News Archives for World - 2020-12-28

<<>>

World - 2020-12-28

China rejects reports of seeking guarantees from Pakistan for approving $6bn loan

"China's input in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) including the CPEC has not reduced but rather increased against the odds," says Chinese FO spokesman.
He says, "China has increased direct financial investment in BRI countries by around 30 percent in first three quarters of the year."

Published 28 Dec, 2020 09:48pm

Europe

Brexit trade deal gets EU green light

Customs and regulatory controls on cross-Channel commerce will still come into effect on January 1 after Britain leaves the EU single market.

Published 28 Dec, 2020 08:11pm

USA

Novavax starts late-stage trial of COVID-19 vaccine in United States

It will enroll up to 30,000 volunteers across about 115 sites in the United States and Mexico, with two-thirds of them receiving the shot 21 days apart and the rest getting placebo.
Novavax lags behind other drugmakers in the global race for COVID-19 vaccine.

Published 28 Dec, 2020 08:08pm

Middle East

Iran warns Israel not to cross Gulf 'red lines'

The statement came a week after the US Navy announced a nuclear submarine was being deployed to the Gulf, in a new show of force directed at Iran.

Published 28 Dec, 2020 08:06pm

Europe

Belgium launches Covid vaccinations

The country has suffered one of the worst per capita death rates in the world during the epidemic, and its nursing homes have been particularly hard hit.

Published 28 Dec, 2020 08:05pm

Europe

Russia expels Bulgarian diplomat in tit-for-tat response

Bulgaria earlier this month expelled the Russian military attache after prosecutors opened a probe against him for spying on US troops based in the country.

Published 28 Dec, 2020 08:02pm

USA

US authorizes sanctions for China Dalai Lama meddling

Beijing said in January that the act "grossly interferes in China's internal affairs" after the House of Representatives passed it 392-22.

Published 28 Dec, 2020 08:00pm

USA

After Trump backs down on stimulus bill, Democrats aim for higher relief checks

In a sudden reversal late on Sunday, Trump signed into law a $2.3 trillion pandemic aid and spending package.
It was unclear why Trump, who has refused to concede defeat to Biden, changed his mind on the stimulus package.

Published 28 Dec, 2020 07:54pm

USA

Trump signs pandemic aid and spending bill, averting government shutdown

Trump, who leaves office on Jan. 20 after losing November's election to President-elect Joe Biden, backed down from his earlier threat to block the bill.
"Much more money is coming," he insisted in a statement, though he provided nothing to back this promise.

Published 28 Dec, 2020 07:52pm

Middle East

Who is Saudi human rights activist Loujain al-Hathloul?

Hathloul rose to prominence in 2013 when she began publicly campaigning for women's right to drive in Saudi Arabia.
She was arrested for the first time in 2014 while attempting to drive across the border from the United Arab Emirates

Published 28 Dec, 2020 07:48pm

Europe

Britain says it will sign free trade deal with Turkey this week

The two nations will sign a deal that replicates the existing trading terms between Ankara and London.
We now look forward to working with Turkey towards an ambitious tailor-made UK-Turkey trade agreement in the near future.

Published 28 Dec, 2020 07:46pm

Europe

PM sold out fish in Brexit trade deal, fishermen say

British fishermen said on Saturday that Prime Minister Boris Johnson had sold out fish stocks to the European Union with a Brexit trade deal that gives EU boats significant access to the United Kingdom’s rich fishing waters.
The United Kingdom will leave the EU’s Common Fisheries Policy on Dec. 31, but under the trade deal agreed on Christmas Eve the current rules will remain largely in place during a 5-1/2-year transition period.

Published 28 Dec, 2020 07:09pm

South Asia

Philippine president signs $93.7bn national budget for 2021

The budget enables the country to heal, rebuild and resume the economy's upward trajectory, Duterte said after its signing.
The education sector and public works secured 752 billion pesos and 696 billion pesos respectively, accounting for nearly a third of the budget.

