News Archives for World - 2020-12-16

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World - 2020-12-16

USA

State Dept says Pompeo to quarantine after contact with COVID-positive person

"Secretary Pompeo has been identified as having come into contact with someone who tested positive for COVID.

Published 16 Dec, 2020 09:36pm

Europe

UK PM Johnson says would be ‘inhuman’ to ban Christmas

"I want to be clear we don't want to, as I say, to ban Christmas, to cancel it," he told a media conference.

Published 16 Dec, 2020 09:33pm

Europe

France may start COVID-19 vaccinations in last week of Dec: PM

Castex told parliament that the vaccine campaign in France would then be stepped up in January, with the elderly and other more vulnerable groups coming first in the queue.

Published 16 Dec, 2020 09:30pm

USA

Potential $900bln U.S. COVID-19 bill to include checks for individuals –reports

The potential agreement could come as early as later on Wednesday morning, according to Politico and the Washington Post, which both cited multiple sources involved in or briefed on the ongoing talks.
Unemployment benefits would also be extended as part of the package, the reports said.

Published 16 Dec, 2020 09:20pm

Europe

UK's Johnson says a good Brexit trade deal can be done but EU knows parameters

"We've just got to make sure that we control our own laws, and control our own waters, and there's a good deal there to be done but if not, WTO/Australia terms it is."

Published 16 Dec, 2020 09:10pm

Middle East

Saudis pushing for Gulf dispute breakthrough at summit

The other nations involved were more circumspect when welcoming progress in mediation efforts by Kuwait and the United States, which wants Gulf Arabs to be united against Iran.

Published 16 Dec, 2020 09:02pm

Europe

Medical staff could receive coronavirus vaccine this month, Polish PM's aide says

Medical staff in Poland could start getting vaccinated against COVID-19 as soon as this month, the Polish prime minister's top aide Michal Dworczyk said on Wednesday.

Published 16 Dec, 2020 08:20pm

Europe

Germany aims to offer COVID-19 vaccine to the willing by summer: minister

Germany aims to be able to vaccinate everyone seeking a COVID-19 inoculation in the country by summer, Health Minister Jens Spahn said on Wednesday.

Published 16 Dec, 2020 08:16pm

Europe

Bulgaria plans to extend coronavirus restrictions until Jan. 31

The opening of hotels' restaurants can be seen as an attempt to help the country's ski resorts, hard hit by the pandemic, mitigate at least partially their losses.

Published 16 Dec, 2020 08:11pm

Europe

‘Some progress’, most likely outcome with EU is no trade deal, UK PM's spokesman says

Australia does not have a free trade agreement with the EU, meaning the bulk of its trade is on World Trade Organization terms.

Published 16 Dec, 2020 08:09pm

Europe

Italy expects to begin COVID vaccinations between Xmas and New Year

Germany, France, Italy and five other European states announced they would coordinate the start of their COVID-19 vaccinations.

Published 16 Dec, 2020 08:06pm

USA

Mexican president to nominate education minister as next U.S. ambassador

The appointment comes after Martha Barcena said earlier this week that she had decided to retire early and leave her post in the coming months after 43 years in foreign policy.

Published 16 Dec, 2020 07:57pm

USA

Daily U.S. COVID-19 deaths again top 3,000 as officials scurry to distribute vaccine

The case load of 16.7 million infections represented roughly 5% of the U.S. population.

Published 16 Dec, 2020 07:55pm

Europe

Netherlands hits new daily COVID-19 infection record as lockdown imposed

The steep increase came just a day after a tough, 5-week lockdown was imposed in the Netherlands, where more than 10,000 people have died during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Published 16 Dec, 2020 07:52pm

USA

Mexican president says it was a good decision to postpone central bank cash law

Critics ranging from the central bank to the United States, ratings agencies and even members of the government warned it could undermine Mexico's financial credibility.

Published 16 Dec, 2020 07:49pm

WHO vaccine scheme risks failure, leaving poor countries no COVID shots until 2024

The World Health Organization’s COVAX programme is the main global scheme to vaccinate people in poor and middle income countries around the world against the coronavirus.

