC 1.96pc) posting decent gains. a sub-committee under the chairmanship of Asad Umar to prepare within a month a proposal suggesting revenue generation roadmap for NHA. The NHAwas also granted a one-month moratorium to work out details and present recommendations regarding its financial viability before the forum.

Furthermore, the finance advisor approved the allocation of up to 9.5MMCFD gas from M/s Pakistan Petroleum Limited’s Benari X-I discovery to SSGC. Similarly, the allocation of 10MMCFD gas from PPL’s Hadaf X-I to SSGCL was also approved.

The ECC also accorded approval for allocation of additional funds for maintenance of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) building and judges residences throughTSG as requested by the Ministry of Housing and Works.

Among other decisions, the committee directed the logistics committee to ensure berthing of wheat and sugar vessels on priority while making sure that other imports are not affected.

However, due to shortage of time, the agenda item on Karachi Transformation Plan was deferred till the next meeting for a detailed discussion.

Later in the day, Adviser to Prime Minister on Commerce and Investment Abdul Razak Dawood in a statement on his officialTwitter account said that the removal of regulatory tax from cotton yarn will facilitate exporters of the apparel sector. "This is in line with our policy of getting more value-added products. The ECC decision will now go to the cabinet for ratification, after which it will be notified, " he added.

PIA signs cargo charter agreement with Oriental Sky Aviation

ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

Pakistan InternationalAirlines and Oriental SkyAviation Limited on Wednesday signed a landmark cargo charter agreement, paving way for direct and daily dedicated cargo flights between Pakistan and China. The instrument of agreement was signed between the PIAgeneral manager (charters) and Oriental SkyAviation MD Rush Wang at the PIAoffice. PIACEOAir MarshalArshad Malik and Chief Commercial OfficerAli Tahir Qasim were also present on the occasion.As per the agreement, PIAwill operate seven weekly flights to Urumqi (China), with four flights a week from Islamabad and three flights from Lahore. It will be a one-of-itskind operation as PIAhas never operated daily cargo flights on this sector. PIAwill be using itsAirbusA320s for the said operations. Upon contact, PIASpokespersonAbdullah Khan said that during Covid-19, airlines across the globe have seen unprecedented surge in demand for air cargo with many converting their passenger planes to cargo freighters to take advantage of this situation. "PIAis also aggressively pursuing this path and we are evaluating and looking out for opportunities to operate dedicated cargo flights to a number of sectors, specifically on China and Central Asian routes. PIAis already operating passenger and cargo charters to Bishkek in Kyrgyzstan and Xi'an in China. " Speaking on the small and modest ceremony, PIACEOAir MarshalArshad Malik appreciated his commercial team for taking initiatives to augment the existing revenue sources and thanked the Oriental SkyAviation MD for his patronage of PIA. He said that with a daily connection, trade and commerce between the two countries in the post-Covid scenario will be greatly facilitated and will help in normalcy after perhaps the most devastating year for commercial aviation worldwide.

Pakistan seeks to earn $210m from kinnow export this season

ISLAMABAD GHUlAM ABBAS

Expecting to export an additional 50,000 metric tonnes (MT) of kinnow, exporters have set a target of exporting 350,000MT of the fruit this season as compared to the 300,000MT exported last year.

According to documents available with this scribe, the All Pakistan Fruit & Vegetable Exporters Association (PFVA) had commenced the export of kinnow from Dec 1. The association expects to fetch foreign exchange worth $210 million this season.

It may be mentioned that Pakistan's total production of kinnow is estimated to be around 2,100,000 metric tonnes this year; however, the production of exportable quality kinnow is far less. Of the total produce, 75pc consists of B and C grade kinnow that are not up to exportable standards. This is because the orchards are 60 years old and susceptible to various diseases.

In addition, Pakistani kinnow suffers from the common disease of blemish and melanoses which badly affects its cosmetic look. Owing to this very reason, the PFVA, for the last several years, had imposed a 'self-ban' on exports to Europe to avoid a ban by the EU itself.

Presently, as the demand for citrus fruits containing vitamin C was increasing in the international markets due to coronavirus pandemic, Pakistan remains unable to exploit this unique opportunity to its advantage despite being a prominent producer of citrus fruits.

Talking to Profit, PFVAChairman Waheed Ahmed said that the overall export of citrus fruits and value-added products can be enhanced to $1 billion in five years, but it is imperative to explore new varieties of disease-free citrus fruits and establish new orchards with a higher yield per acre through extensive research & development (R&D). "It is ironic that Punjab, a hub of kinnow production, could not draw the provincial government's attention [towards the problems], while the federal government also continues to ignore the longstanding issues being faced by the kinnow industry, " he stated, lamenting that the association has been continuously raising serious concerns over the dark clouds hovering above the kinnow industry to the federal as well provincial governments for the last decade.

As per the documents, Pakistan's kinnow industry is worth around Rs125 billion; the entire economy of Bhalwal and Sargodha depends on this industry while about 250 processing factories of the citrus fruit located in Punjab are providing direct employment to 2.5 million people.

