World
Politics
Saudi Arabia commences operational activities for Hajj 2024
The start of operations for the Hajj season this year was recently confirmed by the Saudi authorities as the country prepares to receive millions of Muslim pilgrims.
The Saudi Minister of Hajj and Umrah Tawfiq Al-Rabiah made the statement at the conclusion of a four-day Hajj and Umrah Services Conference held in Jeddah.
The conference aimed to highlight Saudi Arabia’s distinctive programmes for Hajj pilgrims, stressing a priority on increasing service quality for Hajj and Umrah.
The summit also underlined a commitment to provide improved services for these sacred journeys and facilitated the entry of pilgrims and Umrah performers worldwide.
At this conference, a number of cutting-edge services and technologies that complemented the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 were introduced.
At the end of the conference, Tawfiq Al-Rabiah expressed gratitude to King Salman, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, for his kind support of the third edition of the Hajj and Umrah Services Conference and Exhibition.
The Saudi government is wrapping up plans for the 2024 Hajj and officially ending Hajj arrangements. Most countries have successfully signed Hajj agreements, including Pakistan.
Pakistan has secured approximately 179,000 tickets for the Hajj, with half of these being occupied by private Hajj operators.
Elon Musk detests word ‘cis’, calls it ‘heterophobic’ — But is heterophobia real?
Elon Musk, the owner of X, returned to the cisgender engagement pool and scolded people for using the word “cis” calling it a “heterophobic” slur.
In a seemingly spontaneous social media post, Musk fully expressed his detest for the term “cisgender” according to the Washington Times.
“Cis is a heterophobic word. Shame on anyone who uses it,” the billionaire wrote.
Many of Musk’s supporters responded to the post in the replies, setting off an inevitable firestorm.
A regular commenter on X concurred with Musk and shared the findings of an X survey indicating that 78% of respondents thought the term “cis” was derogatory. In response, another user created another poll, to which, as of Thursday, 63% of participants agreed that the term “cis” is derogatory.
In response, journalist Victoria Brownworth provided the standard definition of cisgender.
“Cis(gender) describes a person whose gender identity corresponds to their sex assigned at birth,” she wrote. “It is the opposite of trans(gender). It has zero to do with sexual orientation and this is neither ‘heterophobic’ nor homophobic. Please learn how to Google.”
Houthi’s radar, missile capabilities targeted: US defence chief
WASHINGTON: US and British strikes in Yemen targeted the Iran-backed Houthi rebels’ radar, missile and drone capabilities in a bid to reduce their ability to attack international shipping, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Thursday.
“Today’s strikes targeted sites associated with the Huthis’ unmanned aerial vehicle, ballistic and cruise missile, and coastal radar and air surveillance capabilities,” Austin said in a statement, noting that Australia, Bahrain, Canada, and the Netherlands provided support.
“This action is intended to disrupt and degrade the Houthis’ capabilities to endanger mariners and threaten global trade in one of world’s most critical waterways,” he said.
“Today’s coalition action sends a clear message to the Houthis that they will bear further costs if they do not end their illegal attacks,” Austin added.
The Huthis have carried out a growing number of drone and missile strikes on the key international route through the Red Sea since the Gaza war erupted with Hamas’s unprecedented attack on Israel on October 7.
The rebels — who say they are acting in response to Israel’s operations in Gaza — have controlled a major part of Yemen since civil war erupted there in 2014, and are part of the Iran-backed so-called “axis of resistance” arrayed against Israel.
Global passports power ranks for 2024 revealed — How powerful is yours?
In a significant upheaval in the quarterly ranking of the world’s most powerful passports, six countries now share the top spot for the most sought-after travel documents in 2024.
Citizens hailing from France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Singapore, and Spain can revel in the privilege of visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to an impressive 194 destinations globally — the highest tally recorded since the inception of the Henley Passport Index 19 years ago.
This index, crafted by the London-based global citizenship and residence advisory firm Henley & Partners, relies on exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
While Japan and Singapore from Asia have held the top position for the past five years, the current top five marks a triumphant ascendancy for European nations. Finland and Sweden share second place with South Korea, boasting easy access to 193 destinations. Austria, Denmark, Ireland, and the Netherlands secure the third position with access to 192 destinations.
Notably, Belgium, Luxembourg, Norway, Portugal, and the United Kingdom hold the fourth spot, and Greece, Malta, and Switzerland claim the fifth position.
Australia and New Zealand have made strides in their rankings, now standing in sixth place alongside Czechia and Poland. The United States and Canada share the seventh position with Hungary, enjoying visa-free access to 188 destinations.
