World

Tehran, Nov 6 (IANS) Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian on Saturday called on the US to prove its "real will" in the negotiations aimed at the revival of 2015 Iranian nuclear deal, according to the Foreign Ministry's website.

The US should prove that it would not "violate" its obligations by imposing sanctions, Amir-Abdollahian said at the first meeting of the national coordinators of the Group of Friends in Defense of the Charter of the United Nations, which kicked off in the Iranian capital Tehran on Saturday, Xinhua news agency reported.

He pointed to Washington's unilateral withdrawal from the nuclear pact, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), in 2018, saying that it showed Washington's "disregard for its international obligations and its clear violation of the resolution approved by the United Nations Security Council".

It is unfortunate that the incumbent US administration, despite its promises and claims, still maintains the course of "hostile actions ... and continuation of the failed policy of maximum pressure" against Tehran, he said, adding that instead of making up for the mistakes of the previous government, the administration of US President Joe Biden "adopts hypocritical positions".

The Iranian foreign minister stressed that his country adheres to the continuation of nuclear negotiations for the revival of the nuclear agreement, while emphasizing its inalienable right to use peaceful nuclear energy in all its dimensions, including uranium enrichment for peaceful purposes.

Meanwhile, "America must prove that it has good intentions and real will and does not intend to use the negotiations to waste time and find another excuse to continue violating its obligations and continue the sanctions that this country is unfortunately very addicted to," he noted.

Amir-Abdollahian said on Thursday that his country had "absolute readiness" to conclude nuclear talks "as soon as possible."

On Wednesday, the top Iranian diplomat said an Iranian delegation would travel to Vienna, Austria in the coming days for talks on enhancing cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Iran signed the JCPOA with major countries in July 2015, agreeing to curb its nuclear program in return for removing sanctions on the country. However, former US President Donald Trump pulled Washington out of the agreement and reimposed sanctions on Tehran.

The talks on the JCPOA's revival began in April 2021 in Vienna. No breakthrough was achieved after the latest round of talks held in early August.

--IANS
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By T.N. Ashok
With inflation and high prices of groceries and gas striking a chord with American voters, especially the swing voters in battleground states, former President Barack Obama has pitched in with last minute efforts to save incumbent President Joe Biden against the powerful rhetoric of the MAGA Republicans led by ex-President Donald Trump.


Early predictions were that both the Republicans and Democrats were split 46 per cent each and that swing votes in eight battleground states held the key to either of the party's success in the November 8 elections. The swing voters are the uneducated college dropouts in the Latino community worst affected by the 40-year high inflation at 13 per cent.

At present the Democrats and the Republicans are split 50 seats each in the Senate with the former enjoying the tie-breaking vote of Vice President Kamala Harris to pass legislation. In the house of representatives of the Congress, the Democrats have a wafer thin majority with 220 seats against 212 of the Republicans.

Current trends, as projected by the political strategists, show that the Republicans could gain 10 more seats in the Senate to gain a majority and an equal number in the house to only enjoy a wafer thin majority.

Paradoxically, in either party, candidates have disliked the idea of either Trump or Biden campaigning for them. Trump had heavy legal baggage in terms of cases against him in the lower Manhattan courts with NY AG Letitia James suing him for tax fraud, FBI seizing 11,000 documents from his Florida home and DOJ prosecuting him for not returning sensitive documents that could come under the espionage act and the Jan 6 Congressional panel accusing Trump of involvement in the Capitol Hill's insurrection.

Biden, on the other hand, is being held responsible for the economic mess in the country and the waiver of student loans is seen as a massive spend of public money benefiting only a small section of the student community while the majority seems left out, media reports say.

With popularity ratings of both Trump and Biden sliding before the elections, Trump has relied on his own rhetoric to turn the tables on the Democrats, whereas Obama has felt compelled to jump into the fray, albeit a bit late, to salvage the sullied image of Biden in order to capture the swing votes, analysts say.

Obama's magic may not work, feel political strategists. A media report said that the roles have now reversed. Because there was a time when Joseph R. Biden Jr. could dare to go where Barack Obama could not. The roles are reversed as Obama is now jetting from one battleground state to the next while the 46th President is limiting his presence to the blue states where he is still welcome.

One thing is for sure: Neither Republicans nor Democrats favour a rematch between Trump and Biden in 2024 as one appears to be carrying too much legal baggage with donors and funders shying away, and Biden being considered "senile" and too old for the job as he would be 81 in 2024 while Trump would be 76.

Both Obama and Biden teamed up in a last ditch effort to campaign in important battleground states such as Philadelphia in Pennsylvania, where the Republican and Democrats are nearly tied up, though some strategists say Democrats have an edge. But intense campaigning in eight battleground states included Pennsylvania, Ohio, Nevada, New Hampshire, Georgia and Arizona.