No evidence of fraud to change election outcome: US attorney general

WASHINGTON AGENCIES

US Attorney General William Barr has said that the Justice Department has not found evidence of widespread voter fraud that would change the outcome of the 2020 presidential election. His comments come despite President Donald Trump’s repeated claims that the election was stolen, and his refusal to concede his loss to president-elect Joe Biden. Barr, one of Trump's strongest allies, said lawyers and FBI agents had been following up specific complaints and information they had received, but found no evidence that would change the election result. Before the election, he repeatedly raised the notion that mail-in voter fraud could be especially vulnerable to fraud during the coronavirus pandemic, as Americans feared going to polling centres. Last month, Mr Barr issued a directive to US lawyers across the country allowing them to pursue “substantial allegations” of any voting irregularities before the 2020 presidential election was certified, despite no evidence at that time of widespread fraud. That memorandum gave prosecutors the ability to go around long-standing Justice Department policy that normally prohibit such actions before the election was certified. Soon after it was issued, the department’s top elections crime official announced he would step down because of the directive.

ADB approves $100m grant for Afghanistan’s Covid-19 response

MANILA AGENCIES

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) Wednesday approved a $100 million grant to help the government of Afghanistan respond to the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic. "ADB reaffirms its full commitment to supporting Afghanistan in its fight against COVID-19 and reducing the adverse impact of the pandemic on the lives of Afghans and the economy, ” said ADB President Masatsugu Asakawa in a statement. He said that the assistance will help strengthen the health system, expand social protection for the poor and vulnerable population while ensuring gender mainstreaming, and support macroeconomic stabilization and job creation in Afghanistan. Afghanistan’s economic outlook has deteriorated during the Covid-19 pandemic because of business lockdowns, a sharp drop in household incomes, and a downturn in regional trade and remittances. ADB forecasts Afghanistan’s gross domestic product (GDP) to contract by 5.0 percent this year.

BiDeN woN’t immeDiAtely eND phASe oNe ChiNA trADe DeAl: report

NEW YORK AGENCIES

US President-elect Joe Biden says he will not immediately end the phase one trade agreement with China or roll back punitive tariffs on Chinese goods imposed by President Donald Trump, the New York Times reported on Wednesday.

In an interview with a Times columnist, Biden said that the United States needed to regain leverage to use in negotiations with China.

The US needs to develop a bipartisan consensus and increase government-led investments in research and development, infrastructure and education to better compete with China, according to the president-elect.

“I want to make sure we’re going to fight like hell by investing in America first, ” Biden said.

Under the phase one deal signed in January, China agreed to increase purchases of US products and services by at least $200bn over 2020 and 2021.

The deal also leaves in place 25 percent tariffs on a $250bn array of Chinese industrial goods and components used by US manufacturers, and China’s retaliatory tariffs on more than $100bn in US goods.

Biden’s team will pursue policies targeted at China’s “abusive practices, ” including “stealing intellectual property, dumpingproducts,illegalsubsidiestocorporations” and forcing “tech transfers” fromUScompaniestotheirChinesecounterparts, according to the interview.

The deal reached under Trump was seen as a significant breakthrough after a two-year-long trade dispute between the world’s two largest economies.

It set ambitious targets for China to sharply boost purchases of US farm and manufactured goods. But ties quickly soured following the coronavirus pandemic and China’s imposition of a new national security law in Hong Kong. Both sides traded threats and sanctions on individuals and businesses, such as Chinese video sharing platform TikTok.

Official data also suggests China’s imports of US farm and manufactured goods, energy and services are far behind the pace needed to meet a first-year target increase of $77bn above 2017 purchases.

China’s purchases have, however, increased in recent months as its economy recovers from this year’s coronavirus lockdown.

Israel's govt crumbles as Gantz says Netanyahu 'lied to all'

TEL AVIV AGENCIES

Israel's precarious coalition governmentwasastepclosertocollapseon Wednesday with politicians expected to approve a preliminary measuretodissolveparliament,raising prospects of elections next year.

In a prime-time televised address onTuesday, Benny Gantz, the key coalition partner of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, said his centristBlueandWhitepartywould back a bill to dissolve the Knesset, Israel's parliament.

But Wednesday's parliamentary vote on an opposition proposal is only a first step.Abill to dissolve the Knesset will require three additional successful readings before new elections must be called.

Gantz'sdecisiontosidewiththe opposition, at least for now, highlightsthewideningcracksinIsrael's centre-right coalition, imperilled fromthestartbymistrust,infighting and public recriminations.

"I had no illusions about Netanyahu, " Gantz said in his Tuesday speech. He reminded Israelis that he battled the prime minister in three consecutive inconclusive elections that did not allow either leader to form a majority government.

Gantz said he decided to agree on a unity government with Netanyahu, who he knew to be a "serial promise-breaker" , because he wanted to spare Israelis "an ugly and costly" fourth election, especially because the coronavirus pandemic was accelerating. "Netanyahu didn't lie to me, " Mr Gantz said. "He lied to all of you. "

The Netanyahu-Gantz coalition, established in April, included strict power-sharing arrangements.

Netanyahu, who heads the right-wing Likud party, was to serve as prime minister for the first half of the three-year arrangement. Gantz had been scheduled to take over as premier in November 2021 but Netanyahu's critics always insisted he would find a way to sink the coalition before vacating the prime minister's office for Gantz. The unity deal included several triggers that would automatically force new elections, including a failure to pass a budget.

Gantz accused Netanyahu of consistently misleading the public overthebudgetissuetoservehisown political ends. "Netanyahu committed to pass a budget in August, and naturally did not stand by his word. He promised that it would happen in December and is not following through. Does anyone believe him any more?" Gantz said. Gantz directly called on Netanyahu to "put a state budget forward" , making clear that if he did so, new elections could be avoided.

