News Archives for World - 2020-12-17

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World - 2020-12-17

South Asia

New agreement needed to revive Iran nuclear deal under Biden, IAEA chief says

Biden says US will rejoin deal if Iran ends breaches.
Agreement needed on how to undo breaches, IAEA chief says.
Iran has far more enriched uranium than deal allows.
Agreement, once struck, could be put in place fast.

Published 17 Dec, 2020 10:38pm

Europe

Turkey says will not reverse Russian S-400S purchase despite US sanctions

The United States on Monday imposed sanctions targeting fellow NATO member Turkey's Defence Industry Directorate (SSB).
President Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday the sanctions were a "hostile attack" against Turkey's defence industry, and were bound to fail.

Published 17 Dec, 2020 10:35pm

USA

US weekly jobless claims at three-month high as COVID-19 restrictions bite

Weekly jobless claims increase 23,000 to 885,000.
Continuing claims decrease 273,000 to 5.508 million.
Mid-Atlantic factory activity slows in December.
Housing starts rise 1.2% in November; permits jump 6.2%.

Published 17 Dec, 2020 10:31pm

Europe

Irish prime minister to restrict movement pending covid-19 test result

"The Taoiseach and President Macron were both attendees at the EU Council meeting in Brussels last week. The Taoiseach is limiting his contacts this afternoon as a precaution while he is tested,"

Published 17 Dec, 2020 08:59pm

USA

Unemployment in Latin America to hit highest level in more than a decade

The ILO said in a report that Latin America and the Caribbean would end this year with an estimated 30.1 million people unemployed.

Published 17 Dec, 2020 08:47pm

South Asia

India's Supreme Court declines calls to ban farmers' protest

Petitioners had approached the Supreme Court to complain that the protests had hampered drivers and making it difficult for people to access emergency medical services.

Published 17 Dec, 2020 08:41pm

Asia

India's Supreme Court declines calls to ban farmers' protest

Thousands of farmers angered by three agricultural laws that they say threaten their livelihoods have intensified their protests by blocking highways and camping out on the outskirts of the capital New Delhi.
Petitioners had approached the Supreme Court to complain that the protests had hampered drivers and making it difficult for people to access emergency medical services.

Published 17 Dec, 2020 08:34pm

USA

U.S. senator says COVID-19 deal likely to stretch into weekend

U.S. lawmakers will likely finalize a COVID-19 aid deal and government spending bill on Saturday, forcing them to pass a short-term stopgap funding measure to avoid a government shutdown at midnight on Friday.

Published 17 Dec, 2020 08:22pm

Europe

UK parliament will need time to approve any trade deal, says Gove

Our approach is that we will need ... if we have secured an agreement ... time to allow parliament to have its voice and its say and to legislate and if we don’t have time for that, then the clock has run out and no agreement.

Published 17 Dec, 2020 08:16pm

COVID-19 kills daily record 3,580 in U.S. as second vaccine nears approval

The FDA authorized emergency use of the Pfizer vaccine a day later, opening the gates to a massive inoculation program that began on Monday.

Published 17 Dec, 2020 08:12pm

Europe

EU does not expect UK trade deal by Friday

The EU sources said that any agreement that could emerge would produce a "differentiated" system on fishing quotas, but did not expect that to happen by Friday.

Published 17 Dec, 2020 08:09pm

USA

No. 2 U.S. House Democrat cites progress in COVID-19 aid deal talks

"Hopefully, we will get to an agreement today, put it on the floor, pass it and give some relief in this crisis... let's hope we can get there."

Published 17 Dec, 2020 08:02pm

Europe

Two-thirds of England to be under toughest COVID-19 measures

He said the new measures would be in force from Saturday; a small number of areas had their restrictions eased.

Published 17 Dec, 2020 07:54pm

Europe

Coronavirus cases in Netherlands jump by record of almost 13,000

The steep increase in infections comes just days after a tough, five-week lockdown was imposed in the Netherlands.

Published 17 Dec, 2020 07:53pm

Europe

UK extends job retention scheme until the end of April

Sunak also said he was extending government-guaranteed business loan schemes until the end of March.

Published 17 Dec, 2020 07:50pm

Europe

Chance of agreeing EU trade deal 'less than 50pc': UK's Gove

"I think that regrettably the chances are more likely that we won't secure an agreement." Asked about the probability of a deal, he said "less than 50pc".

