News Archives for World - 2020-12-21

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World - 2020-12-21

Europe

Regulator clears way for use of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine in Europe

EU Commission expected to give final go ahead later on Monday.
Roll-out expected to start from Sunday.
Approval comes after UK, US begin mass inoculations.
EU has ordered up to 300 mln doses of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.

Published 21 Dec, 2020 09:03pm

Europe

Swiss ban UK, South Africa travellers, believe mutant virus is circulating

The Swiss cabinet joined several countries in suspending travel for Britons after Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned the mutated variant.
We know too little about the coronavirus, and we know even less about this mutant form.

Published 21 Dec, 2020 08:34pm

USA

Americans to start receiving relief checks next week: Mnuchin

Mnuchin said people are going to see this money by the beginning of the next week.

Published 21 Dec, 2020 08:10pm

South Asia

Reporter shot dead in Afghanistan

No group has claimed the murder so far but the Taliban denied responsibility.

Published 21 Dec, 2020 08:07pm

Europe

BioNTech, Pfizer 'ready' to deliver vaccines across EU

The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine has proven to be 95 percent effective in global trials where two doses are injected three weeks apart.

Published 21 Dec, 2020 08:06pm

Africa

Egypt needs to do more to help private sector, World Bank says

Exports remain below those of competing countries even after Egypt cut the value of its currency by about half in November 2016.
Despite Egypt's growing domestic market and proximity to international markets, Egypt is yet to attract strong FDI inflows.

Published 21 Dec, 2020 07:25pm

Middle East

Amidst new virus strain, Saudi Arabia suspends all international passenger flights for a week

On Sunday, Saudi Arabia suspended all international passenger flights for one week, in response to a new strain of the coronavirus.
Entry and transit in the Kingdom through both land and sea ports has also been suspended, and could potentially be extended by an additional week.

Published 21 Dec, 2020 07:23pm

USA

Key facets of the $900 billion U.S coronavirus relief bill

On Sunday, bipartisan lawmakers in the United States Congress released a long-awaited $900 billion coronavirus relief bill, which is expected to be signed into law by President Trump.
This relief package will be combined with an additional $1.4 trillion in federal funding and tax provisions to facilitate federal agencies through the end of September.

Updated 21 Dec, 2020 07:17pm

South Asia

South Korea tightens Seoul curbs after record death toll

At least two Seoul residents died of the disease while waiting to be hospitalised this month, according to city authorities.

Published 21 Dec, 2020 06:42pm

Middle East

Saudi Arabia, Oman to close borders for one week over new COVID strain

Fellow Gulf Arab state Oman will close its land, air and sea borders for one week starting Tuesday, state television reported on Monday.
In Kuwait, the civil aviation authority added the United Kingdom to its high-risk list of countries on Sunday, meaning all flights from it are banned.

Published 21 Dec, 2020 06:41pm

Europe

More than 40pc of Spaniards willing to get COVID-19 vaccine

While 28% of respondents in the survey by the Centre for Sociological Studies (CIS) said they would not take the vaccine immediately.
The EU drug regulator is expected to decide on Monday on approval for the vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech after the shot was authorised in several countries.

Published 21 Dec, 2020 06:39pm

South Asia

China calls Trump cyberattack claims 'a farce'

Cyber experts said the attack could have far-reaching impact and take months to unravel.

Published 21 Dec, 2020 06:36pm

Europe

Controllers see major European air transport disruption from UK shutdown

Eurocontrol Director General Eamonn Brennan said there had been 900 daily flights between Monday and Saturday last week.
We'll see a significant impact on the network as a result of the new (coronavirus) variant in the UK.

Published 21 Dec, 2020 06:35pm

Europe

Turkish court sentences Kurdish ex-MP to 22 years in jail

Ocalan's PKK, which is blacklisted by Ankara and its Western allies as a terror group, has been waging an insurgency against the Turkish state since 1984.

Published 21 Dec, 2020 06:28pm

Middle East

Israeli spyware software used by Saudi Arabia, UAE to hack Al Jazeera journalists: Report

According to a cyber-security watchdog, dozens of journalists at the Al Jazeera Media Network were targeted this year by advanced Israeli spyware, linked with the governments of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
Researchers from the Citizen Lab at the University of Toronto published a report on Sunday, detailing how the Pegasus spyware infected the cellular devices of 36 journalists, producers, anchors and executives at the media network.

