News Archives for World - 2020-09-03

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World - 2020-09-03

South Asia

US imposes sanctions on several companies over sales of Iranian petrochemicals

The Treasury said it slapped sanctions on six companies based in Iran.
The United Arab Emirates and China that it said support Triliance Petrochemical Co. Ltd., which is blacklisted by the United States.

Published 03 Sep, 2020 09:04pm

Afghan officials primed for talks with Taliban after deal on prisoners

All but seven of the 5,000 prisoners whose release the Taliban had demanded as a precondition for negotiations have been freed.
"Diplomatic efforts are ongoing," he said in a tweet, referring to the final few prisoners who international partners objected to releasing. "We expect direct talks to start promptly."

Published 03 Sep, 2020 09:01pm

Europe

Germany's Scholz plans 2021 budget with new debt of over 80bn euros

The exact debt figure for 2021 is still subject to negotiations within Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservative-led coalition government.
The step will require another suspension of Germany's constitutionally enshrined debt limits after Berlin already abandoned them this year.

Updated 03 Sep, 2020 09:01pm

Uproar after Trump suggests voting twice in North Carolina, an illegal act

"Let them send it in and let them go vote," Trump said in an interview on Wednesday with WECT-TV in Wilmington, North Carolina.
Voting more than once in an election is illegal and in some states, including North Carolina, it is a felony not only to vote more than once.

Published 03 Sep, 2020 07:39pm

USA

US service sector activity slows in August: ISM survey

The ISM said on Thursday its non-manufacturing activity index fell to a reading of 56.9 last month from 58.1 in July.
The ISM survey's measure of new orders for the services industry dropped to a reading of 56.8 last month after surging to a record 67.7 in July.

Published 03 Sep, 2020 07:34pm

Africa

WHO aiming for 20pc of Africa to get initial COVID jabs from access plan

The global vaccine allocation plan, called COVAX, aims to help buy and fairly distribute deliver 2 billion doses of approved vaccines by the end of 2021.
We are seeing an epidemiological curve that is either stabilising or decreasing, representing a sign of hope.

Published 03 Sep, 2020 07:28pm

USA

Canada's trade deficit widens in July; exports and imports jump

Imports jumped 12.7% in July from June while exports posted an 11.1% gain, both pushed higher by the motor vehicles and parts sector.
This report provides more evidence that Canada's economy is recovering from the pandemic more quickly than we had originally expected.

Published 03 Sep, 2020 07:26pm

Europe

EU hopeful first vaccine doses will come by end of year

Assuming one dose per person, such a first batch would cover 6-7% of the EU population.
These doses will be distributed pro-rata among the member states and so on and so forth until we get to a total of the 300 million doses we have negotiated.

Updated 03 Sep, 2020 07:25pm

El Al to fly first cargo flight to Dubai by an Israeli carrier

The first flight, using a Boeing 747 jet, will travel to Belgium and from there to Dubai, carrying agricultural and high tech products.
El Al, Israel's flag carrier, said the new route will be an "import and export" link to Dubai and further east.

Published 03 Sep, 2020 06:39pm

Exchange

Greek economy sees record slump, reversing hard-won gains

The record slump, announced by statistics service ELSTAT on Thursday, confirmed expectations for a sharp contraction over the second and third quarters.
The data showed tourism, the economy's main driver, had taken a severe hit from COVID-related travel restrictions.

Published 03 Sep, 2020 06:00pm

Europe

US troops start extended exercises in Lithuania amid tensions over Belarus

These are "defensive in nature and not directed against any neighbour, including Belarus".
Karoblis repeated that information on Aug. 4 in an interview with public radio LRT.

Published 03 Sep, 2020 05:50pm

USA

US weekly jobless claims drop more than expected

Initial claims for state unemployment benefits totaled a seasonally adjusted 881,000 for the week ended Aug. 29.
The department said last Thursday it was switching to using additive factors to more accurately track seasonal fluctuations in the series.

Published 03 Sep, 2020 05:41pm

MQM's founder Altaf Hussain fined over 2 million pounds by UK government

In case of non-payment of fine, Hussain may have to go to jail.

Updated 03 Sep, 2020 11:40am

Currency

Account of India PM Modi's personal website hacked confirms Twitter

Twitter said it was aware of the activity with Modi’s website account and has taken steps to secure it.

Updated 03 Sep, 2020 10:47am

Saudi Arabia allows overflights by UAE services to 'all countries'

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has agreed to allow UAE flights to "all countries" to overfly the kingdom, state media reported...

Updated 03 Sep, 2020 03:11am

Germany says Navalny poisoned with Novichok

BERLIN: Germany said Wednesday that Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was poisoned with a Novichok nerve...