Published 17 Dec, 2020 07:43pm

USA

Brazil health minister eyes up to 24mn vaccines by January

Pazuello said the expected vaccines in January could be made up of 500,000 Pfizer doses, 9 million doses from China's Sinovac and 15 million doses from AstraZeneca.

Published 17 Dec, 2020 07:41pm

Europe

Poland to enter national quarantine starting Dec. 28 to fight COVID-19

Niedzielski warned about a third wave of the pandemic in the new year and told Poles to remain vigilant.

Published 17 Dec, 2020 07:35pm

Europe

Putin says Kremlin critic Navalny not worth poisoning, alleges U.S. smear campaign

The investigation, which Navalny endorsed, said it had identified a team of assassins from Russia’s FSB security service, who had stalked him for years. It named the intelligence officers and poison laboratories it said were behind the operation.
“It’s a trick to attack the leaders (of Russia),” says Putin.

Updated 17 Dec, 2020 08:02pm

China

Exclusive: U.S. warns Pacific islands about Chinese bid for undersea cable project - sources

The United States has warned Pacific island nations about security threats posed by a Chinese company’s cut-price bid to build an undersea internet cable.
The project is designed to improve communications to the island nations of Nauru, Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) and Kiribati.

Published 17 Dec, 2020 06:58pm

South Asia

Top US general meets Taliban negotiators in Doha

Gen. Mark Milley, the Chairman of the Joints Chiefs of Staff, met Taliban negotiators in Doha, before flying to Kabul to meet Afghan President Ashraf Ghani.
This was Gen. Milley's second unannounced meeting with the Taliban's negotiating team, according to Associated Press, following an initial meeting in June in Doha - with both meetings kept off the record until Thursday.

Published 17 Dec, 2020 06:44pm

Europe

Greek jobless rate eases to 16.2pc in third quarter

About 63pc of Greece's 756,424 jobless are long-term unemployed, meaning they have been out of work for at least 12 months, the figures showed.

Published 17 Dec, 2020 06:30pm

Europe

Putin says he hopes Biden will improve Russia-U.S. ties

Speaking at his annual press conference, Putin added that Russian hackers had not meddled in the 2016 U.S. presidential vote to help Donald Trump get elected.

Published 17 Dec, 2020 06:24pm

Europe

UK PM Johnson wishes France's Macron a speedy recovery from COVID-19

"Sorry to hear my friend @EmmanuelMacron has tested positive for coronavirus. We are all wishing you a speedy recovery," Johnson said

Published 17 Dec, 2020 06:18pm

Europe

Bulgaria to keep cafes and shopping malls closed in January

Bulgaria reported 1,959 new cases on Thursday, bringing the total to 186,246 with 6,196 deaths.

Published 17 Dec, 2020 06:14pm

USA

U.S. airlines closing in on new government assistance package

A final deal on the $900 billion relief package could be reached as early as Thursday morning in the United States.
In October, American Airlines furloughed 19,000 employees while United Airlines furloughed more than 13,000 employees.

Published 17 Dec, 2020 06:05pm

Middle East

Saudi Arabia begins inoculating people with Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines

Earlier this week, health authorities asked citizens and residents to register to receive the vaccine, which they said would be given free to all in the country.

Published 17 Dec, 2020 05:58pm

Europe

EU's Michel in COVID-19 self-isolation after meeting Macron

Michel was informed by the French authorities that he is not considered to be a close contact. He is tested regularly and tested negative on Tuesday.

Published 17 Dec, 2020 05:45pm

Europe

EU's von der Leyen says COVID-19 vaccinations in EU to start on Dec. 27, 28, 29

She had previously called for a coordinated start to inoculations on the same day in all 27 EU countries.

Published 17 Dec, 2020 05:28pm

Europe

Putin says he will receive COVID-19 vaccine when he can, urges mass vaccination

He said Russia needed to focus on stepping up production capacity by building factories, equipment and companies.

Published 17 Dec, 2020 05:18pm

Europe

Barnier says Brexit talks progress but UK less optimistic

An EU official, who declined to be named, said disagreements over fisheries were not yet resolved, and many more minor issues still required "polishing".

Published 17 Dec, 2020 05:13pm

Middle East

Turkey says will not turn back on Russian S-400S purchase despite sanctions

Turkey will not turn back on its purchase of Russian S-400 missile defence systems and will take reciprocal steps after evaluating U.S. sanctions imposed over the acquisition.
President Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday the sanctions were a “hostile attack” against Turkey’s defence industry, and they were bound to fail.

