News Archives for World - 2020-12-23

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World - 2020-12-23

USA

US weekly jobless claims fall; consumer spending declines in November

Though jobless claims have dropped from a record 6.867 million in March, they remain above their 665,000 peak during the 2007-09 Great Recession.
The United States is being battered by a new wave of coronavirus cases, with more than 18 million people infected and nearly 320,000 dead.

Published 23 Dec, 2020 08:44pm

USA

Canada GDP rose 0.4pc in October on finance and insurance

Canada's real GDP rose 0.4% in October, beating analyst estimates of a 0.3% gain. Statscan said its preliminary estimate for November was also a gain of 0.4%.
The Canadian dollar was trading 0.2% higher at 1.2879 to the greenback, or 77.65 US cents, after the data.

Published 23 Dec, 2020 08:37pm

Europe

Britain approves use of COVID-19 self-test kit

Boris Johnson promised a "world-beating" national test-and-trace system earlier this year.
NHS Test and Trace system has been heavily criticised following a series of high-profile failures since its launch earlier this year.

Published 23 Dec, 2020 08:24pm

Middle East

Dubai to begin inoculations with Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine from Wednesday

The UAE was the first country outside China to roll out the Chinese vaccine to the public, saying earlier this month it had 86% efficacy.
The first phase of the COVID-19 vaccine would be for citizens and Dubai residents 60 years and above, and for individuals with chronic illness over the age of 18.

Published 23 Dec, 2020 08:21pm

Europe

EU acts to prepare path to Brexit trade deal, EU sources say

UK leaves EU's orbit at the end of this year.
No deal yet in trade talks, Britain says.
EU prepares path for a trade deal.

Published 23 Dec, 2020 08:18pm

Africa

Africa needs about $9bon for COVID-19 vaccines, access is big problem

African nations cannot compete with wealthier governments that have secured huge supplies of inoculations.
If the supply of COVID-19 vaccines is left to (the) market, many developing countries will be essentially rationed out of it, Africa included.

Updated 23 Dec, 2020 08:18pm

Europe

Families of Italian COVID-19 victims seek $122mn from government

A group representing 500 families said it would file the lawsuit against Prime Minister Conte, health minister and Lombardy president.
Italy has recorded nearly 70,000 deaths linked to Covid-19, more than any other country in Europe.

Updated 23 Dec, 2020 08:30pm

Middle East

Dubai rolls out Pfizer-BioNTech vaccination campaign

The UAE has so far recorded more than 197,000 cases of the novel coronavirus, including 645 deaths.

Published 23 Dec, 2020 07:28pm

Masks block 99.9pc of large Covid-linked droplets: study

Smaller ones, sometimes called aerosol droplets, can remain suspended in the air for longer periods.

Published 23 Dec, 2020 07:24pm

Europe

First vaccines leave plant for EU rollout

Pfizer refused to say where in the EU the first deliveries were headed.

Published 23 Dec, 2020 07:22pm

USA

US purchases additional 100 million doses of Pfizer vaccine

The US is hoping to immunize 20 million people this month, with long-term care residents and health workers at the front of the line.

Published 23 Dec, 2020 07:13pm

WHO Wuhan probe not looking for Covid 'guilty' parties

The 10 scientists will also be accompanied by Peter Ben Embarek, a WHO expert on food safety and zoonoses.

Published 23 Dec, 2020 07:11pm

Europe

Families of virus dead sue Italy govt for 100 million euros

Italy was the first country outside China to suffer a major outbreak of coronavirus and remains one of the worst hit, with almost 70,000 reported deaths so far.

Published 23 Dec, 2020 07:07pm

Africa

Two demonstrators killed in Zambia protest

A veteran campaigner and self-made entrepreneur, he bid five times for the presidency between 2006 and 2016.

Published 23 Dec, 2020 07:04pm

Europe

As mutated variant spreads, PM Johnson mulls stricter lockdown

The British government will review whether it needs to impose its strictest COVID-19 restrictions on more of the country on Wednesday as a highly infectious variant continues to spread but will not change Christmas rules.
Britain reported a record number of new infections on Tuesday as a mutated strain of the coronavirus, which could be up to 70% more transmissible than the original.

