MOSCOW, 18 November 2021, (TON): Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday, November 19, will hold a meeting in the Kremlin with the leader of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev. This was reported to media by the press secretary of the head of the Russian state Dmitry Peskov.

He said in response to a question “yes. The visit is planned. The conversation will be in the Kremlin.”

In turn, the press service of the Uzbek leader announced on Wednesday on its website the upcoming visit of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev to Russia on November 19.

The press service of the President of Uzbekistan said “in accordance with the program of their stay in Moscow, the leaders of the two countries will hold talks, during which they will discuss topical issues of further development of the Uzbek-Russian relations of strategic partnership and alliance.”

Following the talks between Putin and Mirziyoyev, a number of bilateral documents are expected to be signed.

On the eve of the visit, joint events of the second Educational Forum and the next Forum of regional cooperation between Uzbekistan and Russia are being held in Moscow, the press service of the head of the Uzbek state notes.

DAMASCUS, 18 November 2021, (TON): President Bashar al-Assad received a Russian delegation headed by the Russian President’s Special Representative for Syria Alexander Lavrentyev, who is on a visit to Syria to participate in a joint meeting of the two Syrian-Russian coordination ministerial bodies on the return of displaced Syrians, held in Damascus.

During the meeting, the sides highly appreciated the positive results achieved on the ground as a result of the active and effective work and joint efforts of the two sides in order to ensure appropriate conditions for the further return of refugees to their cities and towns, as well as to accelerate the pace of national reconciliation.

Both sides stressed the importance of bilateral agreements and memorandums of understanding signed on the sidelines of the meetings of the joint coordinating bodies of Syria and Russia.

President Al-Assad noted that the importance of the Russian Federation’s actions is reflected in the practical steps it is taking on the ground to help the Syrian people overcome the consequences of the terrorist war and the unjust sanctions imposed against them, as well as in its strong and principled political position and in support of the law.

Syrians to defend their country’s sovereignty.

KAMPALA, 18 November 2021, (TON): Police said “three people died and several dozen were injured in twin suicide bombings targeting Uganda’s capital Kampala.”

An armed group active in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, the ADF has been linked to the militant Islamic State group by Washington and blamed for a string of recent attacks in Uganda.

Police spokesman Fred Enanga said “two suicide bombers on motorbikes, disguised as local “boda boda” motorcycle taxi drivers, detonated a device near the entrance to parliament, killing a passerby, while a third attacker targeted a checkpoint near the central police station, leaving two people dead.”

He said “the explosions in Kampala’s central business district occurred within minutes of each other, shortly after 10 am, and left “bodies shattered and scattered.”

There was no immediate claim of responsibility but Enanga told reporters “the indications are that this is a domestic terror group linked to the ADF.”

Police foiled a third attack, recovering an improvised explosive device from the home of an alleged suicide bomber who was shot and injured, and were in pursuit of other members of the group, Enanga added.

LONDON, 18 November 2021, (TON): This session coincides with a simmering crisis over MPs' conduct UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson faces a parliamentary grilling over charges of sleaze within his Conservative party and lacklustre leadership at the COP26 climate summit.

Johnson will be quizzed by the heads of parliament's cross-party select committees at 1500 GMT for a stock-take of government policy, typically held three times a year and which can prove uncomfortable for under-fire leaders.

This session, Johnson's sixth since becoming prime minister in mid-2019, coincides with a simmering crisis over MPs' conduct, primarily from his own ruling Conservative party, over potential conflicts of interest and lucrative second jobs.

On the eve of his appearance, Johnson sought to get on the front foot by writing to parliament's speaker to say he will back proposals to bar British lawmakers from acting as paid political consultants and advisers.

He wrote "it is imperative that we put beyond doubt the reputation of the House of Commons by ensuring the rules which apply to MPs are up to date, effective and appropriately rigorous.”

The move came as the main opposition Labour party prepared to introduce a vote Wednesday to bar MPs from such roles, as well as being paid directors, which its leader Keir Starmer said had forced Johnson's hand.

British lawmakers are permitted to hold outside roles, as long as they declare them, but are not allowed to use their parliamentary offices or resources for such work.

KHARTOUM, 18 November 2021, (TON): Medics said “security forces shot dead at least 10 people and wounded dozens as thousands of Sudanese protested against last month's coup in Khartoum and other cities.”

The protesters, marching in neighbourhoods across the capital and its twin cities of Bahri and Omdurman, demanded a full handover to civilian authorities and for the leaders of the Oct. 25 coup to be tried in court.

Witnesses said “security forces fired live bullets and tear gas after mobile phone communications were cut earlier in the day.”

The Central Committee of Sudanese Doctors, a group of medics aligned with the protest movement said “it reported 10 deaths, including seven in Bahri, the coup forces used live bullets heavily in different areas of the capital and there are tens of gunshot injuries, some of them in serious condition.”

On one main road in Khartoum, protesters burned tyres and chanted "the people are stronger, and retreat is impossible."

Others carried pictures of people killed in previous protests and of Abdalla Hamdok, the civilian prime minister who was placed under house arrest during the coup, with the slogan: "Legitimacy comes from the street, not from the cannons."