Published 17 Dec, 2020 05:05pm

Europe

Putin says yet to decide if he will run for president again in 2024

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday he had not yet decided whether or not he would run for president again when his current term in the Kremlin ends in 2024.

Published 17 Dec, 2020 04:51pm

Europe

Russia's Putin says real incomes to fall around 3pc in 2020

Yet the pandemic coupled with low oil prices saw incomes fall 8.4pc in the second quarter, year-on-year, in what became the deepest quarterly decline since 1999.

Published 17 Dec, 2020 04:43pm

Asia

At least 22 Indian farmers have died in protests against 'farm laws'

Kisan Morcha says most of the death occurred due to cold wave conditions as protesting farmers have been exposed to the extreme weather condition at Tikri and Singhu borders.
Farmers have been protesting against the ‘farm sector reform’ initiated by Narendra Modi-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government.

Published 17 Dec, 2020 04:40pm

Europe

EU concludes preliminary talks to buy up to 200mn doses of Novavax COVID vaccine

The possible deal with Novavax would be the seventh sealed by the EU with vaccine makers for the supply of COVID-19 shots.

Published 17 Dec, 2020 04:35pm

Europe

United States hopes for trade deal with UK, Trump's trade chief says

The United States is hopeful of sealing a mini-trade deal with the United Kingdom to reduce tariffs, President Donald Trump’s trade chief, Robert Lighthizer, told the BBC.
Lighthizer said he was hopeful for a deal that could see punitive tariffs on Scottish whisky lowered, the BBC said.

Published 17 Dec, 2020 04:31pm

Europe

Spain's Sanchez quarantines after France's Macron tests positive for COVID-19

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has suspended all public activities and will quarantine until Dec.24 after being in contact with French President Emmanuel Macron, who has tested positive for COVID-19.
Sanchez and Macron met on Monday in Paris. Video footage of Macron welcoming the Spanish prime minister at the Elysee Palace showed both wore masks and did not shake hands.

Published 17 Dec, 2020 04:28pm

Europe

UK's Patel says on Brexit: we're in 'tunnel' of negotiations

The United Kingdom will work flat out for a Brexit trade deal and the two sides are in “tunnel” negotiations but if a deal with the European Union is not possible then the country will be prepared, interior minister Priti Patel said on Thursday.
The “tunnel” is a term for an intense final stage of secretive, make-or-break negotiations.

Updated 17 Dec, 2020 03:40pm

Europe

French President Emmanuel Macron tests positive for COVID-19

Macron will now isolate for seven days but will continue to work and carry out his activities remotely.

Updated 17 Dec, 2020 03:01pm

UK's Patel says on Brexit: we're in 'tunnel' of negotiations

"First of all, the prime minister and the government, we've all been very clear we are not walking away, we will continue to negotiate to get this free-trade agreement," Patel told LBC radio.

Published 17 Dec, 2020 01:50pm

As Brexit looms, British hauliers fear bumps in the road

Haulage companies will probably require an international permit to travel through EU member countries, called an ECMT.

Published 17 Dec, 2020 12:06pm

South Asia

Indian farm widows join protests against agriculture reforms

Hundreds of Indian women, including many widows of farmers who were believed to have killed themselves over debt, joined a protest on Wednesday against government reforms that farmers say threaten their livelihoods.
Farmers have been protesting for nearly a month over the reforms, enacted in September, to deregulate the agriculture sector, allowing farmers to sell to buyers beyond government-regulated wholesale markets.

Updated 17 Dec, 2020 02:40pm

Europe

Sweden struggles under second virus wave

In part the response has also been constrained by legislation, including a guarantee on freedom of movement enshrined in the constitution.

Published 17 Dec, 2020 11:45am

Some vaccine doses kept too cold, Pfizer having manufacturing issues: US officials

At least two trays of COVID-19 vaccine doses delivered in California needed to be replaced after their storage temperatures dipped below minus 80 Celsius
Officials are investigating whether storing the vaccines at excessively cold temperatures poses a safety or efficacy risk

Published 17 Dec, 2020 11:40am

Pfizer delivers Phase 3 test results for COVID-19 vaccine to Brazil regulator

Pfizer is the second company to do so after AstraZeneca Plc delivered its results to Anvisa earlier in December.

Published 17 Dec, 2020 11:36am

Middle East

Aramco may have to sell assets, borrow more to maintain Saudi dividend

Oil giant Aramco, whose dividend remains vital to helping Saudi Arabia contain a huge deficit, may have to sell assets and borrow more to fulfil its fiscal role amid uncertainty in oil prices.
Aramco, the world’s largest oil producer, listed in 2019 in a record $29.4 billion share sale, but the government still owns 98.2% of the group.