Published 23 Dec, 2020 06:56pm

Europe

Turkey hopes to turn new page with US and EU in 2021: Erdogan

This month Washington sanctioned Turkey over its acquisition of Russian S-400 missile defences.
Erdogan said "artificial agendas" tested Turkey's ties with the EU and United States in 2020, but he hoped things would improve.

Published 23 Dec, 2020 06:33pm

Israel to hold snap election, with Netanyahu facing new challenges

Israel’s longest-serving leader will also have to contend with a new rival from the right, Gideon Saar, a defector from Netanyahu’s Likud party.
“If an election is forced upon us, I promise you that we will win,” says Netanyahu.

Updated 23 Dec, 2020 07:09pm

South Asia

Thailand plans 12pc rise in budget deficit for 2022 fiscal year

Budget deficit seen at 700 bln baht FY 2022, up 12.4%.
Spending estimated at 3.1 trln baht, down 5.7%.
Budget based on expected 2022 growth of 3.5%.

Published 23 Dec, 2020 06:07pm

Europe

Swiss start Covid-19 vaccinations

The European Union, of which Switzerland is not a member, is scheduled to start vaccinations on December 27.

Published 23 Dec, 2020 06:02pm

Europe

Serbia to start Covid-19 vaccinations Thursday

Serbia has lost almost 2,800 to the novel coronavirus while more than 300,000 have been infected.

Published 23 Dec, 2020 06:00pm

Europe

Czechs extend emergency, close shops as cases soar

The Czech Republic has struggled to bring infection rates under control ever since.

Published 23 Dec, 2020 05:57pm

Middle East

Lebanon to ask consultants to resume central bank audit, minister says

Parliament agreed this week to lift banking secrecy for one year, after the restructuring consultancy Alvarez & Marsal pulled out of the audit.
It was decided based on the law from parliament and government decisions to contact the firm A&M to resume the forensic audit.

Published 23 Dec, 2020 05:54pm

South Asia

Myanmar ethnic group sentences child murderer to death

Shan State is home to several armed ethnic groups who are allowed unofficial autonomy in an uneasy agreement with Myanmar's military.

Published 23 Dec, 2020 05:52pm

South Asia

Cairn Energy wins over $1.2 billion from India in tax arbitration case

The amount is nearly equal to London-listed Cairn's market value of $1.3 billion as of Tuesday's close.
We will have to challenge both cases as we will otherwise give a wrong signal to investors

Published 23 Dec, 2020 05:52pm

Middle East

Israel heads to polls again amid pandemic and PM's legal woes

In the looming election battle, Netanyahu is likely to tout his main diplomatic achievements, a series of US-brokered normalisation deals with Arab states.

Published 23 Dec, 2020 05:50pm

Europe

COVID-19: UK may impose tier 4 restrictions in more areas

The ongoing tier four restrictions – which were placed in London and large parts of south-east England – were due to be reviewed on 30 December.

Published 23 Dec, 2020 05:50pm

Europe

French President Macron improving after COVID diagnosis: presidency

Macron has been has been self-isolating at Versailles, and BFM TV this week broadcast live images of him chairing a government ministerial meeting via an audiovisual link.

Published 23 Dec, 2020 05:49pm

Africa

Quarter of a million children in need in N. Mozambique: UN

Unicef is appealing for $52.8 million to meet the most pressing humanitarian needs in Mozambique in 2021, of which $30 million would be earmarked for Cabo Delgado.

Published 23 Dec, 2020 05:47pm

South Asia

Taiwan's EVA Air sacks pilot blamed for rare local COVID case

Taiwan has kept the pandemic well under control thanks to early and effective prevention methods and widespread use of masks.
EVA Air has always abided by the government's epidemic prevention policies, and most crew members also followed the epidemic prevention regulations.