Published 16 Dec, 2020 06:49pm

Europe

France's Macron says wants best relations possible with Britain

Speaking at a joint news conference with Portugal's Prime Minister Antonio Costa, Macron also said that he would like the integrity of the European single market to be maintained.

Published 16 Dec, 2020 06:32pm

Europe

Merkel says her party doesn't want property tax to cover pandemic costs

Finance Minister Olaf Scholz, the Social Democrat chancellor candidate for next year's federal election, has backed calls to reintroduce a wealth tax in Germany to pay back public debt amassed during the pandemic.

Published 16 Dec, 2020 06:30pm

Europe

Sweden registers 7,556 new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, 135 deaths

Sweden's death rate per capita is several times higher than that of its Nordic neighbours, but lower than several European countries that opted for lockdowns.

Published 16 Dec, 2020 06:22pm

Middle East

Iran says it opposes all maritime sabotage, days after Saudi boat blast

"Iran rejects any act of sabotage against maritime safety and security and the freedom of international trade".

Published 16 Dec, 2020 06:12pm

Europe

Russia reports 26,509 new coronavirus infections

Authorities said 596 people had died overnight, taking the official death toll to 48,564.

Published 16 Dec, 2020 06:08pm

Italy reports 14,844 new COVID-19 cases

The health ministry confirmed 846 new fatalities from the virus over the past day, taking the national death toll to 65,857, the highest in Europe.

Published 16 Dec, 2020 05:45pm

Europe

'Easter can be the new Christmas,' British minister suggests

Cases are ticking up again in the United Kingdom, and particularly in London which went into the highest tier of lockdown from midnight.

Published 16 Dec, 2020 05:43pm

Asia

Indonesia reports 6,725 new COVID-19 cases, 137 new deaths

According to the ministry, 5,328 more patients were discharged from hospitals, bringing the total number of recoveries to 521,984.

Published 16 Dec, 2020 05:41pm

Europe

EU chief says UK trade pact closer but success not certain

Britain and the European Union moved closer to sealing a new trade deal but it was still not clear if they would succeed, the bloc’s chief executive said on Wednesday.
Britain and the EU are in the final stretch of talks to keep an estimated one trillion dollars of annual trade free of tariffs and quotas beyond Dec. 31, when the United Kingdom finally transitions out of the world’s largest trading bloc.

Published 16 Dec, 2020 05:38pm

WHO vaccine scheme risks failure, leaving poor countries no COVID shots until 2024

COVAX programme is the main global scheme to vaccinate people in poor and middle income countries around the world against the coronavirus.
“The risk of a failure to establish a successful COVAX Facility is very high,” says an internal report to the board of Gavi.

Published 16 Dec, 2020 05:33pm

Worldwide coronavirus cases cross 72.39 million, death toll at 1,631,223

Infections have been reported in more than 210 countries and territories since the first cases were identified in China in December 2019.

Published 16 Dec, 2020 05:26pm

Europe

UK has vaccinated 137,897 people so far against COVID, minister says

"A really good start to the vaccination program. It's been 7 days and we have done: England: 108,000, Wales: 7,897, Northern Ireland: 4,000, Scotland: 18,000. U.K Total 137,897,".

Published 16 Dec, 2020 05:24pm

WTO mulls how to ease food aid hurdles in pandemic

If adopted, the proposal would "ban export restrictions on these foodstuffs which hinder the World Food Programme's ability to procure (food products for) the populations most in need across the world."

Published 16 Dec, 2020 05:09pm

WHO warns of 'high risk' of virus resurgence in Europe in early 2021

"There is a high risk of further resurgence in the first weeks and months of 2021, and we will need to work together if we are to succeed in preventing it"

Published 16 Dec, 2020 05:06pm

Taiwan says US has approved key submarine technology sale

The digital sonar system and an integrated combat system are two key components Taiwan needs to build its own modern submarines. Chang did not elaborate on the status of the combat system.

Published 16 Dec, 2020 05:03pm

Europe

UK Supreme Court rules Heathrow can have third runway

Britain's highest court struck down February's Court of Appeal ruling that the UK government had failed to take into account climate change commitments when it approved the new runway in 2018.