As the gap widens, the United Arab Emirates stands out as the most significant climber over the past decade, adding a remarkable 106 destinations to its visa-free score since 2014, securing the 11th position this year.
Christian H. Kaelin, chair of Henley & Partners and creator of the passport index, emphasized that while travel freedom has generally increased over the past two decades, the global mobility gap between top and bottom-ranked countries has expanded.
Kaelin pointed out that the top-ranked countries can now travel to a staggering 166 more destinations visa-free than Afghanistan, which sits at the bottom of the ranking with access to just 28 countries without a visa. Syria, with visa-free access to only 29 destinations, holds the second-lowest position in the ranking, followed by Iraq with 31 and Pakistan with 34.
Henley & Partners’ list is among several indexes by financial firms ranking global passports based on the access they provide to their citizens. Arton Capital’s Passport Index, for instance, places the United Arab Emirates at the top for 2024, with a visa-free/visa-on-arrival score of 180. The second spot is held by five European countries: Germany, Spain, France, Italy, and the Netherlands.
In summary, the world’s most powerful passports for 2024 include:
France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Singapore, Spain (194 destinations)
Finland, South Korea, Sweden (193 destinations)
Austria, Denmark, Ireland, Netherlands (192 destinations)
Belgium, Luxembourg, Norway, Portugal, United Kingdom (191 destinations)
Greece, Malta, Switzerland (190 destinations)
Czech Republic, New Zealand, Poland (189 destinations)
Canada, Hungary, United States (188 destinations)
Estonia, Lithuania (187 destinations)
Latvia, Slovakia, Slovenia (186 destinations)
Iceland (185 destinations)
Israel to continue war in Gaza regardless of ICJ ruling: Netanyahu
Israel’s prime minister vowed Saturday to continue the country’s war in the Gaza Strip, regardless of the outcome of a genocide lawsuit filed against it by South Africa with the International Court of Justice in The Hague.
“We will continue the war in the Gaza Strip until we achieve all our objectives. The Hague and the axis of evil will not stop us,” Benjamin Netanyahu told journalists, without clarifying what his meaning by “axis of evil.”
Noting that Saturday marked the 100th day of the war, which has so far claimed the lives of over 23,800 people in Gaza, he said Israel would continue until it met its objectives, including the elimination of Palestinian resistance group Hamas, the repatriation of all hostages, and ensuring the enclave “does not pose a threat” to the country in the future.
“To achieve this goal, we will present a budget tomorrow (Sunday) that will bring more funds for security,” Netanyahu added.
He also addressed the matter of the Philadelphia Corridor, a narrow 14-kilometer (8.7-mile) strip of land running along the border between the Gaza Strip and Egypt. Netanyahu said that without control over the route, Israel “cannot eliminate Hamas, and we are considering all options regarding it.”
The Israeli prime minister said Tel Aviv “will not transfer funds to the Palestinian Authority that may assist Hamas in any way.”
The International Court of Justice in The Hague held public hearings on Thursday and Friday as part of the beginning of the case filed last month by South Africa against Israel for alleged “crimes of genocide” against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
The court is expected to determine its future steps in the coming days regarding the lawsuit filed by South Africa against Israel.
Yemen’s Houthis to continue military actions against Israel, blockade of its vessels: Statement
The Houthi group in Yemen said Saturday it will continue military actions against Israel and prevent its vessels from passing through the Red Sea, according to the Saba news agency, which is affiliated with the group.
“The American and British aggression will not go unpunished,” it said in a statement.
The statement was issued hours after the Yemeni capital of Sanaa, was subjected to new airstrikes
It noted that “the overt American and British aggression, which comes to support the Zionist entity, will not deter Yemen from continuing its military operations against the Israeli enemy and preventing its vessels and other ships heading to the occupied Palestinian ports.”
It added that “this aggression, which will certainly not pass without punishment from our armed forces, highlights the significant impact of Yemen’s military operations against the Israeli enemy and preventing the passage of its vessels and other ships of other nationalities carrying goods to
The US renewed airstrikes Saturday in Sanaa, one day after attacks were carried out by Washington and London against targets in areas controlled by the Houthis in Yemen.
After the attacks on Friday, which resulted in five deaths and six injuries among the Houthis, the group vowed that all American and British interests have become “legitimate targets” for its forces in response to their “direct and declared aggression” against Yemen.
The Houthis target with missiles and drones, cargo ships in the Red Sea owned or operated by Israeli companies or transporting goods to and from Israel, in solidarity with Gaza, which has been under Israeli onslaught since Oct. 7 with American support.
ECONOMY (WORLD)
Pakistan (Politics)
Maryam Nawaz to launch election campaign from Okara tomorrow
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has announced launching its election campaign across the country from Jan 15 as the party will hold a rally in Okara.