Both Obama and Biden during their days at the White House have been a political odd couple. Obama represented the suave orator while Biden is symbolic of the archetypal American politician from Delaware, not too far from the capital, Washington DC.

Obama is desperately trying to validate Biden's presidency and legitimising it with voters showcasing his achievements on the inflation reduction act, lowering healthcare costs for the middle class, lowering costs of prescription drugs and waiving mounting debts of college-going youth towards tuition fees to colleges for families with income levels below $100,000 a year.

But the cry is for more relief, reports indicate that has led to frustration. Over 47 million borrowers owe financiers under the PELTS scheme about $1.7 trillion.

--IANS
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San Francisco, Nov 5 (IANS) Conspiracy theories abound here on the final weekend before Big Tuesday's midterms.

With Donald Trump hinting that he will announce a run for President again on November 14 against the backdrop of a pending Department of Justice investigation and whether him seeking elected office will give him immunity, the waters remain muddied.

Threat to Democracy and and a prolonged economic slump, of course, remaining vital issues. D minus 3 sees the battlelines drawn more stringently for the coming Tuesday mid terms. Barack Obama and Bill Clinton are pitching in equally in this war with their firepower against a rising Trumpmania criss-crossing America. This only throws into stark relief President Joe Biden's breadth of misery making the competitive race even tougher.

CNN reported that Justice Department officials have discussed whether a Trump candidacy would create the need for a special counsel to oversee two sprawling federal investigations related to the former President. The Justice Department is also staffing up its investigations with experienced prosecutors so it is ready for any decisions after the midterms, including the potential unprecedented move of indicting a former President.

Trump and his associates also face legal exposure in Georgia, where Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis is investigating Trump's efforts to overturn the 2020 election in the Peach State and expects to wrap her probe by the end of the year.

Embattled incumbent Biden, trying to stave off a red wave, just finished speaking in Joliet, Illinois, emphasising the importance of Medicare and Social Security and taking aim at congressional Republicans, reported NBC News. Biden highlighted his administration's passing of the Inflation Reduction Act, which aims to lower the cost of prescription drugs, and said congressional Republicans want to repeal it as well as do away with federal health insurance programs including Medicare and Social Security.

Grocery, rent and gas prices have spiked like never before. Biden said in his speech that federal debt had been cut into half which is completely misleading, the current position is a humungous $31.22 trillion. Claims from both sides are only queering the pitch for voters who are facing acute hardships.

Noah Rothman, MSNBC Opinion Columnist argues that yet now, as interest rates continue to rise, the administration shows little willingness to curtail its profligacy.

Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act in August, which, the law's name notwithstanding, is expected to increase inflationary pressure on the economy in the short-term, according to a University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School analysis. That's because the legislation front-loaded $485 billion in spending programmes and tax breaks while counting on health care savings and additional tax revenues from a beefed-up IRS to reduce the deficit over 10 years. Most of the promised savings aren't expected to be measurable until 2027. These gestures convey the necessity of deficit reduction without delivering it in a timely way.

A besieged economy remains the most important touchpoint for common folk, the old battle of main street vs Wall Street has resurfaced in a big way. For context, "Main Street vs Wall Street" is used to describe the contrast of general consumers, investors, or small local businesses with large investment corporations. Main Street represents the small and local ones, including small businesses, general individual investors, and small independent investment firms. The spin this time is the age old economic disparity, money making vultures on Wall Street making money hand over fist again with the Dow recovering recently even as the squeeze continues for common people.

--IANS
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Islamabad, Nov 5 (IANS) The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) on Saturday prohibited the broadcast and re-broadcast of speeches and press conferences by former Prime Minister and PTI Chairman Imran Khan on all satellite TV channels with immediate effect, a media report said.

A statement issued by PEMRA said that airing "hateful, slanderous, vilifying and unwarranted statements" against the country's leadership and state institutions is in sheer violation of Article 19 of the Constitution, Express Tribune reported.

It said that Imran Khan has made aspersions against state institutions by levelling 'baseless' allegations of orchestrating an assassination plan, the report said.

"Contents of his speeches are being rebroadcast on various TV channels in their talk shows and news bulletins without any editorial oversight," it observed.

PEMRA said that airing of such content is likely to create hatred among the people or is prejudicial to maintenance of law and order or is likely to disturb public peace and tranquillity or endangers national security and it is a serious violation of Article 19 of the Constitution and Section 27 of PEMRA Ordinance 2002 as well as Electronic Media Code of Conduct 2015.

It warned the licence of a TV channel can be suspended in case of violation without any show cause notice in the public interest along with other enabling provisions of law.

Addressing the nation for the first time after narrowly escaping an assassination attempt during the party's long march in Punjab's Wazirabad on Thursday, Imran had on Friday asked his party workers and supporters to continue protesting until three "accused" - prime minister, interior minister and an army officer - resign from their post.