Images of protests in towns and cities including Port Sudan, Kassala, Dongola, Wad Madani and Geneina were posted on social media.

Security forces were heavily deployed on main roads and intersections, using tear gas to prevent gatherings, witnesses said. Bridges across the River Nile were closed.

KABUL, 18 November 2021, (TON): Officials said “at least three people were killed and five wounded in a bomb attack on a minibus in Kabul.”

A Taliban official told media “the latest in a series of attacks in the Afghan capital destroyed the vehicle in a suburb, Dasht-e-Barchi.”

He said “our initial information shows the bomb was attached to a minibus. We have launched an investigation.”

Different Taliban officials gave varying accounts of the casualties.

A reporter said “I heard a huge explosion… when I looked around a minibus and a taxi were on fire.”

“I also saw ambulances rush to the area to take wounded and dead people to the hospital.”

Last week a journalist was killed and at least four other people injured when a bomb destroyed another minibus in the same area.

The Daesh-Khorasan claimed responsibility for the attack, boasting it had killed or injured individuals in the incident.

KABUL, 18 November 2021, (TON): To honorable members of Congress of the United States of America! As a representative of the new government of Afghanistan, I present to you our compliments and would like to share a few thoughts on our bilateral relations.

This year will mark the centennial of relations between Afghanistan and America. The United States of America initially recognized the sovereign government of Afghanistan officially in 1921 following our independence, whereas diplomatic relations began between both governments in the year 1935.

Akin to other world countries, our bilateral relations have also experienced ups and downs.

Without any doubt, the two-decade war after the 7th of October 2001 cast a shadow over relations of American and Afghan people, but fortunately, the end result of this long war was guaranteed and resolved through a bilateral agreement.

The Doha Agreement envisioned positive relations between both countries in the future. We believe that full implementation of the Doha Agreement and commitment to it can open a new chapter of positive relations between both governments and people which is in the interest of both countries. Even though there was a war raging in Afghanistan, we managed to hold many rounds of talks with three US administrations starting from the year 2011.

ISLAMABAD, 18 November 2021, (TON): The Foreign Office said in a statement “Pakistan on Wednesday strongly condemned the restrictions imposed by the BJP’s Haryana government on offering Friday prayers by Muslims at several places in the state.”

The FO said it is deeply concerned over continued vandalization of mosques and attacks against prayer places of Muslims by Sangh Parivar extremists with the complicity of BJP ruled states of Uttar Pradesh and Haryana.

In another act of sacrilege of Muslim religious places, radical Hindu groups reportedly dumped cow dung at several places of Friday prayers.

The Foreign Office added “the senseless attacks against Muslims and their places of worship, houses and businesses are continuing in Tripura as well despite international concern.”

The BJP ruled states have arrested hundreds of individuals including well-known advocates and journalists under draconian laws such as Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act for raising a voice against gross and systematic human rights violations of minorities, particularly Muslims.

In the state of Maharashtra, violent attacks were unleashed against Muslims’ shops, mosques and shrines by radical activists of BJP and its affiliated groups including Bajrang Dal, Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena.

ISLAMABAD, 18 November 2021, (TON): The government and joint opposition flexed their muscles in joint session of Parliament but the treasury succeeded to get maximum bills (33 out of 34 bills) passed with the support of its allies.

A total of 29 bills appeared on the ‘order of the day’ out of which the joint session of Parliament passed 28 bills while five bills were considered in the House as supplementary agenda.

Only one bill, the Elections (Amendment) Bill, 2021, was deferred while the remaining 33 legislative proposals were passed.

A bill to provide for the right of review and reconsideration to bring into effect the judgment of the International Court of Justice in the Kulbhushan Jadhav case, the International Court of Justice (Review and Re-consideration) Bill, 2020.

The bill was moved by Minister for Law and Justice Dr Muhammad Farogh Nasim in the House. The bill was passed with majority vote.

The statement of objects and reasons of the bill says that the government of India initiated proceedings against Pakistan in the International Court of Justice (ICJ), concerning alleged violations of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations of 24 April 1963 ”in the matter of detention and trial of an Indian national, Commander Kulbhushan Sudhir Jadhav”, who had been sentenced to death by the Military Court in Pakistan in April 2017.

NEW DELHI, 18 November 2021, (TON): The Corridor to Sikh Pilgrimage Kartarpur Sahib finally reopened from Wednesday nearly after twenty months, ahead of the 552nd birth anniversary of Sikh's first master Guru Nanak Dev.

On the first day of reopening of Kartapur Corridor, pilgrims started arriving early at the Integrated Check Post (ICP) at Dera Baba Nanak in Gurdaspur district for a day-long pilgrimage to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib, Kartarpur Sahib, situated about 4.5 kilometers inside Pakistan from the ICP.

According to sources, those persons who had registered themselves for the pilgrimage to the neighboring country before the temporary closure of the Kartapur Corridor were given visas to travel through the corridor and were informed earlier.

The Kartarpur Corridor was temporarily shut down on March 16, 2020.

In Pakistan Chief Executive Officer of Project Management Unit Muhammad Latif along with Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee president Ameer Singh and other Pak Sikh leaders had arrived at the Pakistan side of the Kartarpur corridor to receive the Indian devotees.