Published 16 Dec, 2020 05:03pm

Russia suffers economic woes despite shunning new lockdown

"These aren't jokes. Unemployment is rising, wages are falling, basic goods are becoming more expensive by magnitudes," President Vladimir Putin said during a cabinet meeting last week.

Published 16 Dec, 2020 05:00pm

Study finds 1 in 10 people in Spain has been infected with virus

The sero-prevalence study, presented late on Tuesday, is now in its fourth round. Its work involved carrying out rapid antibody tests on 51,409 people across the country of some 47 million people between November 16 and 29.

Published 16 Dec, 2020 05:00pm

Rouhani says Iran 'very happy' Trump leaving

"Some say you are overexcited by the advent of Mr. Biden. No, we are not, but we are very happy to see Trump leave," he said in televised comments at a cabinet meeting.

Published 16 Dec, 2020 05:00pm

South Asia

Japan PM under fire over year-end dinners as coronavirus cases mount

"I'm regretting that because it caused misunderstanding among the public," Suga told reporters when asked about the issue.

Published 16 Dec, 2020 04:58pm

Asia

Indonesia pledges free COVID-19 vaccines, with president first in line

The president, widely known as Jokowi, said he had instructed the finance minister to reallocate spending for the programme.

Published 16 Dec, 2020 04:55pm

Germany sees record death toll on first day of new lockdown

It said 27,728 new coronavirus cases were registered, a figure close to the daily record of nearly 30,000 infections reported on Friday.

Published 16 Dec, 2020 04:54pm

European nations tighten virus curbs as Christmas surge fears grow

"This is a huge task, a big task. So let's start as soon as possible with the vaccination together, as 27, with a start at the same day."

Published 16 Dec, 2020 04:54pm

EU envoys agree more Belarus sanctions

The measures, to be formalised with the publication of the list on Thursday, will be the third round of sanctions the European bloc has imposed on the regime of Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko.

Published 16 Dec, 2020 04:53pm

Europe

EU chief says 'next days decisive' in Brexit talks

"The next days are going to be decisive," the president of the European Commission told the European Parliament, as intense talks on a post-Brexit trade deal continued nearby in Brussels.

Published 16 Dec, 2020 04:50pm

Europe

EU and UK narrow gaps on post-Brexit trade but no deal yet

Many supposed deadlines have already been missed, the EU chief admitted. But, with two weeks until Britain leaves the EU single market, time is finally running out.

Published 16 Dec, 2020 04:49pm

Asia

China starts prosecution of Hong Kong 'speedboat fugitives'

The group was snared some 70 kilometres (43 miles) southeast of the city on August 23, authorities said previously, before being handed to police in the neighbouring mainland metropolis of Shenzhen.

Published 16 Dec, 2020 04:48pm

Australia takes China to WTO as trade war deepens

"We have continued to raise our concerns with China on numerous occasions," Birmingham said, lamenting that efforts to reach a negotiated settlement had failed.

Published 16 Dec, 2020 04:44pm

Biden joins battle for Senate as top Republican accepts win

"Honk for your next United States senators Jon Ossoff and Rev. Raphael Warnock," Biden told the crowd at the drive-in event in Atlanta as he urged voters to turn out in force on January 5.

Published 16 Dec, 2020 04:44pm

Middle East

Saudi Arabia receives first shipment of COVID-19 vaccines: health minister

Tawfiq al-Rabiah asked citizens and residents to register to receive the vaccine and reiterated that the vaccine would be free to all in the country.

Published 16 Dec, 2020 04:44pm

Europe

Portugal says will start COVID-19 vaccination as soon as shots arrive

Ramos said the super cold storage units needed for the shots would be set up at the three distribution points but not at the 1,200 health centres where the jabs will be given to the population.

Published 16 Dec, 2020 04:39pm

USA

Trump Administration has executed more Americans than all states combined: Report

Under the Trump Administration, for the first time in United States history, the federal government has executed more American civilians than all the states combined, over the course of a year.
Despite the decline in the practice of the death penalty, the Trump Administration formally executed 10 prisoners in 2020, which was in stark contrast to all historical norms.

Updated 16 Dec, 2020 05:03pm

Europe

Erdogan says U.S. sanctions will not deter Turkey's defence industry

In a televised video conference address, Erdogan said the sanctions showed a hostile stance by the United States against its NATO ally, but that problems created by them would be overcome.