Netanyahu released a video shortly before Gantz spoke on Tuesday, urging him to keep the coalition together. "Now is not the time for elections, " Netanyahu said. "Now is the time for unity. "

China to overtake US as world's largest consumer market soon: NDRC

Salesforce agrees to buy Slack for $27.7bn

SAN FRANCISCO: Salesforce.com agreed to buy SlackTechnologies for $27.7 billion in cash and stock, giving the corporate software giant a popular workplacecommunications platform in one of the biggest technology deals of the year.The transaction, Salesforce’s largest-ever acquisition, is expected to close by the end of July, the San Francisco-based company saidTuesday in a statement. Slack investors will receive $26.78 for each company share as well as 0.0776 share of Salesforce -- representing a 55 per cent premium to Slack’s price on November 24, the day before reports about deal talks between the companies. Salesforce chief executive Marc Benioff has orchestrated more than 60 acquisitions in 21 years, taking his company from dotcom era upstart to a titan of cloud computing.The Slack deal would give Salesforce, the leader in programmes for managing customer relationships, another angle of attack against Microsoft, which has itself become a major force in internet-based computing. Microsoft’s Teams product, which offers a workplace chatroom, automation tools and videoconference hosting, is a top rival to Slack. “Together, Salesforce and Slack will shape the future of enterprise software and transform the way everyone works in the all-digital, work-fromanywhere world, ” Mr Benioff said in the statement. Stewart Butterfield, Slack’s co-founder and chief executive, will continue to run the business as a Salesforce unit when the deal is completed. He said he is excited to join the company that sparked the cloud revolution. “The opportunity we see together is massive, ” Mr Butterfield said in the statement. “This is the most strategic combination in the history of software, and I can’t wait to get going. ” Salesforce’s shares declined about 4 per cent in extended trading after closing at $241.35. The stock has jumped 48 per cent this year. Slack’s shares were little changed after closing at $43.84. The stock has almost doubled in 2020, with about half of that gain coming since the acquisition talks were reported. AGENCIES

BEIJING AGENCIES

China's consumer goods market is rapidly catching up with the US and is poised to become the world's largest in near future, according to a top Chinese economic planning agency official. "China's retail sales for the first time surpassed 40 trillion yuan in 2019, an increase of more than 42 percent from 2015. It will overtake the United States to become the top consumer goods market very soon, " deputy chief of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), LianWeiliang, said at the China Reform Forum, as quoted by Chinese media.

He added that the Chinese economy should take advantage of its "super-large market" to build a "high-quality market system in five years. "

While the official did not offer any particular timeframe within which the two consumer markets wouldtradeplaces,state-runGlobal Timesnewspapernotedinanarticle that it could happen this year.

Thepandemichascrippledretail sales around the globe in the past 12 months, with consumers remaining cautious about their spending amid acrisisthathasleftmillionswithout jobs. In October, retail sales in both theUSandChinamissedgrowthexpectations, but the latter posted bigger gains. Retail sales grew 4.3 percent in China, while the US saw 0.3 percent growth.

Retail sales were expected to pick up amid big holiday sales in November.This year's Black Friday has already set another record with consumer spending reaching $9 billion. Meanwhile, Cyber Monday is poised to become the biggest online shoppingdayinUShistory,withanticipatedsalesofupto$12.7billion. However,botheventsarefarbehind China's Single's Day, which generated$115billionontwogiantonline platformsAlibaba and JD.com.

China was just about $200 billion behind US consumer spending in 2019 before the coronavirus crisis hit, according to Wang Yiming, former deputy director of the Development Research Center of the State Council. He also noted that the predicted shift could occur as early as this year.

Wang warned, however, that domestic consumption in China is still underpressure,whilehighhousehold debt and a widening income gap could create additional challenges.

EU needs perpetual debt to survive: George Soros

BRUSSELS AGENCIES

Objections by Poland and Hungary over a European Union (EU) plan to deal with the economic crisis has put the bloc in a “ very difficult situation” and raises doubts over its future, according to billionaire investor George Soros.

SoroshadpreviouslysaidtheEU should issue “perpetual bonds, ” whichmeanstheprincipalamountof themoneyborrowedwouldneverbe repaid, only the annual interest payments.ItalsoassumestheEUwould lastforeverandthereforekeeppaying theinterestbacktothelender.Perpetual bonds could allow the region to fund projects at very low costs.

However,Soroshaschangedhis mind, writing in an opinion article that “Right now, it would be impossible for the EU to issue perpetual bonds, because the member states are too divided. ” He explained that “Investors will buy perpetual bonds only from an entity that they believe will continue to exist for the foreseeable future… Sadly, it is not true of the EU today. ”

Last month, the Hungarian and Polish governments vetoed the EU's plan to link access to the union’s funding to the application by member states of rule of law, a check on whether countries are complying with European values.

If accepted, the budget would allow Brussels to limit funding and sanction EU governments that did not abide by their own laws. The veto means that the contents of the next EU budget, which runs from 2021 to 2027, are in doubt.

KOhlI BeCOmes fAsTesT PlAyer TO sCOre 12,000 runs In ODIs, leAves BehInD TenDulKAr

AGENCIES

AuSTRALIA fast bowler Josh Hazlewood took the key wicket ofVirat Kohli for 63 not long after the India captain became the fastest player to score 12,000 runs in one-day internationals as the visitors scored 302-5 onWednesday in the last of three ODI matches.

