KEY COVID NOS. WORLDWIDE

Pos   /   Country   /   New Daily cases   /   Total Deaths   /        Daily Deaths /           Active Cases   /           Deaths/1M Pop

               World    4,74,423              /             40,34,575            /             8,039     /             1,19,03,398        /             517.6

1             USA        24,590   /             6,22,690              /             361        /             48,63,598            /             1,870

2             Brazil     57,713   /             5,31,777              /             1,433     /             10,09,445            /             2,484

3             UK          35,707   /             1,28,365              /             29           /             5,77,659              /             1,881

4             India      39,154   /             4,07,132              /             1,165     /             4,61,681              /             292

5             Russia    25,766   /             1,41,501              /             726        /             4,26,630              /             969

6             Indonesia            38,124   /             64,631   /             871        /             3,67,733              /             234

7             Mexico  9,452     /             2,34,458              /             266        /             3,01,488              /             1,799

8             Argentina            14,518   /             98,148   /             244        /             2,83,189              /             2,152

9             Iran        16,596   /             85,543   /             146        /             2,63,384              /             1,005

10           Spain     21,879   /             81,003   /             6             /             2,20,282              /             1,732

11           South Africa       22,441   /             63,873   /             374        /             2,09,644              /             1,063

12           Honduras             930        /             7,192     /             17           /             1,70,550              /             715

13           Colombia             21,536   /             1,11,731              /             576        /             1,60,664              /             2,172

14           Poland   76           /             75,152   /             17           /             1,53,109              /             1,988

15           Bangladesh         11,324   /             16,004   /             212        /             1,22,155              /             96

16           Iraq        8,636     /             17,476   /             32           /             1,03,038              /             425

17           Tunisia  8,506     /             16,050   /             189        /             86,768   /             1,344

18           Turkey   5,670     /             50,155   /             59           /             81,724   /             588

19           Malaysia              9,180     /             5,980     /             77           /             80,665   /             182

20           Thailand               9,276     /             2,534     /             72           /             74,895   /             36

24           Philippines           5,881     /             25,720   /             70           /             51,902   /             232

37           Pakistan               1,843     /             22,520   /             27           /             35,573   /             100

AFGHAN FM SEEKS PAKISTAN'S HELP IN BRINGING TALIBAN TO NEGOTIATING TABLE AGAIN

Afghanistan's Minister of Foreign Affairs Mohammad Hanif Atmar has sought Pakistan's help to end the raging conflict in Afghanistan, saying that he hoped Islamabad would persuade the Taliban to return to talks again.

The situation in Afghanistan has taken a turn for the worse, with the Taliban launching a blistering campaign and capturing key districts of the country, drastically emboldened as US and other foreign forces gear up to leave the country.

In an exclusive interview with Geo News, Atmar said Kabul had great expectations from Pakistan.

"We are hopeful Pakistan will help Afghanistan disrupt the Taliban's supply and 'brutal campaign'," said the Afghan minister.

"The Taliban did not fulfil their part of the deal and deceived the whole world," he said. "The Taliban are making a huge mistake. All of us have extended a hand of friendship towards them," he added.

He said the Afghan government was telling the Taliban to honour the Doha peace deal, adding that Kabul had fulfilled its obligations of the deal when it came to the prisoners exchange and ensuring foreign troops leave the country.

The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Al-Qaeda have banded forces with other terrorist elements and are fighting alongside the Taliban against the government of Afghanistan, said Atmer.

"We are monitoring links between the TTP, Taliban and Al-Qaeda on a daily basis," said Atmer. "These ties certainly exist."

"The entire region, not Afghanistan alone, is at threat from these groups," he stressed. "Pakistan, Afghanistan, China, India, Russia and the Middle East are in danger from these groups," he said.

Meanwhile, the Taliban claimed on Friday to be in control of 85% of Afghanistan after seizing key border crossings with Iran and Turkmenistan following a sweeping offensive launched as U.S. troops pulled out of the war-torn nation.

In Moscow, a visiting delegation of Taliban officials said they controlled about 250 of Afghanistan's 398 districts -- a claim impossible to independently verify and disputed by the government.