Published 21 Dec, 2020 06:27pm

South Asia

Japan New Year rituals fall victim to virus surge

Some sites stay open all night to allow worshippers to ring in the New Year at midnight.

Published 21 Dec, 2020 06:22pm

Europe

Russia denies role in US cyber attacks

Putin's spokesman said public debate in Washington about the breaches "has nothing to do with us".

Published 21 Dec, 2020 06:15pm

Europe

World closes borders to Britain as new coronavirus strain breeds panic

More countries closed their borders to Britain on Monday over fears of a highly infectious new coronavirus strain, heightening global panic.
A slew of countries have already suspended travel, including France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Austria, Ireland, Belgium, Israel and Canada.

Published 21 Dec, 2020 06:14pm

Middle East

Israel parliament to vote on bill to delay election call

If a 2020 budget is not passed, Israel's parliament, the Knesset, would dissolve, with new elections held as early as March.

Published 21 Dec, 2020 06:12pm

Europe

Nationalists win vote in Bosnia's divided Mostar

According to HDZ head Dragan Covic, the candidate who headed the party's election list, Mostar doctor Mario Kordic will become mayor.

Published 21 Dec, 2020 06:07pm

Europe

Russia reports record jump in new virus cases

Russia has reported a much lower death rate compared to other badly hit countries, raising concerns that authorities have downplayed the figures.

Published 21 Dec, 2020 05:55pm

South Asia

Thai PM blames migrant workers for market coronavirus outbreak

On Monday Prayut blamed the outbreak on factories employing illegal migrant workers, who he accused of illegally crossing the porous Myanmar-Thailand border.

Published 21 Dec, 2020 05:48pm

Europe

Russia, Rwanda send military support to Central Africa Republic to quell election violence

Security forces and U.N. peacekeepers have been battling rebels who have occupied towns and roads outside the capital.
Russia, which has previously sent arms and military contractors to CAR as it seeks to increase its influence in Africa, has not commented on reports in the media it had sent in troops and military aid.

Updated 21 Dec, 2020 06:08pm

Europe

More travel bans as UK isolated over virus variant

At least 1.68 million people have been killed by Covid-19 since the virus first emerged in China a year ago, with more than 10,000 people still dying daily.

Published 21 Dec, 2020 05:35pm

Europe

Coronavirus toll at 1100 GMT Monday

On Sunday, 8,066 new deaths and 539,656 new cases were recorded worldwide.

Published 21 Dec, 2020 05:33pm

Middle East

Saudi halts international flights over virus variant

The suspension does not apply to international aircraft currently in the kingdom, which will be allowed to leave, SPA said.

Published 21 Dec, 2020 05:32pm

South Asia

Indian farmers vow to carry on protests despite cold, deaths

Tens of thousands of Indian farmers, protesting over agricultural laws that they say threaten their livelihoods, have vowed to carry on their around-the-clock sit-ins despite cold weather that has already led to some deaths among them.
Since late November, when thousands of farmers arrived in trucks and tractors to camp out on the borders of New Delhi, nearly 30 people have died, several of them as a result of freezing weather, farmers said.

Published 21 Dec, 2020 05:31pm

India suspends all flights from the UK as concerns grow over new virus strain

Britain is one of the 23 countries that India shares an "air bubble" with, as part of temporary bilateral arrangements after regular international flights were suspended after the pandemic hit.

Published 21 Dec, 2020 03:56pm

Asia

Global arms sales by top 25 companies up by 8.5 percent in 2019

For the first time, a Middle Eastern firm appears in top 25.
After the US, China accounted for the second largest share of 2019 arms sales by the top 25 arms companies, at 16 percent.

Updated 21 Dec, 2020 05:15pm

Germany to Iran: Don't waste chance for rapprochement with U.S

Iran should avoid taking any tactical steps that would make it hard for Biden to reverse President Donald Trump’s decision to quit the deal, says German Foreign Minister.
“This chance, this last window of opportunity, must not be wasted.”

Published 21 Dec, 2020 03:46pm

Middle East

Rockets fired at U.S. embassy land inside Baghdad's Green Zone, damaging compound

At least eight Katyusha rockets landed in Baghdad’s heavily fortified Green Zone in an attack targeting the U.S. Embassy, causing some minor damage on the compound on Sunday.
The U.S. Embassy condemned the attack and urged all Iraqi political and governmental leaders to take steps to prevent such attacks and to hold accountable those responsible.

