WORLD

A new mutation of the Delta variant of Covid-19 is expanding in England and is being monitored and assessed, according to official UK health data reported on Tuesday.

AY.4.2, which is being dubbed as "Delta Plus" in some quarters, contains mutations that might give the coronavirus which causes Covid-19 greater survival advantage. The “sublineage" is increasing in frequency but experts do not believe it is responsible for the continued high number of daily coronavirus infections in the country, which hit 49,156 cases on Monday – the highest figure since July.

With Afghanistan’s food crisis driving millions to the brink of starvation, India is considering options to transport 50,000 metric tonnes (MT) of wheat and medical aid to the Taliban-ruled country.

The government needs to circumvent what it has described as the challenge of efficient logistics to be able to despatch any food aid to Afghanistan though. India wants unhindered and direct access for those handling humanitarian aid to Afghanistan and believes only the UN is equipped to monitor, as foreign minister S Jaishankar said last month in a UN address, a non-discriminatory distribution of humanitarian assistance across all sections of the Afghan society. Indian aid will depend on whether or not this ``enabling environment'' is created.

PML-N Vice-President Maryam Nawaz looked to gather support of the people of Pakistan to oust Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday.  

The PML-N leader addressed a Pakistan Democratic Movement's (PDM) rally at Dhobi Ghat ground in Faisalabad.  

Maryam said the people were fully aware of how the prime minister had "disrespected the vote's sanctity".  She added the PM had fulfilled only one promise that he would "make everyone cry" and today, "the entire nation is crying".  

As it joins other stakeholders in pressing the Taliban for an inclusive government in Afghanistan, India is likely to host its own conference on the developing situation in the country next month. The government is in touch with Russia, China, US and several regional countries for the conference which is likely to take place here in the second week of November.

According to sources, India has proposed that the conference be held on November 10 or 11. While there are no plans yet to invite the Taliban for the conference, an invite to Pakistan is not ruled out.

A section of the media has also learnt that India had, in fact, planned a similar conference in May this year with the participation of the then Afghanistan government and also Pakistan but the Covid-19 second wave put paid to the plans. The situation is a lot more complex now of course with the Taliban having taken over the country.

India will attend the Moscow Format talks on Afghanistan that will take place on October 20 and will see participation by the Taliban, the government said Thursday. While Russia has never invited India for the extended troika meetings on Afghanistan apparently because India doesn’t have much influence with the Taliban, it sees India as an important partner in the Moscow Format, which includes 11 countries, for forging a regional consensus on Afghanistan.

The MEA spokesperson said India will participate at the joint secretary level in what will be the first Moscow Format meeting since the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan. India had its first official engagement with the Taliban on August 31 when Indian ambassador to Qatar Deepak Mittal met then deputy head of Taliban’s political office in Doha Mohammad Stanekzai.