AT G20 SUMMIT: US, CHINA PEDAL BACK TENSIONS WITH XI-BIDEN MEET

China and the US resolved to keep an open line of communication in order to prevent competition veering into conflict. China had shut down military-to-military and other lines of communication with the US after a visit to Taiwan by US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

As the first step to maintain communication, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will visit Beijing, the two leaders agreed.

Meeting Chinese President Xi Jinping for the first time since he took over as US President, Joe Biden explained that the US would continue to compete vigorously with China, including by “investing in sources of strength at home and aligning efforts with allies and partners around the world”.

“This competition should not veer into conflict and the US and China must manage it responsibly,” said a White House readout. The two leaders, meeting in Bali on the eve of the G20 Summit, discussed the importance of developing principles that would advance these goals and tasked their teams to discuss these further, it added.

Xi spoke about charting a “flight course” for the relationship between the two superpowers, which was important not only for the two countries, but also for the whole world. He also said there was “no intention to challenge or displace the US”, according to Xinhua.

During their meeting, Xi said he also looked forward to working with Biden to bring China-US relations back to the track of healthy and stable growth to the benefit of the two countries and the whole world. Xi pointed out the current state of China-US relations was not in the fundamental interests of the two countries and people, and was not what the international community expected.

On Taiwan, Biden said the “One China policy” had not changed and raised objections to China’s coercive actions toward Taiwan. He also raised concerns about China’s non-market economic practices, which “harm American workers”, the White House stated.

PERMANENT RESIDENTS CAN NOW JOIN CANADIAN ARMY

The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) have announced that permanent residents, of whom Indians form a large chunk, will now be allowed to enlist, as the military struggles with low recruitment levels, according to a media report.

The move came five years after the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) announced that they’re changing their “outdated recruitment process” which will allow permanent residents who have lived in Canada for 10 years to apply, CTV News reported.

The announcement came amid reports that the Canadian military is struggling to recruit new members to fill thousands of vacant positions.

As of 2021, there were more than 80 lakh immigrants with permanent residence living in Canada, roughly 21.5 per cent of the total population.

Nearly 1,00,000 Indians became permanent residents of Canada in 2021 as the country admitted a record 4,05,000 new immigrants in its history. One in five people coming to Canada was born in India, the data shows, making it the top country of birth for recent arrivals.

UKRAINE: ZELENSKY TELLS G20 LEADERS ‘WAR MUST END NOW’

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told world leaders at the G20 Bali summit that Russia's war must end now.

He also pleaded for an extension of a significant grain export deal due to expire soon.

Mr Zelensky appeared in a video speech beamed to leaders gathered on the Indonesian island.

Vladimir Putin, the leader of Russia - a member of G20 - refused to attend and sent his foreign minister Sergei Lavrov instead.

In his speech, first reported by AFP, Mr Zelensky said: "I am convinced now is the time when the Russian destructive war must and can be stopped."

He outlined a number of strategies, including ensuring nuclear and food safety, the ending of hostilities, and a prevention of escalation.

He repeatedly addressed the leaders as the "G19" - pointedly excluding Russia.

Chief among his requests was an extension of what is known as the Black Sea grain deal which was struck in July between the United Nations and Russia.

It has ensured that food exports blocked at Ukrainian ports by Russian warships can be shipped out.

The UN says since the deal began, 10 million tonnes of grain and other food have been successfully exported, helping to stave off a global food crisis.

But the deal expires on 19 November. Speaking on Tuesday at a G20 session on food security, Mr Zelensky said the deal should be extended indefinitely, "no matter when the war ends".

IMRAN KHAN MOVES SC FOR ATTACK PROBE

Islamabad : Former PM Imran Khan’s PTI on Monday approached the Supreme Court seeking formation of a judicial commission to probe the assassination attempt on him during a march earlier this month.

The police had on the apex court’s orders last week registered an FIR but did not include PM Shehbaz Sharif, interior minister Rana Sanaullah and senior ISI official Major General Faisal Naseer in the case.

Imran wants the trio named as plotters of the November 3 attack in Punjab province’s Wazirabad and is adamant that any FIR without including them is unacceptable. In its petition, the PTI has requested the top court to hold public hearings and form commissions on three matters —the assassination attempt on Imran, killing of Pakistani journalist Arshad Sharif in Kenya and alleged video leak of senator Azam Swati featuring him with his wife during their stay inQuetta. The PTI’s plea claims the assassination bid was a “clear attempt to literally eliminate the former PM”.

