Trends - COVID19 - Business Recorder

World

China senior diplomat says US relations at 'new crossroads'

Wang said there was now an opportunity for the two sides to "open a new window of hope" and begin a new round of dialogue.

Published 02 Jan, 2021 08:44pm

World

UK reactivates emergency COVID-19 hospitals, closes London primary schools

Britain reactivated emergency hospitals built at the start of the pandemic and shut primary schools in London on Friday to counter the rapid spread of a much more infectious variant of the coronavirus.
With more than 50,000 new daily cases of COVID-19 for the last four days, the health service said it was preparing for an anticipated rush of patients and needed more beds.

Published 02 Jan, 2021 07:20pm

Pakistan

Suggested strict restrictions to contain COVID-19 spread in Pakistan: Dr Zafar Mirza

"I had advised the premier to impose strict restrictions to contain the virus spread. I suggested we lockdown the country in March."
He took the charge as the SPAM on Health back in April 2019.

Published 02 Jan, 2021 06:43pm

Markets

New Year OPEC+ meeting to decide production levels

Despite a pick up in prices towards the end of last year, the market levels for black gold remain uncertain.

Published 02 Jan, 2021 04:36pm

World

Tokyo Olympics will go ahead in 2021, despite low public opinion

According to Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, the dekayed Tokyo Olympics would go-ahead as scheduled in July 2021, even as the country grapples with an unexpected surge in coronavirus cases.
The games, now scheduled for July, involves over 11,000 athletes across the globe with a combined budget of $15 billion.

Updated 02 Jan, 2021 06:21pm

World

Tokyo calls for state of emergency over virus third wave

On Thursday, Tokyo reported more than 1,300 new cases, far exceeding the previous high of 949 cases set late last month, with nationwide infections also breaking records.

Published 02 Jan, 2021 04:09pm

World

China senior diplomat says U.S. relations at 'new crossroads'

China’s relationship with the United States has reached a “new crossroads” and could get back on the right track following a period of “unprecedented difficulty”, senior diplomat Wang Yi said in official comments published on Saturday.
Relations between the world’s two biggest economies have come under increasing strain amid a series of disputes over trade, human rights and the origins of COVID-19.

Published 02 Jan, 2021 03:56pm

Pakistan

Karachi has the highest COVID-19 positivity rate in the country: NCOC

Karachi has the highest positivity rate in the country at 15.7%.
So far, five UK returnees have been detected with the new coronavirus variant in Karachi.

Updated 02 Jan, 2021 01:42pm

Life & Style

Foreign authors and women readers drive book sales in Tehran's book markets

"Iranian women read more, translate more and write more."

Updated 02 Jan, 2021 02:50pm

Pakistan

Pakistan reports 2,184 new coronavirus cases, 82 deaths in 24 hours

Pakistan has so far reported five new cases of the new UK coronavirus variant.
Pakistan has 35,130 active coronavirus cases.

Updated 02 Jan, 2021 11:00am

Pakistan

President suggests early population census with stakeholders’ consultation for consensus

He said the devolution of power was essential but federation thought that it had more responsibilities than the revenue.

Published 02 Jan, 2021 02:43am

Pakistan

New Year Resolutions: PM sets targets of universal health coverage & end hunger project

The Prime Minister said by the end of the year, these two projects will "move us closer to our goal of making Pakistan a welfare state".

Published 02 Jan, 2021 12:53am

Pakistan

Govt prepares interest-free loan package for small private schools

He said the IPEMC will also consult about start of annual educational year in August rather than March.

Published 02 Jan, 2021 12:45am

Pakistan

Federal Capital records 186 fresh corona cases: NCOC

He said a strategy was made to control corona keeping in view the global information, focusing on data with integration of local data in a scientific way.

Published 02 Jan, 2021 12:42am

Pakistan

FBR collects net revenue of Rs2204bn in last six months

According to release, it is expected that revenue to be collected from book adjustment will increase in coming days.

