Tag: Russia

  • Petrol, diesel prices to remain unchanged for the next 15 days

    Petrol, diesel prices to remain unchanged for the next 15 days

    Despite a global decrease in oil prices, the federal government has decided to maintain the existing prices of petrol and diesel for the next 15 days.

    Finance Minister Ishaq Dar announced to keep the prices of petrol and high-speed diesel unchanged for the next 15 days. However, he announced a reduction of Rs10 per litre in the prices of kerosene oil and Rs7 on light diesel oil.

    The current prices for petrol are Rs224.80 per litre and Rs235.30 for High-Speed Diesel (HSD).

    Furthermore, Dar also announced a 15-day extension in the filing of income tax returns.

    On November 15, the finance minister announced to keep the prices of petrol, diesel, and other petroleum products unchanged. He said that the prices of petrol, diesel, light diesel and kerosene oil will remain unchanged till November 30 as per the federal government’s decision.

  • Pakistani delegation leaves for Russia to hold discussions on cheaper oil

    Pakistani delegation leaves for Russia to hold discussions on cheaper oil

    Minister of State for Petroleum Dr Musadik Malik and the petroleum secretary have flown to Russia to hold talks over oil and gas, a source with knowledge of the situation said on Monday on the condition of anonymity.

    The trip comes as the country struggles to meet domestic gas supply demands as winter approaches while battling to contain a current account deficit swelled by energy payments, mostly for oil.

    Ishaq Dar, the federal minister of finance, had already stated that the delegation will discuss an oil contract with Moscow.

    “We should pray the visit is successful and the government manages to secure a deal on favourable terms and conditions,” Dar said during an interview.

    Given the sharp rise in the cost of energy commodities in recent months, buying Russian oil at lower prices has gained popularity. This has been difficult, especially for emerging economies like Pakistan, whose energy requirements are mostly met by imports of petroleum.

    The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) said that during the first four months of the current fiscal year, Pakistan imported petroleum products worth $7.547 billion.

    Dar had earlier stated, speaking to a crowd in Dubai on November 13, that Islamabad hoped to clinch an import pact with Moscow on conditions comparable to those of New Delhi. He said that Pakistan could purchase oil from Russia since India was doing the same, and the US had been informed of this.

  • ‘It is over, I want good relations especially with the US’: Khan on his removal

    ‘It is over, I want good relations especially with the US’: Khan on his removal

    Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Imran Khan, has said that he no longer “blames the United States (US)” for engineering the Vote of No Confidence that resulted in his government’s ouster, and wants “dignified” ties with the country if he comes back to power.

    Referring to the alleged conspiracy which the former Prime Minister has insisted upon since April of this year, Khan said that “it was over”, in an interview with the Financial Times.

    “As far as I’m concerned, it’s over; it’s behind me. The Pakistan I want to lead must have good relationships with everyone, especially the United States,” he said.

    “Our relationship with the US has been as of a master-servant relationship, or a master-slave relationship, and we’ve been used like a hired gun. But for that I blame my own governments more than the US,” the former premier added.

    The former prime minister also termed his visit to Moscow on the eve of the invasion of Ukraine by Russia as “embarrassing”. He, however, added that trip was organised months in advance.

    About the role of the military, he said the army could play a “constructive role” in his future plans for Pakistan.

    The former premier asserted that there should “be a balance” in civil-military ties as “you cannot have an elected government which has responsibility given by the people, while the authority lies somewhere else”.

  • Pakistan may be ‘one of the most dangerous nations in the world’, says US President

    Pakistan may be ‘one of the most dangerous nations in the world’, says US President

    President of the United States of America (USA), Joe Biden, has said that Pakistan may be “one of the most dangerous nations in the world” as the country has “nuclear weapons without any cohesion”.

    The remark came during the US president’s address at a democratic congressional campaign committee reception.

    What did the US President say?

    “Did anybody think we’d be in a situation where China is trying to figure out its role relative to Russia and relative to India and relative to Pakistan,” the American President asked during his speech at the reception.