Kohli became the fastest player to score the 12,000 ODI career runs when he tappedAbbott to mid-off and took a quick single. Kohli achieved the feat in his 242nd innings, 59 innings quicker than Sachin Tendulkar.

The now-retired Tendulkar has the highest number of ODI runs with 18,426.

Kohli posted his 60th ODI half century before feathering a catch to Australian wicketkeeperAlex Carey, a decision that went to the TV umpire after it was given not out on the field.

India, which lost the first two matches at the Sydney Cricket Ground, won the toss and elected to bat at Manuka Oval and hoped for a change in momentum. The visitors made up for a slow start with an unbeaten 150run partnership between Hardik Pandya (92) and Ravindra Jadeja (66), a record for India for the sixth-wicket against Australia. The pair added 110 runs in the last 10 overs.

India lost both openers in the first 16 overs. Shikar Dhawan played a loose shot off Sean Abbott to Ashton Agar in the covers for 16, and Shubman Gill was trapped lbw for 33 trying to sweepAgar.

Pandya anchored the latter half of the innings, scoring 92 from 76 balls, while Jadeja’s 66 came from 50 balls and contained five boundaries and three sixes.

Australia won the first ODI by 66 runs and the second by 51 to clinch the series. Australia batted first in both wins and teams batting first have won the last seven games at Manuka Oval.

Cameron Green made his ODI debut forAustralia as a replacement for injured opener David Warner. The latter had sustained a groin strain while fielding in Sunday ’s series-deciding ODI win at the SCG.

After scores of 69 and 83 in the first two ODIs, Warner is hoping to recover in time for the test series, which starts Dec. 17 inAdelaide.

Green conceded 27 runs from his first four overs in ODI cricket.Agar returned the best figures for Australia with 2-44 from 10 overs, avoiding the India’s run-scoring onslaught in the dying overs.

Cricket West Indies officials happy with ‘concise and tight’ Covid-19 protocols in Bangladesh

Cricket West Indies (CWI) officials, currently in Bangladesh to inspect the bio-security plans and health protocols in the country ahead of a proposed tour next month, are “ very impressed” with the “concise and tight” arrangements. The three-format tour could yet be shortened, but question marks hanging over it might have been dispelled for the time being. Dr Akshai Mansingh, the CWI director, and security manager Paul Slowe arrived in Dhaka on November 28, and conducted a survey of facilities in Dhaka and Chattogram, including at airports, hotels, stadia, practice facilities and hospitals over the past few days. They will now report their observations to the CWI board of directors, who will then make a decision on the tour. “The protocols that were described to us by the BCB were very, very well thought out, ” Mansingh said at a press interaction. “The fact that there has been three competitions prior to our coming and one [Bangabandhu T20 Cup] going on now obviously, they are well practiced [with bio-secure bubbles]. We are very happy with what we saw in Dhaka and Chattogram. The facilities are excellent. The Covid protocols are concise and tight. “The national approach, both in the hotels and hospitals that we visited, comply with all international standards recommended for Covid-19. From a medical point of view, we are very happy and we now have to present our findings to the board of directors of CWI. I am very confident what we saw is probably as good an arrangement as you can have anywhere in the world. ” Mansingh said that the tour dates hadn’t yet been firmed up, mainly because of the quarantine protocols that the West Indies team would have to adhere to before and after arriving in Bangladesh. “According to Covid protocols, there will be at least seven days where we have to make sure we are not contaminating Bangladesh, ” he said. “So we have to make sure we are in quarantine. It is not just days, but negative tests as well. There have to be at least one negative tests before coming and three negative tests while in Bangladesh. That period is usually seven days, and that’s why the exact dates have to be worked out now. “Certainly for the first three days, we suggest in-room quarantine. After the third day, we do a second test. After that is negative, we would like to do some practicing within our squad, but not exposing ourselves to anybody else until seven days are passed. We will have inter-squad practice and activities. After Day 7, the recommendation is that we should have net sessions with Bangladeshi players, ” he said. The BCB hasn’t hosted any international cricket during the pandemic, with Australia and New Zealand having postponed their tours scheduled for June and August respectively. Bangladesh also haven’t toured any country, having come close to going to Sri Lanka before that tour was called off in September. AGENCIES

Marvellous Dawid Malan 99* steers England to record chase and 3-0 sweep

AGENCIES venue in the first match. England’s fielding was not at its best, and A world-record partnership between Dawid on the last ball of the innings Sam Curran Malan and Jos Buttler saw England overhaul caught van der Dussen on the boundary but an impressive SouthAfrica total with ease and threw the ball in thinking - possibly mistaksweep their T20I series 3-0 at Newlands. enly - that he was going to touch the rope, but

An unbroken century stand be- not hard enough for Archer to grab a tween Rassie van der Dussen and relay catch. It didn’t matter as by Faf vag du e Pless some is threatened South Af to ric salan ENGLAND 192 then so the damag it seemed. e was done - or prid just and e. But England too good again as Buttler brushed proved Malan aside FOR 1 (M BUTTLER ALAN 99* , 67*) BEAT THAT (AND Malan, MAN BUTTLE Player of MALAN R TOO): the Match their efforts with an un- SOUTH AFRICA 191 FOR 3 as England sealed an unasbeaten 167-run partnership of their own, the highest second-wicket stand in T20Is. (VAN DER DUSSEN 74* , D PLESSIS 52*) BY NINE U sailable 2-0 series Paarl on Sunday, himself and further lead better stamp at ed ed