Imran said to ensure an impartial and fair probe, it is necessary for the three top officials to step down as "all agencies are under their control".

He also asked the army chief to make the senior military official resign whom he accused of being involved in the assassination attempt.

--IANS
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Lahore, Nov 3 (IANS) The Ireland women's cricket team will go ahead with its maiden tour of Pakistan for the three One-day Internationals and as many T20I matches after an assessment of the situation arising out of the attack on former Pakistan Prime Minister and cricket captain Imran Khan suggested there was no threat to the team.

The first ODI of the series between Ireland Women and Pakistan Women on Friday will go ahead despite the incident taking place at Wazirabad, approximately 150km outside Lahore, venue of the three ODIs and three T20Is. As per the schedule, the series will go on till November 16 after the third T20I.

A gunman opened fire at a campaign truck carrying Imran Khan at Wazirabad in eastern Paksitan, wounding him in both his legs. The gunman was arrested at the scene and no group has claimed responsibility for the shooting.

The attack happened while Imran Khan, who led Pakistan to their first World Cup title in 1992, was leading a protest convoy of his political party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), supporters in Wazirabad and heading towards the capital, Islamabad, as part of his campaign aimed at forcing the government to hold early elections. Imran is reported to be safe and admitted to a hospital. One person has reportedly died and seven have been wounded in the attack.

Cricket Ireland said according to the current advice provided to it, there was no change in threat level and it was liaising with Pakistan Cricket Board and security advisors to assess the situation.

"Current advice provided to Cricket Ireland is that there will be no change in the threat level as a result of this incident. The Ireland Women's squad has been briefed, while Cricket Ireland's security advisors will continue to review procedures and monitor the situation," it said.

"Cricket Ireland is currently liaising with the Pakistan Cricket Board, in-country security advisors and diplomatic services. The PCB Chief Executive Faisal Hasnain has spoken directly with Cricket Ireland Chief Executive Warren Deutrom and Team Manager Beth Healy, and provided them with an updated assessment of the on-ground situation," it added.

The Ireland Women's squad has been training at the Gaddafi Stadium ahead of the first match of their first-ever tour of Pakistan.

--IANS

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Islamabad, Nov 3 (IANS) Protests erupted in multiple cities across the country after Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan and other PTI leaders were injured in a gun attack during PTIs long march in Gujranwala, media reports said on Thursday.

Imran Khan and other PTI leaders were injured after a man opened fire near the PTI reception camp at the Allahwala Chowk during the party's long march, ARY News reported.

Following the gun attack, protests erupted in different cities across the country against the assassination attempt on Khan during the long march, the report said.

PTI workers started demonstrations in 17 localities in Karachi against the gun attack on Khan's container. The outrageous party workers blocked roads in north Karachi's Power House Chowrangi, whereas a large number of PTI supporters lodged a protest on Korangi Road.

Police contingents rushed to the protest venues and started negotiations with the protesters to clear the roads. Huge traffic jams were witnessed in different areas as protests broke out on many arterial roads in Karachi.

The PTI workers also held a protest demonstration at Lahore's Liberty Chowk. Another protest was organised at Murree Road.

In Faisalabad, a large number of protesters gathered outside Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah's residence.

--IANS
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Las Vegas, Nov 3 (IANS) The US Fed is targeting the inflation and unemployment numbers in its crosshairs, even as it contemplates the concept of a soft landing at a later date as it battles 14-year high inflation.

With unemployment at 3.5 per cent, Friday's print is being keenly watched. Interest rate spike, poor growth rate, wildly rising inflation has a fourth dimension for a struggling economic universe - 3.5 per cent unemployment is only one part of this economic pandemic; it goes beyond the pale with 5.8 million unemployed in the US and unemployment insurance claims at 1.4 million as of October 2022.

Treasury yields have been rising after the Fed's latest decision on rates, which rose another 0.75 percentage point. But more notably, Fed Chair Jerome Powell said it wasn't time to back off rate increases, though he conceded they may get smaller as the central bank soaks in economic data and studies how well its actions till now have done their job.

The two-year Treasury yield jumped to its highest since mid-2007, to 4.739 per cent. The Fed's benchmark rate is seen rising above the 4.6 per cent target forecast by the Fed at its September meeting, to 5 per cent or more.

Investing.com highlighted that the US labour market remains tight. New jobless claims unexpectedly fell last week to 217,000 from the expected 220,000. Tomorrow, investors will see the October report on jobs from the government, which is expected to say the economy created 200,000 jobs last month.

CNN reported that on Wednesday, President Joe Biden delivered a stark warning to Americans that the future of the nation's democracy could rest on next week's midterm elections, an urgent appeal coming six days before final ballots are cast in a contest the President framed in nearly existential terms. However, he did not speak about the floundering economy, which is what all Americans are concerned about.