Published 28 Dec, 2020 06:28pm

South Asia

Bangladesh moves more Rohingya to controversial island

More than 700,000 Rohingya packed the camps in Bangladesh in 2017 after a deadly Myanmar military clampdown that the United Nations has said could be genocide.

Published 28 Dec, 2020 06:26pm

South Asia

Azerbaijan says one soldier dead in Armenian ambush

A peace deal mediated by Russia ended in early November six weeks of fighting between Azerbaijan and separatists backed by Armenia for control of the disputed region.

Published 28 Dec, 2020 06:23pm

Tesla to start operations in India next year – report

The electric-car maker will start with sales and then might look at assembly and manufacturing based on the response, says the minister.
The first model to be launched will be Model 3, the cheapest among Tesla vehicles, with prices starting at over $74,739 (5.5 million Indian rupees).

Published 28 Dec, 2020 06:21pm

South Asia

Chinese citizen journalist jailed for Wuhan virus reporting

The court said Zhang Zhan had spread "false remarks" online, according to one of her lawyers Zhang Keke, but the prosecution did not fully divulge its evidence in court.

Published 28 Dec, 2020 06:21pm

South Asia

South Korea detects first coronavirus variant cases

South Korea reported 808 new cases Monday, raising its national total to 57,680 with 819 deaths.

Published 28 Dec, 2020 06:15pm

Europe

Cyber crime has cost Russia $49bn in 2020, Sberbank says

Russia has encouraged its citizens to switch to bank cards and limit cash use to try to crack down on the shadow economy.
The private sector is the most vulnerable: everything from the clients' accounts to financial data and tender documents are targeted.

Published 28 Dec, 2020 06:15pm

Europe

Russia ships only first part of COVID-19 vaccine to Argentina

Unlike most other COVID-19 vaccines, which are given as two shots of the same product, the Russian Sputnik V vaccine relies on two doses delivered using different inactive viruses.
The Gamaleya Institute said last week 650,000 doses had been released for Russia's domestic vaccination programme so far.

Published 28 Dec, 2020 06:13pm

Europe

Coronavirus toll at 1100 GMT Monday

At least 80,686,630 cases of coronavirus have been registered. Of these, at least 50,834,100 are now considered recovered.

Published 28 Dec, 2020 06:02pm

South Asia

Security team for Philippines' Duterte gets unauthorised Covid-19 vaccine

More than 470,000 cases of coronavirus have been recorded in the Philippines and authorities fear a post-Christmas surge in infections.

Published 28 Dec, 2020 06:00pm

Middle East

75-year-old Israeli man dies of heart attack after receiving COVID-19 vaccine

A 75-year-old man from Northern Israel died from a heart attack, two hours after being vaccinated against the novel coronavirus, according to the country's Health Ministry.
Levy mentioned that "We share in the grief of the family", but reiterated in a press conference that initial findings have revealed that there is no tangible link between the man's death and his vaccination.

Updated 28 Dec, 2020 06:45pm

Europe

Small delay in Pfizer vaccine deliveries to 8 EU nations: Spain

Spain is scheduled to received 350,000 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine per week over the next three months.

Published 28 Dec, 2020 05:58pm

Africa

More work needed to identify risk from Nigeria strain, says researcher

Nigeria has recorded more than 82,000 cases of Covid-19, of which 1,246 were fatal.

Published 28 Dec, 2020 05:56pm

South Asia

Sri Lanka welcomes first tourists despite new coronavirus strain

The visitors, who had to produce coronavirus-free certificates before departure, were tested again on arrival at airport.

Published 28 Dec, 2020 05:54pm

Europe

Sweden proposes pandemic law for broader shutdown powers

The government said it wanted to have the law in place by January 10, but it will first need to be approved by parliament.