Player of the Match for the WICKETS his authority as the world’s second time in a row, and Player leading batsman in this format. of the Series, Malan was unbeaten He needed the help of DRS to on 99 from just 47 deliveries, while But- overturn an lbw decision on 16 when tler was not out with 67 off 46 to hand Eng- Lungi Ngidi’s delivery was found to have land a nine-wicket victory with 14 balls to pitched outside leg. Malan was the beneficiary spare and see their side pass Australia at the again when, returning for a second run, he top of the ICC rankings. found himself well short as Temba Bavuma

Van der Dussen and du Plessis came to- fired the ball in brilliantly to Quinton de Kock, gether with their side stuttering on 64 for 3 but who broke the stumps with his gloves but the piled on 127 off 66 deliveries, including 84 ball lodged in his midriff. Around those moruns off the last five overs, to set England a ments, however, Malan was dominant, thrashtarget of 192 when no side had previously ing five sixes, including a monstrous 94-metre made 190 batting second at Newlands. Van effort down the ground off a Ngidi slower ball, der Dussen’s unbeaten on 74, off just 32 balls, and11fours.Buttlerwasalsoinfineform,strikwas his highest score in T20Is. ingfivesixes.With five overs remaining - and

South Africa were without fast bowler nine wickets in hand - England needed just 27 Kagiso Rabada due to a groin strain and their runs and with both batsmen roaring they made bowlers lacked penetration as Malan and But- the task look simple. tler dominated the attack. JORDAN ONTHETOP: Chris Jordan came STELLAR UNION: South Africa looked in out on top once again in a battle with de Kock, danger of becoming bogged down in their in- whose brisk 17 off 12 deliveries could not nings, but Reeza Hendricks’dismissal brought erase the sense that he is shouldering a heavy together du Plessis and van der Dussen and it burden as opener, captain and wicketkeeper. didn’t take them too long to find their stride. In doing so, Jordan took the outright lead

Van der Dussen struck the first of his five as England’s leading wicket-taker in T20Is sixes, pulling Ben Stokes over deep square leg with 66, having drawn level with Stuart Broad to double his score to 12 but it was just the be- in the previous match. De Kock had scored 11 ginning. Tom Curran’s second over, the 16th of the 12 runs to come off Archer’s second of the innings, went for 16, book-ended by over, including a four followed immediately two giant sixes to du Plessis. Van der Dussen by a huge six that landed in the rubble of a then helped himself to 22 runs off JofraArcher construction site beyond deep backward in the next over, bringing up his 50 off just 23 square. But when Jordan entered the attack in balls with South Africa looking far healthier the next over, he struck with his fourth ball as at 145 for 3. Du Plessis brought up his fifty de Kock miscued to mid-off and Tom Curran off 37 balls with four threaded off Sam Curran swallowed a straightforward catch. It was the wide of third man. It was his second half-cen- third time this series that Jordan had dismissed tury of the series following his 58 at the same de Kock.

SPORTS 11 Babar Azam retains second spot in T20I rankings

Pakistan’s captain BabarAzam has retained the second spot in the new Twenty20 International (T20I) batting rankings published by the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Wednesday. England’s Dawid Malan has attained the highest-ever rating points for batsmen in the MRF Tyres ICC Men’s T20I Player Rankings after a terrific run saw him top the series aggregate with 173 runs and help England blank SouthAfrica 3-0. The left-hander’s player of the series performance helps England beat SouthAfrica 3-0 to surpass Australia and take spot in the team rankings Rassie van der Dussen continues to rise to be in fifth place – up 17 places after the three-match series, despite SouthAfrica’s defeat. The 33-year-old left-hander has reached 915 points, the first to cross the 900-point mark afterAustralianAaron Finch’s 900-point achievement in July 2018. Malan now enjoys a 44point lead over Pakistan’s BabarAzam, whom he overtook to become number one in September this year. Malan’s player of the series performance included a match-winning 99 not out in the final match and helped England leapfrogAustralia to take top position in the MRF Tyres ICC Men’s T20I Team Rankings. England, who had started the series at 271 points, are now level withAustralia at 275 points but ahead on decimal points. SouthAfrica and New Zealand retain their fifth and sixth positions while the West Indies have slipped behindAfghanistan to 10th place after losing 2-0 to New Zealand in another series, performances of which are also included in Wednesday ’s rankings update. England’s Jos Buttler has gained seven spots to reach 21st position while SouthAfrica’s Rassie van der Dussen’s continued good form, which saw him score 136 runs in the series, has lifted him 17 places to a career-best fifth position. Faf du Plessis’s return to form, with an aggregate of 121 runs, has pushed him into the top 20.Among the bowlers, England’s leg-spinnerAdil Rashid is back to the 700-point mark, gaining three places to reach number 4. He is just one spot below his career-best third position achieved in November 2018. The top seven bowlers are all spinners, with Tabraiz Shamsi, SouthAfrica’s top ranked bowler in 5th place. Chris Jordan, who became England’s leading T20I wicket-taker in the third match against SouthAfrica with his 66th wicket, has gained one place to reach 12th rank. Fast bowler Lungi Ngidi makes an entry into the top 50 bowlers for the first time after taking four wickets in the series. His previous best was 67th in September this year. The series in New Zealand saw the home side’s Lockie Ferguson leap 45 slots to 32nd position after finishing as the most successful bowler in the series with seven wickets, which included a player of the match effort of five for 21 in the first match. Glenn Phillips celebrated his recall to the New Zealand T20I side for the first time in two years by smashing a century in the second match and climbing into the top 100 batsmen for the first time – ending the series in 86th place. Kieron Pollard was the West Indian star of the series, scoring 103 runs at a strike rate of 198. That was good enough to take him up 18 places to the 57th rank with the bat and up to seventh place in the allrounders’table. AGENCIES