    Talking about his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, the US president termed him as a man who knew what he wanted but had an “enormous” array of problems.

    “How do we handle that? How do we handle that relative to what’s going on in Russia? And what I think is maybe one of the most dangerous nations in the world: Pakistan. Nuclear weapons without any cohesion,” Biden said, adding that despite a lot going on, the US has a hunk of opportunities to change the dynamic in the second quarter of the 21st century.

    Reactions to the US President’s statement:

    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif reacting to US President’s statement said that Pakistan rejects the remarks reportedly made by the US President, which are factually incorrect and misleading.

    “Over the past decades, Pakistan has proven to be a most responsible nuclear state, wherein its nuclear programme is managed through a technically sound and foolproof command and control system,” read an official statement from the prime minister’s office.

    “The real threat to international peace and security is posed by ultra-nationalism, violation of human rights in regions that are struggling against illegal occupation, violation of global norms by some states, repeated nuclear security incidents, and arms race among leading nuclear weapon states and introduction of new security constructs that disturb the regional balance.”

    “Pakistan and the US have a long history of a friendly and mutually beneficial relationship. At a time, when the world is confronted by huge global challenges, it is critically important that genuine and durable efforts are made to recognize the real potential of the Pakistan-US relationship while avoiding unnecessary comments. It is our sincere desire to cooperate with the US to promote regional peace and security.”

    “Let no one have any doubts. Pakistan is a responsible nuclear state and we are proud that our nuclear assets have the best safeguards as per IAEA requirements,” tweeted the premier.

    “We take these safety measures with the utmost seriousness,” said the prime minister.

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supreme leader Nawaz Sharif said that Pakistan is a responsible nuclear state that is perfectly capable of safeguarding its national interest whilst respecting international law and practices.

    “Our nuclear program is in no way a threat to any country,” he said on Twitter. “Like all independent states, Pakistan reserves the right to protect its autonomy, sovereign statehood, and territorial integrity.”

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan said he had two questions regarding the US president’s statement. “On what info has Biden reached this unwarranted conclusion on our nuclear capability when, having been PM, I know we have one of the most secure nuclear command & control systems?

    “Unlike the US which has been involved in wars across the world, when has Pakistan shown aggression esp post-nuclearisation,” he asked.

    Khan claimed that Biden’s statement showed the “total failure of the imported government’s foreign policy and its claims of a reset of relations with the US”.

    “Is this the ‘reset’? This government has broken all records for incompetence,” Imran tweeted, adding that he feared the incumbent government would end up compromising national security.

    The ruling PML-N has held PTI responsible for Biden’s statement, saying, the lobbying firm hired by the Imran Khan-led party is doing what it was paid to do.

    “Make no mistake about it, this is a direct attack on the national security of Pakistan.”

    Minister for Power Khurram Dastgir Khan — a senior member of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s cabinet — has termed the US president’s statement about Pakistan’s nuclear programme “baseless”.

    While answering a question about President Joe Biden’s comments regarding Pakistan during a press conference today, the former defence minister said, “Pakistan’s nuclear command and control system is absolutely safe which has been confirmed by international organisations many times”.

    He said that the US president’s doubts about Pakistan’s nukes are “completely wrong and the statement is baseless”.

    Meanwhile, ex-minister Fawad Chaudhry demanded that Biden should immediately retract his statement, asserting that Pakistan’s leadership may be weak but its people were not.

  • Putin grants Russian citizenship to Edward Snowden, who disclosed top secret US surveillance

    Putin grants Russian citizenship to Edward Snowden, who disclosed top secret US surveillance

    Edward Snowden, a former security expert who exposed top-secret American surveillance programmes and is still wanted by Washington on espionage charges, was granted citizenship by Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday.

    In order to avoid punishment, Snowden, who considers himself a whistleblower, left the United States and has been residing in Russia since that country gave him refuge in 2013.

    In a decree that Putin signed, Snowden, 39, was one of 72 foreigners who received citizenship.