According to PML-N spokesperson, Maryam Nawaz will address a rally in Okara tomorrow (Monday).
In a post shared on X, the social media platform which was previously known as Twitter, PML-N spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb said Maryam – who is the party’s chief organiser – would share the important points of the manifesto to the crowd at Iqbal Stadium, Okara.
Describing the public gathering as a part of the PML-N’s election campaign, she said the people would be the winner on February 8 – the day when Pakistan will go for countrywide polling.
Earlier, Rana Sanaullah, former interior minister and President PML-N Punjab has shared that Nawaz Sharif will lead the election drive of the party, which will begin from Jan 15.
He denied the impression about differences in the party over distribution of tickets. “Party consultations have been underway over some constituencies,” he clarified.
“The party will issue the final list of its candidates in coming one or two days,” party official said.
“We are not backing suggestion to keep the election in pending. We are demanding from day one for a transparent election in time,” he added.
PTI legal wizards face defeat in top court
Accepting ECP’s appeal, SC strips PTI of bat symbol ahead of Feb 8 polls n Three-judge bench announces unanimous verdict after day-long hearing n Verdict says PTI’s petition filed in PHC was not maintainable n Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa questions whether PTI’s intra-party polls were held in accordance with law, rules, regulations n Court calls for democracy within a political party saying anything less will give rise to authoritarianism which may lead to dictatorship.
ISLAMABAD/LAHORE – The Supreme Court of Pakistan Saturday accepted the appeal filed by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) against the decision of the Peshawar High Court, which reinstated the ‘Bat’ as the electoral symbol for the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa and comprising Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar and Justice Musarrat Hilali announced the verdict unanimously which was earlier reserved after hearing arguments from the two sides.
Earlier, on the 22nd of last month, the Election Commission had stripped PTI of its electoral symbol of ‘Bat’ for the general elections, citing the party’s failure to conduct intra-party polls in accordance with election laws.
Subsequently, PTI approached the Peshawar High Court, seeking the restoration of its electoral symbol, and the court ruled in favor of PTI, reinstating the ‘Bat’ as the party’s electoral symbol.
The five-page verdict stated that the apex court judges “do not agree with the learned judges [of the PHC] that the ECP did not have ‘any jurisdiction to question or adjudicate the intra-party elections of a political party.’”
It stated that accepting any such interpretation would render all provisions in the Election Act, 2017, that require the holding of intra party elections “illusory and of no consequence and be redundant”.
The verdict stated that since the ECP had been calling upon PTI to hold its intra party elections since 24 May 2021, the time when the party was in power, “it cannot be stated that ECP was victimising PTI”.
In its reasoning for the verdict, the top court stated that the PTI’s petition filed in the PHC was “not maintainable” as it failed to disclose that another similar petition was pending before the five-member bench of the Lahore High Court (LHC).
The apex court underscored that although a petitioner “may elect to avail of his remedy before either court, but having chosen a particular court the same dispute cannot then be taken to the other court”.
It further stated that 14 PTI members, with stated credentials, had complained to ECP that the party’s internal elections had not been held, but PTI brushed aside these claims, saying that the complainants were not the party members.
It is a matter of life and death, Bilawal tells party workers ahead of polls
BAHAWALPUR – Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said Saturday that presently, the country has been facing financial challenges and after coming into power, his party would introduce a dynamic economic plan. He was addressing a public gathering at a hockey stadium in Bahawalpur.
He arrived in Bahawalpur in connection with the election campaign for the PPP candidates who had been contesting the general elections 2024 on the ticket of PPP.
“The rest of the political parties represent the elite while the PPP represents the common people. If the people stamp the symbol of the arrow, then the government forming resultantly will be theirs.” Bilawal went on to say that one political party is contesting the elections to avoid prison, while the other is doing so for its leader to be released from jail. The PPP is the only party that is contesting solely for the people.
The PPP chairman also said that the Jiyalas of his party would have to struggle for their victory and work hard as if it is a matter of life and death.
He said that presently, our country has been facing challenges of price hikes, poverty and unemployment. “It was the founder of PPP, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto who brought the country out of financial crisis when the country faced it in past,” he remembered, adding that now, PPP once again had accepted the challenge to introduce a dynamic economic plan for the country to resolve issues about the national economy.
He said that it was his party who always played the role of people-friendly and supported poor segments of society. “Everyone knows that PPP has an image of a people-friendly political party,” he said. He criticised that several other political parties had supported the elite class instead of the poor. He resolved that the PPP would eliminate poverty in the country after coming to power. He urged PPP activists to convey the 10-point manifesto of the PPP to the masses.