One further Covid-19 positive in Pakistan touring squad

One further positive Covid-19 case has been confirmed among the Pakistan touring squad in New Zealand bringing the total to eight. The latest case confirmed on Wednesday was one of three that were under investigation from Tuesday with the other two still to be determined. “This person is a member of the Pakistan cricket squad and was one of the three cases reported as under investigation yesterday, ” a statement from the New Zealand Ministry of Health said. “They have now been confirmed to have an active Covid-19 infection. The two other cases remain under investigation. “The team is not allowed to train until the Canterbury DHB medical officer of health determines they are satisfied that any training activities are unlikely to transmit Covid-19. ” Two of the eight positive tests have been deemed “historic” and not infectious with the PCB saying in a statement that those players are now isolating on the same floor as other members of the squad who have tested negative. The PCB added that following day nine tests on Thursday, those who continue to return negative test results are expected to be able to train for the rest of their time in managed isolation and after day 12 tests those who clear the 14-day health check will be able to leave managed isolation. “The PCB has been maintaining a close contact with the Pakistan team management in New Zealand and have kept them updated on the return to training process, ” the statement said. “The management and the players are fully supportive of the process and keen to get back on to the field as soon as they are compliant with the New Zealand Government rules. ” AGENCIES

Dawid Malan reaches 915 points, the highest ever for batsmen inT20I rankings

AGENCIES

in July 2018, his 173 runs at a strike rate of 161.68 helping England to a 3-0 series sweep in South Africa. Malan finished the series 44 points ahead of second-placed Babar Azam.

Malan had scores of 19, 55 and 99* in the three-match series, which took England past Australia to the No. 1 position in the T20I team rankings. India, Pakistan and South Africa make up the top five. New Zealand are in sixth place after their 2-0 win over West Indies, who have slipped to tenth.

Among other players in action in South Africa, Buttler gained seven spots to get to No. 21 among batsmen, while Rassie van der Dussen’s 136 runs lifted him 17 places to No. 5, a career-best. Faf du Plessis’s 121 runs also helped him get into the top 20.

Of the bowlers,Adil Rashid gained three spots to get to No. 4, while Chris Jordan gained one place to get to No. 12.

Across in New Zealand, the home side won the first two games before the third was washed out, and Lockie Ferguson, the best bowler across the two sides with seven wickets, including 5 for 21 in the first game, moved up 42 spots to the 32nd position. Glenn Phillips, who smashed the quickest T20I century by a New Zealander in the second fixture, got into the top 100 for the first time, moving to No. 86.

AfGhANGoverNmeNt,tAlIbANANNoUNCe breAkthroUGhdeAltopUrsUepeACetAlks UNsC UNlIkely to ACt oN IrANIAN sCIeNtIst’s kIllING, A KABUL AGENCIES FGHAN government and Taliban representatives said on Wednesday they had reached a preliminary deal to press on with peace talks, their first written t The Taliban spokesman confirmed he same on Twitter. The agreement agree to a ceasefire dur stages of talks, despite DEAL TO ALLOW NEGOTIATORS TO MOVE ON TO SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES INCLUDING CEASEFIRE ing the calls fr preliminary om Western government by name. The Taliban refused to refer to the Afghan negotiating team as representatives of the Afghan government, as they contest the legitimacy of the administration led by PresidentAshraf Ghani, which they see as a puppet of the United States. The Taliban were ousted from power dIplomAts sAy NEW YORK AGENCIES Just hours after the assassination of a top Iranian nuclear scientist, Tehran demanded that the United Nations Security Council agreement in 19 years of war welcomed by comes after months of discussions in capitals and global bodies, saying that that in 2001 by US-led forces for refusing to (UNSC) condemn the killing and take action the United Nations and Washington. Doha, the capital of Qatar, in negotia- would be taken up only when the way for- hand over Osama bin Laden, the architect against those responsible, but diplomats say

The agreement lays out the way for- tions encouraged by the United States. In ward for talks was agreed upon. of the September 11 attacks on the United the call is likely to go unheeded. ward for further discussion and is consid- Afghanistan, the two sides are still at UN envoy for Afghanistan Deborah States.AUS-backed government has held At a minimum, the 15-member body could ered a breakthrough because it will allow war, with Taliban attacks on government Lyons welcomed the “positive develop- power inAfghanistan since then, although discuss Friday ’s killing of nuclear scientist negotiators to move on to more substantive forces continuing unabated. ment” on Twitter, adding that “this break- the Taliban have control over wide areas Mohsen Fakhrizadeh behind closed doors if a issues, including talks on a ceasefire. US Special Representative forAfghan through should be a springboard to reach of the country. Under an Islamabad-bro- member requests such a meeting or it could