Published 17 Dec, 2020 11:32am

USA

U.S. says recent hacking campaign hit government networks

The U.S. government confirmed on Wednesday that a recent hacking campaign affected its networks and said the attack was “significant and ongoing.”

Published 17 Dec, 2020 11:13am

Brazil will purchase Sinovac vaccine, state governor says

The right-wing leader, a China critic, has frequently ridiculed the CoronaVac vaccine, saying it is untrustworthy because of its "origin."

Published 17 Dec, 2020 10:53am

New Zealand plans vaccine roll-out in second half of 2021

COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins said the health ministry has purchased nine large minus 80 degree Celsius freezers that can store more than 1.5 million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.

Published 17 Dec, 2020 10:50am

Biden to get COVID-19 vaccine next week, Pence to receive it Friday

Appearing with Buttigieg in Wilmington, Delaware, Biden said the 38-year-old would confront the task of restoring what he called "our crumbling roads, bridges and ports." Biden has proposed a massive boost in infrastructure spending.

Published 17 Dec, 2020 10:38am

Japan PM Suga's carbon-neutral pledge to boost domestic green bond market, says govt panel member

The Bank of Japan can also promote green finance by setting ESG guidelines for its asset management, which would send a message to private banks that they should do so too, she said.

Published 17 Dec, 2020 10:30am

FDA says extra doses from vials of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine can be used

"However, since the vials are preservative free, it is critical to note that any further remaining product that does not constitute a full dose should not be pooled from multiple vials to create one," the statement added.

Published 17 Dec, 2020 10:28am

Australia Nov jobs soar again in boost to economic recovery

Economists polled by Reuters were predicting an addition of 50,000 jobs with the unemployment rate staying steady at 7%.

Published 17 Dec, 2020 10:16am

South Korea reports record daily rise in coronavirus deaths

Hospitals were at a breaking point with only three critical care beds available as of Wednesday in greater Seoul, an area with a population of almost 26 million people, officials said.

Published 17 Dec, 2020 10:02am

Fiji under curfew, state of disaster as Cyclone Yasa approaches

Over 850,000 Fijians, or 95% of the population, live in the direct path of Yasa, said Bainimarama, adding that weather forecasts anticipated flash flooding and "severe coastal inundation" that included waves up to 10 metres (33 ft) high.

Published 17 Dec, 2020 09:49am

Texas, nine U.S. states accuse Google of working with Facebook to break antitrust law

The Texas lawsuit is the second major complaint from regulators against Google and the fourth in a series of federal and state lawsuits aimed at reining in alleged bad behavior by Big Tech platforms that have grown significantly in the past two decades.

Published 17 Dec, 2020 09:44am

Saudis pushing for Gulf dispute breakthrough at summit - sources

The dispute, in which Saudi Arabia and its allies severed diplomatic, trade and travel ties with Qatar in mid-2017, has seen movement with Riyadh earlier this month saying a final solution was within reach.

Published 17 Dec, 2020 09:41am

Mexico to hike daily minimum wage for workers by 15%

Leftist leader Lopez Obrador, who has vowed to prioritize the poor in a country with huge wealth disparity, has said the previous minimum salaries were shameful.

Published 17 Dec, 2020 09:34am

China welcomes WHO-led trip to investigate COVID-19, WHO official says

On Wednesday, a WHO member and diplomats told Reuters the international mission led by the WHO was expected to go to China in the first week of January to investigate the origins of the virus that sparked the COVID-19 pandemic.

Published 17 Dec, 2020 09:28am

US vaccine campaign grows as COVID-19 kills 3,000-plus Americans daily

With hospitalizations setting a record for the 19th day in a row - nearly 113,000 patients under treatment on Wednesday - health experts warn that fatalities will rise higher still in the weeks ahead, even as the vaccine campaign steadily expands.

Published 17 Dec, 2020 09:24am

USA

US Interior Secretary Bernhardt tests positive for COVID-19

Bernhardt was asymptomatic and would continue to work while in quarantine.

Published 17 Dec, 2020 09:23am

UN Security Council to talk Western Sahara after Trump policy switch

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres "position remains unchanged," said UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric last week.

Published 17 Dec, 2020 09:20am

Myths about banker accountability have been bust: BoE

LONDON: A pioneering UK regime to stamp out misconduct by making bankers directly accountable for failings is...