    His attorneys stated at the time that he was filing for a Russian passport without renunciating his American citizenship when he was given permanent status in 2020.

    The state-run news agency RIA Novosti was informed on Monday by Snowden’s attorney, Anatoly Kucherena, that Snowden’s wife, Lindsay Mills, is also in the process of seeking for Russian citizenship. In 2014, Mills accompanied Snowden to Moscow. In 2017, they got married, and now they have a son together.

    Additionally, Kucherena stated that because of Snowden’s lack of combat experience, he would not be subject to the partial military mobilisation that Putin ordered last week to support Russia’s waning war in Ukraine. Putin claimed that only individuals with prior experience would be called up for partial mobilisation, but there have been several stories of other people receiving summonses, including those detained during anti-mobilization protests.

    According to CNN, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre refused to comment on Snowden’s new passport, and instead referred questions to the prosecutors seeking his extradition. “Soc, since I believe there have been criminal charges brought against him, we would point you to the Department of Justice for any specifics on this,” Jean-Pierre said.

    Snowden’s revelations were the largest security breach in American history as it exposed the top-secret NSA programme PRISM’s use of surveillance and the collection of a wide spectrum of digital data.

    Putin stated in a documentary directed by American Oliver Stone in 2017 that he did not view Snowden as a “traitor” for disclosing official information.

    “As an ex-KGB agent, you must have hated what Snowden did with every fiber of your being,” Stone says in the clip.

    “Snowden is not a traitor,” Putin said. “He did not betray the interests of his country. Nor did he transfer any information to any other country which would have been pernicious to his own country or to his own people. The only thing Snowden does, he does publicly.”

    Snowden justified his decision to submit a dual citizenship application in 2020.

    “After years of separation from our parents, my wife and I have no desire to be separated from our son. That’s why, in this era of pandemics and closed borders, we’re applying for dual US-Russian citizenship,” Snowden wrote on Twitter at the time.

    “Lindsay and I will remain Americans, raising our son with all the values of America we love — including the freedom to speak his mind. And I look forward to the day I can return to the States, so the whole family can be reunited,” Snowden added.

  • Loadshedding in Paris? Symbol of love Eiffel tower will go dark early every night

    Loadshedding in Paris? Symbol of love Eiffel tower will go dark early every night

    One of the best-known and most imitated monuments in the world— the Eiffel Tower— will shut down its lights earlier than usual due to the ongoing energy crisis in Europe.

    The decision was announced by Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo. The government’s plan includes aiming to save 10 per cent of Paris’ energy consumption during winters. Not just the famed tower but all of the city’s municipal buildings will turn off their lights starting at 10pm. However, public lighting will remain switched on in the city for the safety of its citizens.

    The earlier shutting off of the Eiffel Tower lights will begin on September 21. All lights will be switched off at 11:45pm when visiting time has ended.

    It is pertinent to mention that the tower makes up about 4 per cent of the monument’s annual energy expenses.

    Earlier, it was usually illuminated in golden hues within less than 10 minutes of nightfall and has an hourly 5-minute show of dazzling sparkles until 1am.

    Other actions in the mayor’s plan include lowering temperatures in public buildings, reducing water temperature in swimming pools, and axing hot water in administrative buildings and some public buildings.

    Europe’s energy crisis is one of the many setbacks of Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine. When the war broke out in Ukraine, European nations overwhelmingly supported the young country in its defense against Russian forces. But, historical reliance on Russian energy exports has left the continent reeling under rising energy costs.

  • Indian PM Modi to attend regional summit along with PM Shehbaz

    Indian Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi and Pakistani Premier Shehbaz Sharif will take part in Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit which is due to take place on September 15 and 16 in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.

    New Delhi has not yet specified whether Modi would hold bilateral talks with his Pakistani counterpart, Russian President Vladimir Putin or Chinese President Xi Jinping.

    Earlier, in the SCO foreign ministers’ meeting, all of the ministers reiterated that the heads of SCO states would attend the summit.