“The procedure including its preamble Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad said that the peace wanted by allAfghans” . kered February deal, foreign forces are to agree on — by consensus — a statement on of the negotiation has been finalised and the two sides had agreed on a “three-page Last month, an agreement reached be- leave Afghanistan by May 2021 in ex- the issue. But SouthAfrica’s UN ambassador, from now on, the negotiation will begin on agreement codifing rules and procedures tweenTaliban and government negotiators change for counter-terrorism guarantees Jerry Matjila, council president for December, the agenda, ” Nader Nadery, a member of for their negotiations on a political was held up at the last minute after the in- from the Taliban, including negotiating a said on Tuesday that no member had so far the Afghan government’s negotiating roadmap and a comprehensive ceasefire” . surgents balked at the document’s pream- permanent ceasefire and a power-sharing requested to discuss the killing or Iran in team, told Reuters. Taliban insurgents have refused to ble because it mentioned the Afghan formula with theAfghan government. general. Diplomats also said there had been no discussion of a statement. The Security Council is charged with maintaining international peace and security Iran’s Guardian Council passes law UK becomes first country to approve and has the ability to authorise military action and impose sanctions. But such measures require at least nine votes in favor and no vetoes by the United States, France, Britain, on hardening nucle stance, halting UN ar Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for use Russia or China. While no party has claimed responsibility the killing of Fakhrizadeh — viewed by Western powers as the architect of Iran’s for inspections Iran’s Guardian Council approved a law on Wednesday that obliges the government to halt UN inspections of its nuclear sites and step up uranium enrichment beyond the limit set under Tehran’s 2015 nuclear deal if sanctions are not eased in two months. In retaliation for the killing last week of Iran’s top nuclear scientist, which Tehran has blamed on Israel, Iran’s hardline-dominated parliament on Tuesday approved the bill with a strong majority that will harden Iran’s nuclear stance. The Guardian Council is charged with ensuring draft laws do not contradict Shia Islamic laws or Iran’s constitution. However, the stance of Supreme LeaderAyatollahAli Khamenei, who has the last word on all matters of state, is not known. “Today in a letter, the parliament speaker officially asked the president to implement the new law, ” Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency reported. Under the new law, Tehran would give two months to the deal’s European parties to ease sanctions on Iran’s oil and financial sectors, imposed after Washington quit the pact between Tehran and six powers in 2018. In reaction to United States President Donald Trump’s “maximum pressure” policy on Tehran, Iran has gradually reduced its compliance with the deal. The law pushed by hardline lawmakers would make it harder for LONDON AGENCIES The UK on Wednesday became the first country in the world to approve the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for use and said that it will be rolled out from next week. “The Government has today acceptedtherecommendationfromtheindependent Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) toapprovePfizer-BioNTech’sCovid-19 vaccine for use, ” the government said in a statement. “The vaccine will be madeavailableacrosstheUKfromnext week, ” the statement said. UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson hailed the development as “fantastic” news, adding: “Itistheprotectionofvaccinesthatwill ultimately allow us to reclaim our lives and get the economy moving again. ” Care home residents, health and care staff, the elderly and people who are clinically extremely vulnerable will be first in line to receive the vaccine. The UK is home to Europe’s deadliest outbreak of the virus, with more than 1.6 million cases of the novel coronavirus having been recorded since the pandemic began in late 2019. More than 59,000 people have died with the virus, according to official figures. US-based Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech, and US biotech firm Moderna, have reported preliminary findings of more than 90 percent effectiveness – an unexpectedly high rate –in trials of their vaccines, which are both based on new messenger RNA (mRNA) technology. Pfizer said the UK’s emergency use authorisation marks an historic moment in the fight against Covid-19. “This authorisation is a goal we have been working toward since we first declared that science will win, and we applaud the MHRA for their ability to conduct a careful assessment and take timely action to help protect the people of the UK, ” said CEOAlbert Bourla. “As we anticipate further authorisations and approvals, we are focused on moving with the same level of urgency to safely supply a high-quality vaccine around the world. ” One concern is that Pfizer’s vaccine must be stored and shipped at ultra-cold temperatures of around minus 70 degrees Celsius (minus 94 degrees Fahrenheit), adding to the challenge of distributing the vaccine around the world. Pfizer says it has developed shipping containers that use dry ice to keep the vaccine cool. GPS-enabled sensors will allow the company to track each shipment and ensure they stay cold, the company says. Other countries are not far behind. The US and the European Union also are vetting the Pfizer shot along with the vaccine by competitor Moderna. Pfizer said it would immediately begin shipping limited supplies to the UK – and has been gearing up for even wider distribution if given a similar nod by the US Food and Drug Administration, a decision expected as early as next week. The UK will start vaccinating people early next week after it gets 800,000 doses from Pfizer’s manufacturing centre in Belgium. The speed of the rollout depends on how fast Pfizer can manufacture and deliver the vaccine, the UK said. But doses everywhere are scarce, and initial supplies will be rationed until more is manufactured in the first several months of next year. abandoned nuclear weapons program — Iran has accused Israel. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ’s office has declined to comment. The United States traditionally shields Israel from any action at the Security Council. Washington has declined to comment on the assassination of the scientist. The UN investigator on extra-judicial executions,Agnes Callamard, said on Friday that many questions surrounded the killing of Fakhrizadeh, but noted the definition of an extraterritorial targeted killing outside of an armed conflict. Callamard posted on Twitter that such a killing was “a violation of international human rights law prohibiting the arbitrary deprivation of life and a violation of the UN Charter prohibiting the use of force extraterritorially in times of peace. ” Iran also addressed its letter on Friday to UN Secretary-GeneralAntonio Guterres. In response, Guterres urged restraint and condemned “any assassination or extrajudicial killing, ” UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said on Saturday. The Security Council is due to meet on December 22 for its biannual meeting on compliance with a resolution that enshrines a 2015 nuclear accord between world powers and Iran, which US President Donald Trump’s administration quit in 2018.Any council member or Iran could choose to raise the killing of Fakhrizadeh during that meeting. US President-elect Joe Biden, who will take office on January 20, to rejoin the agreement. Biden has said he would return to the pact and would lift sanctions if Tehran returned to “strict compliance with the nuclear deal” . “There’s Trudeau’s remarks on farmers’ protest cause stir in New Delhi now more pressure on (President Hassan) Rouhani’s government to secure a U.S. return AGENCIES farmers from entering the city. Trudeau ’s remarks were echoed by Conservative party to the JCPOA(the Joint Comprehensive Plan Farmers are now being escorted by police to a protest leader Erin O’Toole, who called the right to peacefully ofAction) quickly, ” tweetedAriane Tabatabai, India has denounced Canadian Prime Minister Justin site where they are expected to continue demonstrating protest “fundamental” to democracy. a Middle East researcher at the German Trudeau ’s “ill-informed” remarks regarding an ongoing against the reforms, which will open the farming sector to On Tuesday, India’s Ministry of External Affairs Marshall Fund and Columbia University. farmers’protest in India’s capital, BBC reported. private players. (MEA) spokesperson responded to the “ill-informed comRouhani, the Iranian architect of the 2015 deal, Trudeau and Conservative opposition leader Erin O’ - Two farmers associations have said they expect ments by Canadian leaders” . criticised parliament’s move as “harmful to Toole both made comments this week expressing concern 50,000 farmers to reach the Delhi border from the neigh“Such comments are unwarranted, especially when diplomatic efforts” aimed at easing US over India’s response to the demonstrations. “Canada will bouring state of Haryana. pertaining to the internal affairs of a democratic counsanctions. Under the new law, the government always be there to defend the right of peaceful protest, ” Speaking on Monday to celebrate the birth of Baba try, ” said Anurag Srivastava. “It is also best that diploshould resume uranium enrichment to 20% and Trudeau said on Monday. Guru Nanak Dev, the founder of Sikhism, Trudeau men- matic conversations are not misrepresented for install advanced centrifuges at its Natanz and Thousands of farmers have travelled to Delhi to tioned the protests and called it a “concerning” situation. political purposes. ” Fordow nuclear facilities. The deal caps the protest agricultural reforms.They were met last week with “We’re all very worried about family and friends, ” he Trudeau ’s office declined a request for comment. fissile purity to which Iran can refine uranium barricades at Delhi’s border and clashes erupted between said during the virtual celebration. “We believe in the im- Canada is home to a large Indian population. The 2016 at 3.67%, far below the 20% achieved before farmers and police. portance of dialogue and that’s why we’ ve reached out census reported close to two million SouthAsian Canadithe deal and below the weapons-grade level of Photos and video of the encounters show scenes of au- through multiple means directly to the Indian authorities ans, with more than 1.3 million people declaring East In90%. AGENCIES thorities deploying tear gas and water cannons to stop the to highlight our concerns. ” dian ancestry.