Published 28 Dec, 2020 05:52pm

South Asia

Indonesia bans foreign visitors for 2 weeks over new coronavirus variant

The new regulation, effective Jan. 1, comes days after Indonesia banned travelers from the Britain and tightened rules for those arriving from Europe and Australia to limit the spread of the new variant.
It announced 5,854 new infections and 215 deaths on Monday, with the positivity rate above 20% in recent days.

Published 28 Dec, 2020 05:31pm

Middle East

Saudi-led coalition discuss 'cooperation' with Qatar, ahead of GCC summit

On Sunday, foreign ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries held a virtual meeting discussing "cooperation" ahead of a landmark regional summit next month, amid efforts to end the rift between Qatar and a Saudi-led alliance.
Foreign ministers from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Oman and Kuwait took part in the meeting, while Qatar was represented by its Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.

Updated 28 Dec, 2020 05:58pm

Europe

EU says Pfizer to complete supply of first 200 million COVID shots to Europe by Sept

“Distribution of the full 200 million doses is scheduled to be completed by September 2021,” says EU spokesman.
Talks were underway to agree the delivery of a further 100 million additional doses which are optional under the contract sealed with the two companies.

Published 28 Dec, 2020 04:54pm

Most UK businesses have prepared for end of Brexit transition

"I think business is broadly in a good place but inevitably with any change, with any transition, there are occasional bumpy moments."

Published 28 Dec, 2020 03:30pm

Pfizer delays vaccine deliveries to 8 EU nations: Spain

Spain is scheduled to received 350,000 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine per week over the next three months.

Published 28 Dec, 2020 02:59pm

Saudi Arabia extends entry ban for another week

The Ministry of Interior said the decision was taken as a precautionary measure against the spread of the new variant of the coronavirus.
France, South Africa, Canada, Italy, Joran, Japan are among the several countries where the new variant has already reached.

Published 28 Dec, 2020 02:11pm

USA

Trump backs plan to contest election result in Congress, amid false claims of fraud

With a joint session of the House and Senate politicians set for the 6th of January, for the counting of electoral votes, President Trump engaged in another Twitter tirade to make unfounded claims about electoral fraud.
Several Republican congressmen have already mentioned that they will be objecting to the electoral votes, despite GOP leader Mitch McConnell requesting his party members not to.

Updated 28 Dec, 2020 03:03pm

China

China foreign ministry says firmly rejects new U.S. law on Tibet policy

The Chinese foreign ministry on Monday said it firmly rejected new U.S. legislation on Tibet signed into law by President Donald Trump over the weekend.

Published 28 Dec, 2020 01:21pm

China ramps up virus controls to head off winter wave

Workers in full PPE are spraying boats and airport arrival areas as part of a swift mobilisation to contain potential winter outbreaks.

Published 28 Dec, 2020 01:05pm

Israel, UAE working together to eliminate UN aid agency for Palestine refugees: Report

The move will allow Abu Dhabi to promote Israel's long-standing demand that UNRWA is obstructing peace
US President Donald Trump cut off US funding to UNRWA in 2018 which severely impacted the agency’s ability to provide aid and health services to Palestinian refugees in the Gaza Strip

Published 28 Dec, 2020 12:46pm

17 people missing after Russian fishing boat sinks in Barents Sea

Officials believe that ice built up on the vessel in the winter waters, leading to the sinking.

Published 28 Dec, 2020 12:12pm

Europe

Germany's confirmed coronavirus cases rise by 10,976

The reported death toll rose by 348 to 30,126, the tally showed.

Published 28 Dec, 2020 11:55am

Europe

Earthquake of magnitude 5.2 strikes central Croatia

The quake that rocked the area at 0528 GMT was also felt in the capital.

Published 28 Dec, 2020 11:35am

South Asia

Indian army officer accused of planting weapons on Kashmiri civilians charged with murder

On Sunday, Indian police accused an army officer and two associates of planting weapons on the bodies of labourers killed in Kashmir.
This controversial gunfight sparked rare investigations by the Indian Army, which has more than half-a-million troops in Kashmir, and the police; after the supposed firefight violated the rules of engagement.