    Foreign Minister (FM) Bilawal Bhutto, who had attended the meeting in Tashkent, said that a bilateral meeting between the Pakistani and Indian leaders is not scheduled.

    “There are no plans of any meetings between Indian and Pakistani prime ministers in September”, Bilawal revealed, adding that both India and Pakistan are part of the SCO and the two countries are only engaged in the context of the broad-based activities of the organisation.

    The foreign minister had said: “India is our neighbouring country. While one can decide on a lot of things, one cannot choose its neighbours, therefore, we should get used to living with them.”

    Other than this, it has been reported that Russian Putin and Chinese Xi would meet at the summit. China has refused to condemn Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine and has ramped up purchases of Russian oil.

  • ‘Everyone was fleeing the site’: At least six people killed in Kabul bombing

    ‘Everyone was fleeing the site’: At least six people killed in Kabul bombing

    The Russian Foreign Ministry and Afghan officials have confirmed that two Russian embassy staff members were among six people who were killed in a suicide bombing near the entrance of the Russian embassy in Kabul.

    The attack was claimed by the Islamic State militant group.

    “As a result of the attack, two employees of the diplomatic mission were killed and there are also victims among Afghan citizens,” the ministry said.

    “I went to the Russian embassy to get a visa. We were sitting outside. The consul came and we showed him our papers, he guided us towards the entrance door of the embassy. Suddenly the blast occurred and I fell to the ground, “a man called Faiz Mohammad told Reuters.

    Ahmad Samir, a boy who suffered head injuries in the blast, said “There were so many injured people around, everyone was fleeing the site”.

    According to the police, the attacker was recognised and he was shot. “The suicide attacker, before reaching the target, was recognised and shot by Russian embassy [Taliban] guards,” said Mawlawi Sabir, the head of the police district.

    Police said the attacker was shot dead by armed guards as he approached the embassy gate.

    The bombing appeared to be the first to target a foreign diplomatic mission in Kabul since the Taliban takeover in 2021.

    Russia is one of the few countries to have maintained an embassy in Kabul after the Taliban took over the country more than a year ago.

    It is pertinent to mention that Moscow does not officially recognise the Taliban’s government, however, they have been in talks with officials over an agreement to supply gasoline and other commodities.

  • Last USSR Leader Mikhail Gorbachev dies

    Mikhail Gorbachev, the last leader of the Soviet Union, died at the age of 91. He ended the Cold War without bloodshed but failed to prevent the collapse of the Soviet Union.

    “Gorbachev died this evening after a serious and long illness,” the Central Clinical Hospital in Moscow said late on Tuesday. He died after a long illness.

    Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed “deep sympathies” over Gorbachev’s death.

    The official news agency of Russia reported Gorbachev will be buried at Moscow’s Novodevichy Cemetery next to his wife.

    United Nations (UN) chief Antonio Guterres in a statement praised Gorbachev as “a one-of-a-kind statesman who changed the course of history” and “did more than any other individual to bring about the peaceful end of the Cold War”.

    The spokesperson of the Russian government said that Putin had an ambiguous relationship with Gorbachev. Putin had referred to the end of the Soviet Union as “the greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the century”.

    Gorbachev led the USSR from 1985 until its collapse in 1991 and is seen as one of the most important figures of 20th century history. However, while he enjoys a positive reputation outside of the country, he is viewed differently inside Russia. 

    In a 2021 poll, more than 70 per cent of Russians said their country had moved in a negative direction during Gorbachev’s rule, while he was previously ranked as the most unpopular Russian leader of the past century, a state-run pollster said.

  • PM Shehbaz likely to meet Narendra Modi at SCO summit

    PM Shehbaz likely to meet Narendra Modi at SCO summit

    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif is expected to have a meeting with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, reports The News.

    The summit is scheduled to be held on September 15 and 16 in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.

    PM Shehbaz is likely to meet the country heads of China, Russia and Iran as well.

    Foreign Minister (FM) Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari attended  a meeting of the SCO FMs on July 28.