Published 21 Dec, 2020 02:59pm

Climate change could create millions of migrants in Pakistan by 2050

Ove 45 million people are are expected to migrate by 2050 in India.
Nearly 63 million people in South Asia could be forced from their homes by 2050.

Published 21 Dec, 2020 02:55pm

New COVID variant: Over 30 countries cut air travel ties with Britain

The European Union has called a crisis management meeting after Britain’s PM Boris Johnson ordered a wholesale lockdown on London
Britain's Health Secretary declares the new strain is out of control

Published 21 Dec, 2020 01:16pm

India records 24,337 new coronavirus cases

A total of 145,810 people in India have died of COVID-19, with 333 deaths in the past 24 hours, the ministry said.

Published 21 Dec, 2020 12:06pm

Flights from Britain to Poland to be halted on Monday night

Countries including France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium, El Salvador.

Published 21 Dec, 2020 11:58am

Roche says faricimab meets goals in trial against rivals' Eylea

More than half of participants in the faricimab personalised dosing arms.

Published 21 Dec, 2020 11:52am

Europe

Britain, EU tell each other to give way in 'difficult' trade talks

With less than two weeks before Britain leaves the EU’s orbit, both sides are calling on the other to move to secure a deal and safeguard annual trade in goods from tariffs and quotas.
The EU wants to be able to impose trade barriers in the event that Britain changes its regulations in the future and undercuts the bloc’s market of 450 million consumers.

Published 21 Dec, 2020 11:45am

UN peacekeepers say C.Africa rebel push 'under control'

The 74-year-old, who came to power in a coup in 2003 before himself being overthrown in 2013, said last Tuesday that he accepted the court's decision.

Published 21 Dec, 2020 11:36am

Between Brexit and coronavirus, UK togetherness is fraying

In Dublin, republican Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald said Brexit had raised "fundamental questions around the wisdom and the sustainability of the partition of our island".

Published 21 Dec, 2020 11:30am

Japan sets record $52 billion military budget with stealth jets, long-range missiles

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga’s government approved a ninth consecutive rise in military spending on Monday, funding the development of an advanced stealth fighter and longer-range anti-ship missile to counter China’s growing military power.
The Ministry of Defense will get a record 5.34 trillion yen ($51.7 billion) for the year starting in April, up 1.1% from this year.

Published 21 Dec, 2020 11:17am

USA

U.S. Congress reaches deal on COVID-19 aid package, plans votes for Monday

U.S. congressional leaders reached agreement on Sunday on a $900 billion package to provide the first new aid in months to an economy and individuals battered by the surging coronavirus pandemic.
The pandemic will stand as the largest crisis facing Biden’s new administration, although signs of hope have emerged as the United States has begun vaccinating people against the highly contagious respiratory disease.

Published 21 Dec, 2020 11:11am

Biden chief of staff says hack response will go beyond 'just sanctions'

"I think there's still a lot of unanswered questions about the purpose, nature, and extent of these specific attacks," he said.

Published 21 Dec, 2020 10:46am

Saudi Arabia suspends international flights and land and sea entry for a week

The source added the entry to the kingdom through land and sea ports will be also suspended for a renewable week.

Published 21 Dec, 2020 10:43am

Middle East

Qatar approves Pfizer and BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine emergency use

Qatar is due to receive the first shipment of the vaccine produced by Pfizer Inc and BioNTech on Monday.

Published 21 Dec, 2020 10:38am

UK PM Johnson to chair emergency response meeting on COVID travel, freight

Transport minister Grant Shapps urged Britons, especially hauliers, not to travel to ports in Kent in southern England, warning on Twitter that "we expect significant disruption in the area".

Published 21 Dec, 2020 10:31am

McConnell says deal reached on $900 billion COVID-19 relief bill

"More help is on the way," McConnell said on the Senate floor of the measure to provide assistance to address a number of coronavirus-related issues.

Published 21 Dec, 2020 10:28am

European medicines regulator to review Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine

The goal of the 27-member European Union is nonetheless to reach coverage of 70% of its 450 million people.

Published 21 Dec, 2020 10:23am

Mexico's confirmed coronavirus death toll surpasses 118,200

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

Published 21 Dec, 2020 10:04am

Argentina, Chile to suspend flights from Great Britain over COVID-19 concerns

Chile's government said non-resident foreigners who had been in Great Britain over the last 14 days will be banned from entering the country.