Published 23 Dec, 2020 05:43pm

Europe

Ninety-year-old woman first in Switzerland to get COVID-19 shot

Initial vaccine doses will go to cantons to inoculate vulnerable people, including those aged over 75 and people with medical conditions.
"Residents of nursing and care homes will be first to get vaccines."

Published 23 Dec, 2020 05:35pm

Europe

Brexit trade talks difficult as EU and UK still split on key issues

UK leaves EU's orbit at the end of this year.
Not deal yet in trade talks, Britain says.
Differences remain over fishing and competition.

Published 23 Dec, 2020 05:28pm

Middle East

Israel hopes for rapprochement with fifth Muslim country before Trump exit - minister

Israel is working towards formalising relations with a fifth Muslim country during U.S. President Donald Trump’s term, which ends next month.
The White House has brokered rapprochements between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan and Morocco this year, with Morocco hosting an Israeli-U.S. delegation on Tuesday to flesh out the upgrade in relations.

Published 23 Dec, 2020 05:27pm

Africa

UN says seized C.African town under peacekeepers' control

The civilians are starting to return. The armed groups have been pushed back into the bush.

Published 23 Dec, 2020 05:26pm

U.S Coronavirus relief package contains $25 million for gender, democracy programs in Pakistan

The bipartisan coronavirus aid package, recently negotiated by the United States Congress, contains nearly $25 million allocated for "gender" and "democracy" programs in Pakistan.
President Trump berated the relief package, stating that "Congress found plenty of money for foreign countries, lobbyists and special interests, while sending the bare minimum to the American people who need it".

Updated 23 Dec, 2020 01:46pm

Coronavirus reaches end of earth as first outbreak hits Antarctica

Chile’s armed forces said at least 36 people had been infected at its Bernardo O’Higgins base, including 26 army personnel and 10 civilian contractors conducting maintenance at the base.

Published 23 Dec, 2020 12:47pm

China's CAS COVID-19 vaccine induces immune response in mid-stage tests

The vaccine also triggered moderate cell-based immune responses, a crucial part of the human immune system that works differently from antibodies.

Published 23 Dec, 2020 12:42pm

Europe

Russia not expecting 'anything good' from Biden administration

We are definitely not expecting anything good.

Published 23 Dec, 2020 12:40pm

South Asia

NATO Forces Now Outnumber U.S Troops in Afghanistan

The combined NATO troop presence in the country outnumbers that of the United States; for the first time in the history of the conflict.
As of yet, there are nearly 4000 American troops deployed in Afghanistan, while a multi-lateral contingent of NATO troops numbering 11,000 (from several nations including the United States) remain in the country.

Updated 23 Dec, 2020 12:37pm

Europe

Empty stores and offices: how Sweden aims to plug housing gap

The government is now examining whether empty commercial real estate in the wake of COVID-19 could be converted to help plug a shortfall of around 140,000 homes.

Published 23 Dec, 2020 11:33am

USA

Biden's Latino education secretary to add to diverse Cabinet

The elder Biden has vowed not to interfere in the investigation or discuss it with his nominee.

Published 23 Dec, 2020 11:29am

USA

President Trump pardons 15 people, including two convicted for Russia probe

On Tuesday, President Donald Trump granted a full pardon to George Papadopoulos, his former campaign aide who pleaded guilty after Robert Mueller's investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 Presidential Election.
These names were listed by the White House in a wave of pre-Christmas pardons, with President Trump granting full pardons to 15 people and commuted (fully or partly) the sentences of an additional five others.

Updated 23 Dec, 2020 11:51am

EU starts to ease bans over UK virus strain; WHO to meet

The major British transit hub said it would reopen from midnight local time (2300 GMT) for travellers with a negative result.

Published 23 Dec, 2020 11:13am

Three police shot dead, fourth wounded in central France

"The greatest precautions are being taken with regard to the dangerousness of the individual," a source close to the investigation told AFP.

Published 23 Dec, 2020 11:07am

USA

Trump voices concern about Vietnam's trade deficit in call with PM

8 US companies imported about $65 billion worth of goods from Vietnam in the first 10 months of 2020, compared with $66.6 billion for all of 2019.