THREE DEAD IN US UNIV SHOOTING; SUSPECT CAUGHT

A suspect was in custody on Monday after three football players were fatally shot on the University of Virginia campus on Sunday night, university officials said. For nearly 12 hours stretching into Monday morning, the university urged people in and around its campus in Charlottesville, Virginia, to shelter in place as the authorities searched for the suspect, whom they identified as Christopher Darnell Jones Jr The university cancelled classes on Monday.

Two other people were wounded in the shooting. The football players had just returned from a class trip and were attacked as their bus pulled into a campus parking garage, The university’s president, Jim Ryan, said on Monday.

The university’s emergency management had issued an alert on Sunday night notifying the campus community of an “active attacker firearm”.

On April 16, 2007, another Virginia university was the scene of what was then one of the deadliest shootings in US. history. Twenty-seven students and five faculty members at Virginia Tech were gunned down by Cho Seung-hui , a 23-year-old mentally ill student who later died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

SYRIAN WOMAN ARRESTED OVER ISTANBUL BLAST

Turkey on Monday accused a Syrian woman of planting a bomb that killed six persons in Istanbul, blaming the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) of carrying out the attack.

Two girls, aged nine and 15, were among those killed when the bomb exploded shortly after 4:00 pm (1830 IMT) on Sunday in Istiklal Avenue, home to smart boutiques and European consulates. More than 80 other people were wounded.

The PKK denied any role in the attack.

COST OF LIVING: JAPAN ECONOMY UNEXPECTEDLY SHRINKS AFTER YEN SLIDE

Japan's economy has unexpectedly shrunk for the first time in a year as the rising cost of living hit consumer spending growth.

Gross domestic product (GDP) fell by an annualised 1.2% in the three months to the end of September.

People reined in spending amid fears of a global slowdown and as the weak yen made imports more expensive.

However, economists expect the world's third biggest economy to avoid recession as it bounces back this year.

"We are expecting a flip back into expansion" by the end of 2022, Darren Tay, Japan economist at Capital Economics said in a note to investors.

The Japanese economy "will benefit from a rebound in inbound tourism and a stronger trade balance. But virus risks and rising inflation will limit the extent of the recovery," he added.

Along with global economy slowing and inflation rising around the world, Japan has struggled as its currency fell in value against the US dollar this year.

Last month the yen hit fresh 32-year lows against the dollar, which has made the cost of imported goods - from oil to food - more expensive for Japan's households and businesses.

The yen's slide in recent months has been driven by the difference between interest rates in Japan and the US.

TALIBAN WANT TO ENFORCE FULL ISLAMIC LAW IN AFGHANISTAN

Afghanistan’s supreme leader has ordered judges to fully enforce aspects of Islamic law that include public executions, stonings and floggings, and the amputation of limbs for thieves, the Taliban’s chief spokesman said.

Zabihullah Mujahid tweeted late on Sunday that the “obligatory” command by Hibatullah Akhundzada came after the secretive leader met with a group of judges.

“Carefully examine the files of thieves, kidnappers and seditionists,” Mujahid quoted Akhundzada as saying.

“Those files in which all the sharia (Islamic law) conditions of hudud and qisas have been fulfilled, you are obliged to implement.

Hudud refers to offences which, under Islamic law, certain types of punishment are mandated, while qisas translates as “retaliation in kind” — effectively an eye for an eye.

Hudud crimes include adultery — and falsely accusing someone of it — drinking alcohol, theft, kidnapping and highway robbery, apostasy and rebellion.

Qisas covers murder and deliberate injury, among other things, but also allows for the families of victims to accept compensation in lieu of punishment.

2 KILLED BY OUT-OF-CONTROL TESLA CAR ON CHINA ROADS

US automaker Tesla said on Sunday it will assist Chinese police investigating a crash involving one of its Model Y cars after local media reports said two people had died and three were injured when the driver lost control of the vehicle. The incident on November 5 in the southern province of Guangdong killed a motorcyclist and a high school girl, Jimu News reported, posting a video of a car driving at high speed crashing into other vehicles and a cyclist. “Police are currently seeking a third party appraisal agency to identify the truth behind this accident and we will actively provide any necessary assistance,” Elon Musk’s electric vehicle maker said in a message on Sunday.

Data taken from the car showed no proof the brake pedal had been applied before the crash, and video showed the brake lights remained off, the electric car maker said in a statement. Instead, the accelerator was heavily engaged in the lead up to the accident. Jimu News quoted traffic police as saying the cause of the incident in Chaozhou city had not been identified and a family member of the driver who said the 55-year-old had issues with the brake pedal. Video circulated on Chinese social media showed a white Model Y speeding until finally crashing.

Tesla has faced claims of brake failure in China before. Last year, an unhappy customer caused a social media stir by clambering atop a Tesla at the Shanghai auto show to protest the company’s handling of her complaints about malfunctioning brakes.