Updated 16 Dec, 2020 04:36pm

USA

Biden will keep using U.S. sanctions weapon but with sharper aim – sources

The revised strategy will be crafted with help from a broad review of sanctions programs that will begin soon after Biden’s inauguration, the sources said on condition of anonymity.
“It won’t be a pullback or a push forward,” said one person close to Biden’s transition team. “It will be a readjustment in the use of the sanctions tool.”

Published 16 Dec, 2020 04:11pm

Europe

UK has vaccinated 137,897 people so far against COVID, minister says

“That number will increase as we have operationalised hundreds of PCN (primary care networks),” he said.
Vaccines developed by Pfizer and BioNTech are being used to treat coronavirus in UK.

Published 16 Dec, 2020 03:21pm

EU members to start Covid-19 jabs 'the same day'

Her statement to the European Parliament came as pressure mounted on the bloc to catch up with the United States and Britain.

Published 16 Dec, 2020 01:24pm

Europe

Exclusive-Facebook to move UK users to California terms, avoiding EU privacy rules

Facebook Inc will shift all its users in the United Kingdom into user agreements with the corporate headquarters in California, moving them out of their current relationship with Facebook’s Irish unit and out of reach of Europe’s privacy laws.
Facebook is making the change partly because the EU privacy regime is among the world’s strictest, according to people familiar with the company. The EU rules give granular control to users over data about them.

Updated 16 Dec, 2020 02:53pm

New Zealand child abuse inquiry finds quarter of a million harmed in state and faith-based care

Up to a quarter of a million children, young people and vulnerable adults were physically and sexually abused in New Zealand’s faith-based and state care institutions from the 1960s to early 2000s.
The report estimated that up to 256,000 people were abused, accounting for almost 40% of the 655,000 people in care during the period, with most abuse occurring in the 1970s and 1980s.

Published 16 Dec, 2020 01:06pm

Europe

India and UK to move forward on trade talks as Johnson plans visit

India and Britain will push negotiations on trade ties, their foreign ministers said after talks in New Delhi on Tuesday, as both countries seek to restart economies battered by the coronavirus pandemic.
Trade and investment will be high on the agenda of Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who will travel to New Delhi in January, his first bilateral visit since taking office.

Published 16 Dec, 2020 12:57pm

USA

European nations tighten virus curbs as Christmas surge fears grow

The World Health Organization has said it is in talks with Pfizer and Moderna about including their vaccines at affordable prices for poor countries.

Published 16 Dec, 2020 12:14pm

USA

Biden to be sworn into office in largely virtual event as COVID-19 rages

Both the ceremony and traditional parade that follows will have limited attendance and be reimagined, the committee planning the event said in a statement.
The committee is urging members of the public to refrain from traveling to Washington for the inauguration, which in the past has drawn hundreds of thousands.

Published 16 Dec, 2020 12:09pm

Biden hits campaign trail in Georgia after top Republicans acknowledge his win

"Are you ready to vote for two senators who know how to say yes and not just no?" Biden told an Atlanta drive-in rally, where attendees remained in their cars because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Published 16 Dec, 2020 11:47am

Biden to pick former Michigan governor Granholm to be energy secretary

While governor, Granholm supported efforts to build advanced battery plants for electric cars in Michigan, despite concerns from some in the auto industry about moving away from gasoline-powered engines.

Published 16 Dec, 2020 11:44am

Costa Rica authorizes Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine

The United States, Britain, Canada, Bahrain, Mexico, Saudi Arabia and Singapore have also approved or authorized emergency use of the shot.

Published 16 Dec, 2020 11:32am

Top US Congress leaders start second meeting on COVID-19 aid, government funding

The other includes the two main sticking points on Capitol Hill that McConnell cited: the liability protections for businesses and other organizations, and $160 billion for state and local governments.

Published 16 Dec, 2020 11:19am

Record climate disasters in Asia-Pacific push millions to 'breaking point'

In Vietnam, CARE's country director Le Kim Dung said the pandemic had made it harder to bounce back, particularly in rural areas, from widespread floods that had inundated many provinces hit by heavy rains and a series of typhoons since early October.