Updated 28 Dec, 2020 12:01pm

US surpasses 19mn Covid-19 cases: Johns Hopkins

More than a million Americans have received the first dose of their Covid-19 vaccines, a milestone in the biggest immunization drive in US history, but officials admitted the pace of rollout was slipping behind schedule.

Published 28 Dec, 2020 11:09am

Trump will be gone, but trauma of 2020 may haunt Biden

Biden's own party may also not prove an easy partner, with the Democrats' left wing in no mood to toe the line.

Published 28 Dec, 2020 10:50am

FBI visits real estate office where Nashville blast suspect worked -local media

"I was thrown forward, knocked to the ground," officer Brenna Hosey told reporters about the moment of the explosion. "But I was able to catch myself, I was fine."

Published 28 Dec, 2020 10:35am

Magnitude 6.8 earthquake strikes off coast of Chile, no tsunami risk

There were no initial reports of damage immediately following the quake.

Published 28 Dec, 2020 10:32am

Worldwide coronavirus cases cross 80.39 million, death toll at 1,759,915

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

Published 28 Dec, 2020 10:30am

Nashville blast suspect died in explosion, police say

The company said in a statement on Sunday that it made "significant progress" overnight and had restored power to four floors of the building.

Published 28 Dec, 2020 10:20am

Europe rolls out 'new weapon' vaccines in bid to slay COVID

But even then, Hungary on Saturday jumped the gun on the official roll-out by administering shots to frontline workers at hospitals in the capital Budapest.

Published 28 Dec, 2020 10:12am

Saudi Arabia extends entry ban on coronavirus variant fears

The ministry said it is evaluating the current situation while allowing non-citizens to leave the kingdom and allowing entry for exceptional cases.

Published 28 Dec, 2020 10:10am

UK's Raab says pursuing trade deals with Australia, US, Indo-Pacific region

"We are pursuing trade deals from Australia to the US and around the world - particularly in the Indo-Pacific region, a huge growth market for the future," Raab wrote in the newspaper.

Published 28 Dec, 2020 10:07am

Brazil vice president tests positive for coronavirus; 344 new deaths recorded

In a statement, Mourão's office said he tested positive on Sunday afternoon, and that he will isolate in Jaburu, his official residence.

Published 28 Dec, 2020 10:05am

South Korea reports first variant of coronavirus found in the UK

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said on Monday.

Published 28 Dec, 2020 10:03am

Sydney told to watch its famous New Year's Eve fireworks from home

NSW Police have issued 15 notices for breaking public health orders since Christmas Eve in Sydney, including to 11 people at a house party at North Bondi on Saturday.

Published 28 Dec, 2020 09:45am

Mexico records 6,217 new coronavirus cases, 400 more deaths

Mexican officials carried out the second day of COVID-19 inoculations on Sunday with vaccines from Pfizer.

Published 28 Dec, 2020 09:44am

USA

Mexico elderly could get coronavirus vaccines in January

Mexico has received two shipments of vaccine from Pfizer, and Lopez Obrador said the drugmaker would provide enough vaccines for about 700,000 to 750,000 people by March.

Published 28 Dec, 2020 09:28am

Vietnam PM eyes raising of 2021 GDP growth target to 6.5%

With strict quarantine and tracking measures, Vietnam has quickly contained its coronavirus outbreaks, recording just 1,441 infections and 35 deaths.

Published 28 Dec, 2020 09:16am

Trump, under pressure, signs $900bn Covid relief bill

"Many millions of people are losing their extended unemployment benefits," he said on ABC.

Published 28 Dec, 2020 08:58am

Africa

Central Africa votes in polls marred by violence

UN peacekeepers and local and Rwandan soldiers were patrolling the streets of the capital on Sunday with armoured vehicles posted outside polling stations.

Published 28 Dec, 2020 08:49am

Thousands without power as storm Bella lashes France

RENNES, (France): Thousands were left without electricity and planes were delayed or forced to re-route Sunday as...