Published 23 Dec, 2020 10:54am

Labour Friends of Kashmir felicitates Wajid Khan on his appointment to House of Lords

The Labour Friends of Kashmir is a voluntary group that campaigns for peace and justice in Kashmir, with a specific focus on international law and human rights
Wajid has been highlighted the importance of helping the Labour Party develop a strong policy to bring about peace in South Asia

Published 23 Dec, 2020 10:52am

UN, African Union peacekeeping mission in Sudan's Darfur to end Dec. 31

Many Darfuri residents say UNAMID has not effectively protected them, but they fear its withdrawal will leave them more vulnerable and have staged protests in recent weeks.

Published 23 Dec, 2020 10:40am

Hate speech against Pakistanis: UK media watchdog fines Arnab’s Republic TV £20,000

The Hindi media outlet has been directed to air an apology on the channel
Ofcom announced that it has fined Republic TV for using highly offensive hate speech against Pakistani people in its talk show
The TV show was aired on July 22, 2019, featured a debate between Arnab Goswami, and his guests that included three Indian and three Pakistani individuals

Published 23 Dec, 2020 10:15am

Coronavirus reaches end of earth as first outbreak hits Antarctica

An Army press officer said the first COVID-19 cases had been reported in mid-December, when two soldiers fell ill.

Published 23 Dec, 2020 09:49am

Asia

South Korea logs second-highest daily coronavirus tally as criticism of govt grows

Seoul and its surrounding areas have banned gatherings of more than four people from Dec. 23 to Jan. 3, and both restaurant owners and patrons may face up to 3 million won ($2,700) in fines for violation of the order.

Published 23 Dec, 2020 09:47am

Biden says huge data breach poses 'grave risk' to U.S., promises response

At a news conference, Biden faulted President Donald Trump for stripping U.S. defenses against cyber attacks, saying, “This assault happened on Donald Trump’s watch, when he wasn’t watching."

Published 23 Dec, 2020 09:45am

Trump grants full pardon to Russia probe figure George Papadopoulos

Trump also pardoned Alex van der Zwaan, 36, the Dutch son-in-law of Russian billionaire German Khan.

Published 23 Dec, 2020 09:41am

'Good riddance,' China says as Germany leaves U.N. Security Council

Germany finishes a two-year term on the 15-member council at the end of this month and Ambassador Christoph Heusgen plans to retire after more than 40 years as a diplomat.

Published 23 Dec, 2020 09:38am

Asia

Japan to ban entry of non-Japanese from UK due to coronavirus mutation

The government will ask people including long-term foreign residents to self-quarantine for 14 days upon return from Britain.

Published 23 Dec, 2020 09:36am

Germany's confirmed coronavirus causes rise by 24,740

The reported death toll rose by 962 to 27,968, the tally showed.

Published 23 Dec, 2020 09:07am

Worldwide coronavirus cases cross 77.57mn, death toll at 1,709,633

Infections have been reported in more than 210 countries.

Published 23 Dec, 2020 09:05am

Britain and France ease transport ban

French nationals, EU nationals or French residents who need to complete essential travel will be allowed to cross the border.

Published 23 Dec, 2020 08:56am

Trump rejects Covid relief bill, calling it 'a disgrace'

Democratic leaders pounced immediately to insist that their party had been in favor of higher individual relief payments from the start.

Published 23 Dec, 2020 08:51am

Biden nominates Miguel Cardona as US education secretary

"The choice of Miguel A Cardona as Secretary of Education signals that now we have the possibility, if he is confirmed, to see for the first time in history, three Latinos in the cabinet," the organization said.

Published 23 Dec, 2020 08:47am

Mexico to start Covid-19 vaccinations on Thursday: govt

"Tomorrow (Wednesday) the first consignment of the Pfizer vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 arrives," he said on Twitter.

Published 23 Dec, 2020 08:43am

European, US police take down 'best' criminal VPN

THE HAGUE: European and US police have taken down one of the world's foremost virtual private networks used by...