Facebook’s libra poses risks to financial stability, monetary sovereignty: Christine Lagarde

BRUSSELS AGENCIES

European Central Bank (ECB) President Christine Lagarde downplays any risks bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies could pose to financial stability and monetary sovereignty; however, in contrast, she sees stablecoins, such as Facebook-backed libra, as posing “serious risks. ”

The ECB president shared her view on the future of money in an article published in L’ena hors les murs magazine. She specificallydiscussed“bitcoinorothercrypto-assets thathave been trying to gain afoothold in the digital payments space and to anchor trust in their technology. ” Lagarde began by stating that innovations like blockchain technology “bringbothnewopportunitiesandnewrisks. ” Shenotedthatpeer-to-peer(P2P)transactions have “no need for a trusted third-party intermediary, ” asserting that the trust “is replaced by cryptographic proofs and the security and integrity of records is ensured by DLT, which avoids the ‘double-spending’problem. ”

The ECB chief elaborated: “The main risk lies in relying purely on technology and the flawed concept of there being no identifiable issuer or claim. This also means that users cannot rely on crypto-assets maintaining a stable value: they are highly volatile, illiquid and speculative, and so do not fulfil all the functions of money. ”

Lagarde proceeded to point out that unlike bitcoin, stablecoins “pose serious risks, ” even though they “could drive additional innovation in payments and be well integrated into social media, trade and other platforms. ” She explained that stablecoins “try to solve crypto-assets’ problem of a lack of stability and trust by pegging their assets to stable and trusted fiat money issued by States. ”

In addition, the issuers of “global” stablecoins, “aim to introduce their own payment schemes and clearing and settlement arrangements. ” Global stablecoins are stablecoins that are likely to achieve mass adoption from inception, such as Facebookbacked libra.The ECB chief warned if these global stablecoins are widely adopted, “they could threaten financial stability and monetary sovereignty. ” For instance, she explained: “if the issuer cannot guarantee a fixed value or if they are perceived as being incapable of absorbing losses, a run could occur. Additionally, using stablecoins as a store of value could trigger a large shift of bank deposits to stablecoins, which may have an impact on banks’operations and the transmission of monetary policy. ”

Moreover, Lagarde believes that stablecoins backed by global tech firms “could also present risks to competitiveness and technological autonomy in Europe, as they would attempt to leverage their competitive advantage and control of large platforms, ” adding: “Their dominant positions may harm competition and consumer choice, and raise concerns over data privacy and the misuse of personal information. ”