Published 16 Dec, 2020 11:12am

USA

Mexico reports 11,228 new coronavirus cases, 801 more deaths

The government says the real number of infected people is likely significantly higher than the confirmed cases.

Published 16 Dec, 2020 11:09am

USA

Panama approves Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine

Neighboring Costa Rica also approved the drug on Tuesday, joining a number of other countries including the United States and Britain.

Published 16 Dec, 2020 11:06am

Amazon's Zoox unveils 'Robotaxi' for future ride-hailing service

The autonomous vehicle is is an all-electric four-wheeler with a seating capacity of four people
Robotaxi has the ability to drive both forward and backward, and side to side, or bi-directionally
Zoox claims that the vehicle is the first of its kind to be able to travel at up to 75 mph

Published 16 Dec, 2020 11:05am

Trump aide O'Brien cuts Europe trip short to deal with cyber hack

O'Brien "is holding NSC meetings tonight and tomorrow morning and will convene a high-level interagency meeting this week," National Security Council spokesman John Ullyot said.

Published 16 Dec, 2020 11:04am

USA

After long delay, leaders of Mexico and Brazil congratulate Biden on US election win

Biden's victory and Bolsonaro's reluctance to recognize it have cast a dark cloud over US-Brazilian relations, which had warmed to the point of discussing a free trade deal last year.

Published 16 Dec, 2020 10:37am

Bed shortage looms as South Korea reports record new coronavirus cases

There were only three critical care bed left in the greater Seoul area with a nearly 26 million population, officials said.

Published 16 Dec, 2020 10:34am

Asia

Australia reports first local COVID-19 case in two weeks after airport worker tests positive

"As the virus seemed to be contained in terms of community transmission, our most exposed areas are principally around our borders... we may be an island but we are not totally isolated from the pandemic that is raging across the world," he said.

Published 16 Dec, 2020 10:31am

Biden team close to announcing picks for core climate and energy jobs

The picks include a diverse list of nominees to head the departments of Energy, Transportation and the Interior, as well as a new office leading domestic climate policy coordination at the White House, the sources said.

Published 16 Dec, 2020 10:22am

Bird flu spreads to a quarter of Japan prefectures

Both the strain circulating in Asia and one spreading rapidly in Europe originated in wild birds, they said.

Published 16 Dec, 2020 10:08am

Asia

Japan PM Suga under fire for year-end dinners as coronavirus cases mount

"The prime minister's schedule has a message to the people, so I would like to see due consideration," said Natsuo Yamaguchi, head of the ruling party's junior partner, Komeito.

Published 16 Dec, 2020 09:51am

Five million more Afghans will need help in 2021: UN

Opened in September in Doha, the peace talks, which follow a landmark US-Taliban agreement reached in February in Qatar, were suspended and will resume January 5.

Published 16 Dec, 2020 09:25am

Europe

Turkey hopes to turn 'new page' with EU: Erdogan

"We hope that the EU can adopt a constructive attitude and common sense toward Turkey," Erdogan said.

Published 16 Dec, 2020 03:52am

Russian MC-21 jet completes breakthrough test flight

Middle East

Saudi 2021 budget set to cut spending to tame deficit

The kingdom expects to post a deficit of 298 billion riyals this year, or 12% of gross domestic product (GDP), and 141 billion riyals or 4.9% of GDP next year.
Saudi Arabia expects the economy to shrink by 3.7% this year but to swing back to a 3.2% growth next year.

Published 16 Dec, 2020 01:57am

Previous Day

Forex
World
Commodity

Currency	Rate
USD PKR Interbank Selling / Sep 20	277.90
USD PKR Interbank Buying / Sep 20	277.70
USD to Japanese Yen / Sep 20	143.85
USD to Swiss Franc / Sep 20	0.85
Pound Sterling to USD / Sep 20	1.33
Euro to USD / Sep 20	1.12

Stock	Volume
S&P 500 / Sep 20	5,702.55
India Sensex / Sep 20	83,184.80
Tokyo Nikkei / Sep 20	37,723.91
Nasdaq / Sep 20	17,948.32
Hang Seng / Sep 20	18,258.57
FTSE 100 / Sep 20	8,229.99
Dow Jones / Sep 20	42,063.36
Germany DAX 30 / Sep 20	18,720.01