His speech was politically oriented with an eye on the midterms, but many here argued that he could have looked at how Americans are being squeezed economically, though depositors are benefiting. The soaring cost of food is a case in point as thanksgiving is on the horizon.

--IANS
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Susitha Fernando
Colombo, Nov 3 (IANS) Amidst the resumption of flight of Russia's largest charter airline, Azur Air on Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered "the Government of Russia to increase the number of flights between Russia and friendly states".



Russian Embassy in Colombo tweeted after Sri Lanka welcomed the first Azur air flight with 335 passengers onboard at Bandaranaike International Airport in Colombo, "IMPORTANT: Russian president Vladimir #Putin ordered the Government of Russia to increase the number of flights between #Russia and friendly states!@LKARSGOV."

In early June, Russia stopped flights to Sri Lanka after an A330-300 operated by Russian flag-carrier Aeroflot was detained post Colombo commercial court issued an order over a legal dispute with an Irish leasing vehicle Celestial Aviation Trading.

Due to strong protest by Russia, the Sri Lanka government quickly intervened and released the flight and guaranteed that no Russian flights would be stopped. However, Russian airlines were reluctant to return to Sri Lanka until October 10 when an Aeroflot flight resumed flights between Moscow and Colombo.

Resumption of Russian flights has brought much hope for Sri Lanka's tourism for the year's biggest season as Russia holds the record of second highest tourism arrival to the island nation after India.

Tourism Minister Harin Fernando tweeted: "Russian charter @azurairline touched down today at BIA with 335 passengers on board. The airline will operate 4 flights a week and Aeroflot with 3 flight a week which will make upto 7 flights weekly. Most seats already sold out upto end Jan 2023."

Reviving hopes for the return of European tourist arrival, Sri Lanka's Tourism Ministry also has announced that Air France, the flag carrier of France is to resume its flights to Sri Lanka from Friday (November 4).

Tourism Minister Harin Fernando in a Twitter message announced that Switzerland's national airline, Swiss International Air Lines, is scheduled to resume operations with weekly flights starting from November 10 to May.

Burdened by the worst-ever financial crisis since 1948 independence, Sri Lanka awaits the revival of tourism, one of main foreign currency earner, which was dashed by 2019 Easter Sunday terrorism attack, two years of Covid-19 pandemic and political crisis started early this year with violent street fights following shortages of most essential items including food, fuel and medicine.

--IANS
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Manila, Nov 3 (IANS) At least 150 people have died and 36 others remain unaccounted for due to the severe tropical storm Nalgae that battered the Philippines last weekend and triggered flash floods and landslides in many parts of the Southeast Asian country, the government said on Thursday.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said 94 fatalities have been identified, the remaining 56 are being verified, reports Xinhua news agency.

Of the 36 reported missing, the agency confirmed 28, while the identities of the other eight are still being verified.

The agency said the tropical storm affected over 3.9 million people, damaged 499 roads and 120 bridges, and caused power outages in many areas.

Nalgae is the 16th tropical cyclone to lash the Philippines this year.

It slammed into Catanduanes, an island province in the Bicol region, on October 29.

The Philippines is one of the most disaster-prone countries globally, mainly due to its location in the Pacific Ring of Fire and the Pacific typhoon belt.

On average, the archipelagic country experiences 20 typhoons yearly, some of which are intense and destructive.

In April, tropical storm Megi dumped rains in central and southern parts of the Philippines, inundating many areas and causing landslides, resulting in over 220 deaths.

--IANS
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Los Angeles, Oct 30 (IANS) The 'Man of Steel' star Henry Cavill was in the race to play the character of the legendary spy James Bond.

Henry got through to the final audition stage with just him and Daniel Craig in the running to play 007 but Henry eventually lost out when Bond bosses chose the more experienced 'Layer Cake' actor to play the superspy in 2006's 'Casino Royale', reports Female First UK.


Henry has no qualms and maintains that the producers made the right choice. Speaking on the 'Happy Sad Confused' podcast, he explained: "They told me I was close. They told me it was ultimately down to, and this is what I've been told, it was just down to me and Daniel [Craig], and I was the younger option. They obviously went with Daniel and I think it was an amazing choice to go with Daniel."

According to Female First UK, Henry went on to insist he may not have done the part of James Bond justice, adding: "I probably wasn't ready at the time and I think Daniel did an incredible job over the past movies, so I'm happy they made that choice."

However, auditioning to play Bond and missing out didn't do Henry's career any harm as he went on to land the role of Superman in 2013's 'Man of Steel' which cemented his status as a leading man.

Looking back, Henry has no regrets over his failed Bond audition: "It was a fun adventure at the time, and definitely gave me a boost to my career. That was the key element of it."

--IANS
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