Published 02 Jan, 2021 12:40am

Pakistan

COVID-19 claims 29 more lives, 659 new cases reported in Punjab

The Punjab health department conducted 2,457,310 tests for COVID-19 so far while 123,598 confirmed cases recovered in the province.

Published 02 Jan, 2021 12:35am

Pakistan

Sindh Govt sets up Provincial Vaccine Administration Coordination Cell

250,000 doses of vaccine will be given to Sindh, after the second week of this month in collaboration with the National Vaccine Task Force and NCOC.
The first phase of the vaccine will cover workers in the public and private health systems.

Published 01 Jan, 2021 09:17pm

Pakistan

NAB playing vital role, bringing transparency to punish the corrupt: WEF

Amir Jahangir appreciated NAB for recovering Rs. 714 billion directly and indirectly since its inception.
The World Economic Forum has long encouraged policymakers to broaden their focus beyond short-term growth to long-term prosperity.

Published 01 Jan, 2021 09:12pm

World

Philippines to ban US travellers from Sunday

The measure expands the travel restriction that Manila announced on Tuesday.
Passengers from the United States who will arrive before Jan. 3 will be allowed to enter the Philippines.

Published 01 Jan, 2021 09:03pm

World

'No need to panic,' China official says of coronavirus variants

The mutated variant, compared with previous mutated variants .... has no obvious change so far in its ability to cause disease.
He said no impact of variants on the vaccine's immune effect had been detected.

Updated 01 Jan, 2021 09:03pm

World

France tightens virus curfew in several regions

The 15 of France's 101 departments affected by the switch to a curfew beginning at 6:00 pm rather than 8:00 pm.
The virus is continuing to spread in France... but with a disparity between regions.

Updated 01 Jan, 2021 07:56pm

World

Bulgaria 2020 deficit lower than expected at 3pc of GDP

The latest figure equates to 3% of gross domestic product (GDP), down from previous expectations of a 4.4% shortfall.
At the end of the year (2020), instead of registering a deficit of 5.2 billion levs, we will have a deficit of 3.6 billion levs.

Published 01 Jan, 2021 06:34pm

Business & Finance

BioNTech founders warn of vaccine supply gaps: Spiegel

CEO Sahin says can't fully cover lack of other vaccines.
Says testing BioNTech/Pfizer vaccine on UK COVID variant.
Says could tweak vaccine for strong mutations in 6 weeks.
BioNTech may have more easily storable vaccine by summer.

Published 01 Jan, 2021 05:51pm

Business & Finance

Pakistan posts ‘Highest-Ever’ Exports figure for the month of December

Pakistan exports for the month of December 2020 have grown by 18.3 percent to USD 2.357 billion as compared to USD 1.993 billion in December 2019.

Updated 01 Jan, 2021 05:55pm

Business & Finance

Pakistan showed 'great resilience' against COVID-19 in 2020: ADB

Yang said that ADB supported Pakistan during the COVID-19 pandemic, providing PPEs and other equipment.

Published 01 Jan, 2021 02:57pm

Business & Finance

China Dec new home prices slow, private survey shows

China's property market has recovered quickly from the COVID-19 pandemic early last year, thanks to cheaper credit and looser purchase restrictions.

Published 01 Jan, 2021 12:29pm

World

In New Year's speech, Taiwan president again reaches out to China

While there was no direct response from Beijing, Liu Jieyi, the head of China's Taiwan Affairs Office, said in his new year's message they would stand by the "one China" principle.

Updated 01 Jan, 2021 12:29pm

World

Brazil rings in 2021 with nearly empty Copacabana beach

Football superstar Neymar meanwhile tried to douse a firestorm of controversy over reports he organized a week-long party for 500 revelers at his mansion outside Rio.

Published 01 Jan, 2021 11:17am

Pakistan

UK COVID-19 variant detected in two more people in Sindh

The new variant was detected in two men both of them in their 20s, who are UK returnees and residents of Karachi.
Sindh has reported five cases of the new COVID-19 variant.

Updated 01 Jan, 2021 11:40am

More weakness seen as dollar posts worst year since 2017

Markets