Item	Value
Crude Oil USD/Barrel / Sep 20	71.92
Gold Spot USD/Ounce / Sep 20	2,621.88
Cotton US¢/pound / Sep 20	73.52
Karachi Cotton PKR/37.32 KG / Sep 21	18,935
Gold 10 Grams PKR / Sep 21	233,625
Petrol/Litre / Sep 23	249.10

Gainers
Losers
Leaders

Stock	Price
786 Invest Ltd / Sep 23 786 Investments Limited(786)	5 ▼ 0.00 (0.00%)
AL-Abbas Sugar / Sep 23 Al-Abbas Sugar Mills Limited(AABS)	585 ▼ 0.00 (0.00%)
Agro Allianz / Sep 23 Agro Allianz Limited(AAL)	16 ▼ 0.00 (0.00%)
AL-Abid Silk / Sep 23 Al-Abid Silk Mills Limited(AASM)	3.49 ▼ 0.00 (0.00%)
Ali Asghar / Sep 23 Ali Asghar Textile Mills Limited(AATM)	2.07 ▼ 0.00 (0.00%)
Allied Bank / Sep 23 Allied Bank Limited(ABL)	87.10 ▼ 0.00 (0.00%)
Abbott Lab. / Sep 23 Abbott Laboratories (Pakistan) Limited(ABOT)	499.34 ▼ 0.00 (0.00%)
Abson Ind. / Sep 23 Abson Industries Limited(ABSON)	2.50 ▼ 0.00 (0.00%)
Alfalah ETF. / Sep 23 Alfalah Consumer Index ETF.(ACIETF)	9.84 ▼ 0.00 (0.00%)

Stock	Price
786 Invest Ltd / Sep 23 786 Investments Limited(786)	5 ▲ 0.00 (0.00%)
AL-Abbas Sugar / Sep 23 Al-Abbas Sugar Mills Limited(AABS)	585 ▲ 0.00 (0.00%)
Agro Allianz / Sep 23 Agro Allianz Limited(AAL)	16 ▲ 0.00 (0.00%)
AL-Abid Silk / Sep 23 Al-Abid Silk Mills Limited(AASM)	3.49 ▲ 0.00 (0.00%)
Ali Asghar / Sep 23 Ali Asghar Textile Mills Limited(AATM)	2.07 ▲ 0.00 (0.00%)
Allied Bank / Sep 23 Allied Bank Limited(ABL)	87.10 ▲ 0.00 (0.00%)
Abbott Lab. / Sep 23 Abbott Laboratories (Pakistan) Limited(ABOT)	499.34 ▲ 0.00 (0.00%)
Abson Ind. / Sep 23 Abson Industries Limited(ABSON)	2.50 ▲ 0.00 (0.00%)
Alfalah ETF. / Sep 23 Alfalah Consumer Index ETF.(ACIETF)	9.84 ▲ 0.00 (0.00%)

Stock	Volume
P.I.A.C.(A) / Sep 23 Pakistan International Airlines Corp(PIAA)	47,200,500 ▲ 0.00
Cnergyico PK / Sep 23 Cnergyico PK Limited(CNERGY)	29,719,327 ▲ 0.00
Pak Petroleum / Sep 23 Pakistan Petroleum Limited(PPL)	21,170,581 ▲ 0.00
Pak Refinery / Sep 23 Pakistan Refinery Limited(PRL)	16,965,134 ▲ 0.00
The Searle Co. / Sep 23 The Searle Company Limited(SEARL)	15,793,227 ▲ 0.00
P.T.C.L. / Sep 23 Pakistan Telecommunication Company Ltd(PTC)	15,054,641 ▲ 0.00
K-Electric Ltd. / Sep 23 K-Electric Limited(KEL)	14,145,556 ▲ 0.00
WorldCall Telecom / Sep 23 Worldcall Telecom Limited(WTL)	13,158,668 ▲ 0.00
Telecard Limited / Sep 23 Telecard Limited(TELE)	12,358,668 ▲ 0.00

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