PFIZER IS DEVELOPING A COVID BOOSTER SHOT TO TARGET THE HIGHLY TRANSMISSIBLE DELTA VARIANT

Pfizer and BioNTech announced Thursday they are developing a Covid-19 booster shot intended to target the delta variant as concerns rise about the highly transmissible strain that is already the dominant form of the disease in the United States.

The companies said although they believe a third shot of their current two-dose vaccine has the potential to preserve the “highest levels” of protection against all currently known variants, including delta, they are “remaining vigilant” and developing an updated version of the vaccine.

“As seen in real world evidence released from the Israel Ministry of Health, vaccine efficacy has declined six months post-vaccination, at the same time that the Delta variant is becoming the dominate variant in the country,” the companies said in a written statement.

“These findings are consistent with an ongoing analysis from the companies’ Phase 3 study,” they said. “That is why we have said, and we continue to believe that it is likely, based on the totality of the data we have to date, that a third dose may be needed within 6 to 12 months after full vaccination.”

Executives from Pfizer and BioNtech have repeatedly said people will likely need a booster shot, or third dose, within 12 months of getting fully vaccinated because they expect vaccine-induced immunity to wane over time. They also said it’s likely people will need to get additional shots each year.

Pfizer and BioNTech are developing booster shots and are expected to shortly seek U.S. authorization for a third dose of its vaccine.

BIDEN URGES PUTIN TO ACT ON RANSOMWARE ATTACKS, HINTS RETALIATION

In a Friday phone call, US president Joe Biden told Russian president Vladimir Putin that he must "take action" against ransomware groups operating in his country. During the hour-long conversation, Biden emphasised that he is "committed to continued engagement on the broader threat posed by ransomware."

The White House, in a statement, said, "President Biden underscored the need for Russia to take action to disrupt ransomware groups operating in Russia and emphasized that he is committed to continued engagement on the broader threat posed by ransomware."

It further added, "President Biden reiterated that the United States will take any necessary action to defend its people and its critical infrastructure in the face of this continuing challenge."

During a media briefing on Friday, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said that the recent ransomware attack linked to the REvil hacking group based in Russia was the main focus of the Biden-Putin call. "The US has no new information that Russian government directed ransomware attacks, but Moscow must act," Psaki said.

PAKISTAN CALLS FOR POWER SHARING FORMULA AMONG STAKEHOLDERS IN AFGHANISTAN TO AVERT CIVIL WAR

Pakistan on Friday cautioned against the deteriorating situation in Afghanistan and urged all parties to agree on a power sharing formula to avert a looming civil war in the neighbouring country.

Addressing the Senate’s Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and National Security Advisor Moeed Yusuf expressed concern over the situation and hinted that Pakistan won’t be able to tackle the influx of more refugees in case the armed conflict intensified in neighbouring Afghanistan.

“It is our effort and desire that the neighbouring country does not plunge into the civil war again,” Mr. Qureshi said, adding that Pakistan wants that the dignified return of Afghan refugees be made part of the Afghan peace process.

He said Pakistan would not be able to tackle the influx of more refugees in case the armed conflict intensified.

Mr. Qureshi said that an important conference would be held in Uzbekistan in the coming days over the situation in Afghanistan and Pakistan would highlight that peace in Afghanistan was not solely its responsibility as all its neighbours should play their roles.

"The situation in Afghanistan is worsening and holding Pakistan responsible for this situation is not fair," he said, adding that Iran has an important role regarding Afghanistan.

JOE BIDEN NOMINATES LOS ANGELES MAYOR ERIC GARCETTI AS HIS ENVOY TO INDIA

U.S. President Joe Biden on Friday nominated Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti as his ambassador to India.

If confirmed by the Senate, Mr. Garcetti, 50, would replace Kenneth Juster, who served as India’s Ambassador to the U.S. during the Trump administration.

Early this week, Mr. Juster was appointed as distinguished fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations.

Announcing the nomination along with several other ambassadors, the White House said Eric M Garcetti has been the Mayor of the City of Los Angeles since 2013, following 12 years as a member of the City Council, including six as Council President.

"Today, the President announced that I am his nominee to serve as US Ambassador to India. I am honoured to accept his nomination to serve in this role,” Mr Garcetti said in a statement on Friday soon after Mr Biden announced his nomination.