Published 21 Dec, 2020 09:53am

South Korea reports record daily coronavirus deaths, raids

Seoul city is considering going further than the national rules to ban gatherings of more than five people, starting the day before the Christmas holiday, Yonhap news agency reported.

Published 21 Dec, 2020 09:50am

South Asia

India plans tough annual targets for state firms to boost valuations

The government, which is trying to rein in its fiscal deficit, wants state-run firms to focus on improving market capitalisation and dividend payouts from the 2021/22 fiscal year, starting April, as well as ramping up the sale of non-core assets, the sources said.

Published 21 Dec, 2020 09:35am

USA

US Senate votes to extend government funding to avoid shutdown

The measure has already passed the House of Representatives and now heads to President Donald Trump to sign into law.

Published 21 Dec, 2020 09:33am

Rockets fired at US embassy land inside Baghdad's Green Zone, damaging compound

Sirens blared from the embassy compound inside the zone, which houses government buildings and foreign missions.

Published 21 Dec, 2020 09:15am

USA

What's in the $900 billion US COVID-19 aid package?

Minority-owned businesses: $12 billion for minority owned and very small businesses that struggled to access earlier Payroll Protection Program financing.

Published 21 Dec, 2020 09:03am

Australia's most populous state says COVID-19 cases at 3-day low

All arrivals enter mandatory hotel quarantine on their arrival, which Australia credits as central in it avoiding high coronavirus numbers compared with other developed nations.

Published 21 Dec, 2020 08:50am

Dubai’s Meraas plans buyout of theme park group DXB Entertainments

DUBAI: Dubai property company Meraas, which owns more than half of DXB Entertainments, intends to make a conditional...

Updated 21 Dec, 2020 03:14am

Turkey conducts exercises in eastern Mediterranean

ANKARA: Turkey has carried out naval exercises in the eastern Mediterranean, the defence ministry said Sunday,...

Updated 21 Dec, 2020 03:14am

Rockets hit near US embassy in Iraq as tensions flare

BAGHDAD: A volley of rockets exploded near the US embassy in Baghdad on Sunday, as tensions mount ahead of the...

Updated 21 Dec, 2020 03:14am

Deadly Fiji super cyclone sparks disease fears

SUVA, (Fiji): Disease threatens to worsen an already desperate situation in Fiji, an official warned Sunday, where...

Updated 21 Dec, 2020 11:00am

Biden introduces environment team to tackle ‘existential threat’

WASHINGTON: President-elect Joe Biden on Saturday introduced key members of his environmental team and said his...

Updated 21 Dec, 2020 11:00am

Eight dead in Philippine floods as thousands flee homes

MANILA: Nearly 10,000 people were evacuated from their homes in the northeastern Philippines as heavy rain across ...

Updated 21 Dec, 2020 10:59am

Taiwan sends ships, aircraft as Chinese carrier passes island

TAIPEI: Taiwan’s navy and air force were deployed on Sunday as a Chinese aircraft carrier group led by the...

Updated 21 Dec, 2020 10:58am

Putin hails Russia’s spies, visits intelligence HQ

MOSCOW: Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday hailed the country’s “courageous” spies as he visited the...

Updated 21 Dec, 2020 09:23am

Thousands in Belarus protest Lukashenko’s rule

MINSK: Thousands of protesters took to the streets of Belarus on Sunday as they sought to keep the pressure on...

Published 21 Dec, 2020 02:47am

Rare Christmas sales in Saudi Arabia

RIYADH: Christmas trees and glittery ornaments are for sale at a Saudi gift shop, a once unthinkable sight in the...

Published 21 Dec, 2020 02:47am

Five Nigeria soldiers killed, dozens of civilians kidnapped

KANO: Five Nigerian soldiers were killed by Islamic State-aligned jihadists and dozens of civilians were kidnapped ...

Updated 21 Dec, 2020 09:23am

Thailand to test 10,000 after virus outbreak linked to seafood market

BANGKOK: Thailand will test more than 10,000 people for coronavirus after an outbreak linked to its biggest seafood...

Updated 21 Dec, 2020 10:58am

Bosnia’s divided town of Mostar holds first local vote in 12 years

MOSTAR, (Bosnia): Citizens in Bosnia’s ethnically divided town of Mostar voted for their city councillors on ...

Published 21 Dec, 2020 02:47am

Britain, EU tell each other to give way in trade talks

LONDON: Britain insisted on Sunday that the European Union should budge to open the way to a new, post-Brexit trade...