He said that PPP would bring a policy of free electricity for people by 300 units, double of salaries of employees, build three million houses for people, free education, free health facilities and Waseela Rozgaar scheme in the Benzair Income Support Program.
He further said that PPP would give ownership rights to people who had been living in slums. “Quaid-e-Awaam, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto introduced five marla scheme, his daughter, Benazir Bhutto introduced seven marla scheme and now the PPP has been going to build three million houses for people and giving ownership rights to people living in slums,” he said.
He said that PPP would also introduce a Kisaan card for farmers and an agricultural insurance policy. He said that Youth Cards and Youth Centers would also be introduced to resolve unemployment issues. He said that students would enjoy free meals at their schools. He announced that after coming into power, the PPP would build an Information Technology University and Cardiology Hospital in Bahawalpur.
Pak Army guarding ballot papers transportation in sensitive areas: ECP
ISLAMABAD – The Pakistan Army is ensuring the secure transportation of ballot papers to the respective offices of district returning officers in certain vulnerable regions, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) spokesperson said.
Brushing aside some media reports about delivery of ballot papers, the ECP spokesperson emphasized in a statement that the secure delivery responsibility rests with relevant DROs and their designated officers following ballot paper publication. They oversee the secure transportation of ballot papers and ensure the safekeeping of the papers with the supervision of local police officials.
Party leaders agreed on seat adjustments, says Talal after failing to get PML-N ticket
ISLAMABAD – Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), senior leader Talal Chaudhry on Saturday said that his allegiance with the party surpasses mere political tickets or positions. Talking to a private news channel, he said that party leaders agreed on seat adjustments for those who supported PML-N in times of trouble.
Although the entire party leadership supported me for the ticket, a situation emerged where withdrawing from the election ticket seemed to be the wiser decision, he added.
“The decision was challenging, but in the best interest of the party, I have made this choice,” he added.
Fog blankets Punjab; disrupts road traffic
Fog again blanketed the plain areas of Punjab on night between Friday and Saturday, paralysing routine life and disrupting road traffic.
The thick fog has badly affected the flow of road traffic in several cities. According to a Motorway spokesperson, the Motorway M3 from Faizpur to Darkhana, Motorwat M4 from Multan to Faisalabad and Motorway M5 from Shershah to Zahir Pir have been closed for all kind of traffic.
The Motorway police have appealed the drivers to use Grand Trunk (GT) Road for travelling. They have also urged the drivers to drive slowly and switch on fog lights.
The Motorway police have also requested the people to stay home and avoid unnecessary travelling. Dense fog has also disrupted traffic at several places in the province at the National Highway due to low visibility.
Anti-polio immunization campaign underway across country
Anti-polio immunization campaign is underway across the country.
Teams of health department are visiting door to door to administer polio drops to children. Transit camps have also been set up at bus stops and railway stations to administer polio drops to maximum children.
During the ongoing nationwide campaign, more than 44.3 million children under five years of age are being administered polio drops.
IMF board approves Pakistan’s first review allowing release of $700m
ISLAMABAD – The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Thursday approved a $700 million loan tranche for Pakistan as it completed the 1st review of Pakistan’s economic reform program supported by IMF’s Stand-By Arrangement (SBA).
The Board’s approval allows for an immediate disbursement of SDR 528 million (around US$ 700 million) bringing the total disbursements under the SBA to US$ 1.9 billion. The IMF staff and the Pakistani authorities had reached a staff-level agreement on November 15, on the first review under the Pakistan’s SBA, subject to approval by the IMF’s Executive Board.
A statement from the Finance Ministry said the completion of the first review by the IMF’s Executive Board and the payment of 528 million in special drawing rights brought the total disbursements under the SBA to $1.9 billion.
After the staff level agreement with the IMF, Pakistan had started increasing inflows from international financial institutions. In the last two weeks, the country has received $1.2 billion from international lenders. The inflows have helped in increasing the country’s foreign exchange reserves to $13.220 billion as of 29-Dec-2023. The break-up of the foreign reserves position showed that foreign reserves held by the State Bank of Pakistan are $8.221 billion and foreign reserves held by commercial banks are $4.999 billion.
The World Bank and Asian Development Bank have recently announced loans for Pakistan. The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors approved $350 million in financing for the Second Resilient Institutions for Sustainable Economy (RISE-II) Operation, which aims to strengthen fiscal management and promote competitiveness for sustained and inclusive economic growth. The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank had approved $250 million for the Second Resilient Institutions for Sustainable Economy (RISE-II) development policy financing. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) had recently approved three projects totalling $658.8 million to help Pakistan achieve its goal of more inclusive and sustainable growth and development.