Updated 21 Dec, 2020 10:57am

North Korea to redevelop flagship tourist resort

SEOUL: Pyongyang plans to redevelop its flagship Mount Kumgang tourist complex into an international resort, a year...

Updated 21 Dec, 2020 10:57am

Singapore gets shot in the arm from global drug demand

SINGAPORE: Scientists in protective clothing work in a high-tech laboratory at a pharmaceutical plant in Singapore,...

Updated 21 Dec, 2020 03:16am

US lawmakers near a vote on virus relief plan

WASHINGTON: US lawmakers appeared on track Sunday to pass a roughly $900 billion Covid-19 relief package for ...

Updated 21 Dec, 2020 03:16am

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 22	249.10

Gainers
Losers
Leaders

Stock	Price
786 Invest Ltd / Sep 22 786 Investments Limited(786)	5 ▼ 0.00 (0.00%)
AL-Abbas Sugar / Sep 22 Al-Abbas Sugar Mills Limited(AABS)	585 ▼ 0.00 (0.00%)
Agro Allianz / Sep 22 Agro Allianz Limited(AAL)	16 ▼ 0.00 (0.00%)
AL-Abid Silk / Sep 22 Al-Abid Silk Mills Limited(AASM)	3.49 ▼ 0.00 (0.00%)
Ali Asghar / Sep 22 Ali Asghar Textile Mills Limited(AATM)	2.07 ▼ 0.00 (0.00%)
Allied Bank / Sep 22 Allied Bank Limited(ABL)	87.10 ▼ 0.00 (0.00%)
Abbott Lab. / Sep 22 Abbott Laboratories (Pakistan) Limited(ABOT)	499.34 ▼ 0.00 (0.00%)
Abson Ind. / Sep 22 Abson Industries Limited(ABSON)	2.50 ▼ 0.00 (0.00%)
Alfalah ETF. / Sep 22 Alfalah Consumer Index ETF.(ACIETF)	9.84 ▼ 0.00 (0.00%)

Stock	Price
786 Invest Ltd / Sep 22 786 Investments Limited(786)	5 ▲ 0.00 (0.00%)
AL-Abbas Sugar / Sep 22 Al-Abbas Sugar Mills Limited(AABS)	585 ▲ 0.00 (0.00%)
Agro Allianz / Sep 22 Agro Allianz Limited(AAL)	16 ▲ 0.00 (0.00%)
AL-Abid Silk / Sep 22 Al-Abid Silk Mills Limited(AASM)	3.49 ▲ 0.00 (0.00%)
Ali Asghar / Sep 22 Ali Asghar Textile Mills Limited(AATM)	2.07 ▲ 0.00 (0.00%)
Allied Bank / Sep 22 Allied Bank Limited(ABL)	87.10 ▲ 0.00 (0.00%)
Abbott Lab. / Sep 22 Abbott Laboratories (Pakistan) Limited(ABOT)	499.34 ▲ 0.00 (0.00%)
Abson Ind. / Sep 22 Abson Industries Limited(ABSON)	2.50 ▲ 0.00 (0.00%)
Alfalah ETF. / Sep 22 Alfalah Consumer Index ETF.(ACIETF)	9.84 ▲ 0.00 (0.00%)

Stock	Volume
P.I.A.C.(A) / Sep 22 Pakistan International Airlines Corp(PIAA)	47,200,500 ▲ 0.00
Cnergyico PK / Sep 22 Cnergyico PK Limited(CNERGY)	29,719,327 ▲ 0.00
Pak Petroleum / Sep 22 Pakistan Petroleum Limited(PPL)	21,170,581 ▲ 0.00
Pak Refinery / Sep 22 Pakistan Refinery Limited(PRL)	16,965,134 ▲ 0.00
The Searle Co. / Sep 22 The Searle Company Limited(SEARL)	15,793,227 ▲ 0.00
P.T.C.L. / Sep 22 Pakistan Telecommunication Company Ltd(PTC)	15,054,641 ▲ 0.00
K-Electric Ltd. / Sep 22 K-Electric Limited(KEL)	14,145,556 ▲ 0.00
WorldCall Telecom / Sep 22 Worldcall Telecom Limited(WTL)	13,158,668 ▲ 0.00
Telecard Limited / Sep 22 Telecard Limited(TELE)	12,358,668 ▲ 0.00

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