News Archives for World - 2020-12-29

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World - 2020-12-29

USA

Brazil jobless rate dips from pandemic-related record

That is 1.7 million more than a year ago, when the jobless rate for the same three month period was 11.6 percent.

Published 29 Dec, 2020 07:58pm

USA

Argentina launches Covid-19 vaccinations with Russia's Sputnik V

Argentina is now the fourth country in Latin American to launch a vaccination campaign, after Mexico, Costa Rica and Chile.

Published 29 Dec, 2020 07:54pm

Europe

UK and Turkey sign £18 bn post-Brexit trade deal

The British government called the deal with Turkey a "major win for UK automotive, manufacturing and steel industries".

Published 29 Dec, 2020 07:53pm

Middle East

Iran launches trial of own Covid-19 vaccine: state TV

The novel coronavirus has killed nearly 55,000 out of more than 1.2 million people infected in Iran.

Published 29 Dec, 2020 07:51pm

Middle East

FBI found Beirut port blast caused by 500 tonnes of fertiliser: PM

Lead investigative judge Fadi Sawan this month charged Diab and three former ministers over the explosion in the first set of indictments against politicians.

Published 29 Dec, 2020 07:49pm

USA

US Senate wrangles over $2,000 stimulus checks, defense veto as deadline looms

Democrats, with help from Trump's Twitter feed, are pushing for a vote on the additional money.
The bill faces a tough path in the Republican-led Senate, with many Republicans pointing to hundreds of billions of dollars in added costs of COVID-19 relief.

Published 29 Dec, 2020 07:34pm

Africa

South Africa imposes new virus curbs as WHO warns of worse pandemics

Ramaphosa said data showed "excessive alcohol consumption" leads to an increase in trauma cases reported at hospitals.

Published 29 Dec, 2020 06:38pm

Europe

UK needs tighter COVID rules to avert new "catastrophe", epidemiologist warns

Britain’s government needs to bring in tighter coronavirus lockdown rules to avert a fresh wave of deaths from a new strain of the disease, a leading epidemiologist and government advisor warned on Tuesday.
More than 71,000 people in Britain have died within 28 days of a positive test for the disease.

Published 29 Dec, 2020 06:37pm

South Asia

Bangladesh moves biggest group of Rohingya to isolated island

More than 700,000 Rohingya joined 300,000 already in camps in 2017 after a deadly purge on their villages in Myanmar.

Published 29 Dec, 2020 06:35pm

Europe

More England Covid patients in hospital than at April peak

More than 24 million people -- 43 percent of England -- are already living under the tightest level of regional restrictions.

Published 29 Dec, 2020 06:33pm

Europe

Belarus starts coronavirus vaccination with Sputnik V

Belarus Health Minister said health workers and teachers would be among the first Belarusians to be inoculated.

Published 29 Dec, 2020 06:32pm

USA

US begins coronavirus vaccinations for troops in South Korea

The vaccination is voluntary but the USFK chief "strongly" encouraged American service members to receive it.

Published 29 Dec, 2020 06:21pm

Europe

UK virus strain has been in Germany since November

The variant was found in an elderly patient with underlying health conditions who has since died. His wife was also infected but survived.

Published 29 Dec, 2020 06:14pm

Europe

EU demands China release citizen journalist Zhang Zhan

Brussels also demanded the release of Yu Wensheng, a human rights lawyer jailed on December 13.

Published 29 Dec, 2020 06:12pm

Europe

Barnier plans French politics return after Brexit marathon

Barnier indicated he planned to back, as before his departure to Brussels, the right-wing The Republicans (LR) rather than Macron's The Republic on the Move (LREM).

Published 29 Dec, 2020 06:11pm

Europe

Moscow expands list of German officials banned from Russia

The foreign ministry in Moscow described EU allegations that Russia was involved in the hacking attacks as a "pretext".

Published 29 Dec, 2020 06:09pm

USA

Brazil's jobless rate falls to 14.3pc, first decline this year

The 14.3% unemployment rate was down from the record 14.6% in the three months to September.
The number of people in work was 84.3 million, up 2.8% from the May-July period but still down 10.4%.

Published 29 Dec, 2020 06:04pm

South Asia

Philippines bans arrivals from 20 countries over new virus strain

Dozens of countries closed their borders to the Britain in recent weeks over rising cases of a variant that is believed to spread faster.

Published 29 Dec, 2020 06:02pm

Europe

Germany's GNA Biosolutions offers new quick coronavirus test

GNA Biosolutions said its test is based on a new class of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technology.
The German health authority was checking the test results in a pilot study which should be completed in February.

Published 29 Dec, 2020 06:00pm

Europe

Russia, Turkey to develop military ties despite US sanctions

Pompeo at the time assured Turkish Foreign Minister that the American sanctions were intended to prevent Russia from receiving substantial revenues from the sale.

Published 29 Dec, 2020 06:00pm

Europe

Croatia rocked by powerful 6.4 earthquake

Images of the town, which is home to around 20,000, showed collapsed roofs and streets strewn with bricks and other debris.

Published 29 Dec, 2020 05:58pm

Europe

Coronavirus toll at 1100 GMT Tuesday

At least 81,517,140 cases of coronavirus have been registered. Of these, at least 51,201,600 are now considered recovered.

Published 29 Dec, 2020 05:56pm

Europe

Turkey, UK sign post-Brexit free trade deal

The trade ministers of the two countries signed the agreement in a televised videoconference call.
The trading relationship was worth 18.6 billion pounds ($25.25 billion) in 2019.

Published 29 Dec, 2020 05:50pm

Europe

Excess deaths in Russia from COVID-19 three times the official toll: Report

According to the Russian Deputy Prime Minister Tatiana Golikova, more than 80% of excess deaths this year are linked to the coronavirus pandemic, which is three times the official death toll.
Official figures state that 55,827 people have died from contracting the coronavirus in Russia, but the excess death estimates would raise that to 186,000 people.

Updated 29 Dec, 2020 05:49pm

USA

U.S. House approves $2,000 coronavirus aid checks sought by Trump

The Democratic-led U.S. House of Representatives voted 275-134 to meet President Donald Trump’s demand for $2,000 COVID-19 relief checks on Monday, sending the measure on to an uncertain future in the Republican-controlled Senate.
Trump last week threatened to block a massive pandemic aid and spending package if Congress did not boost stimulus payments from $600 to $2,000 and cut other spending.

Published 29 Dec, 2020 03:01pm

50 journalists killed in 2020: watchdog

The figure shows an increase in the targeting of reporters investigating organised crime, corruption or environmental issues, the watchdog said.

Published 29 Dec, 2020 12:11pm

India finds six cases of new coronavirus variant in UK arrivals

India on Tuesday reported 16,432 new cases of the virus, taking its total up to 10.22 million confirmed infections and 148,153 deaths.

Published 29 Dec, 2020 12:03pm

Renewed COVID lockdowns likely in Southern California as ICUs stay filled

California has lost 3,238 lives to COVID during the past 14 days, and averaged 230 deaths daily over the past week, pushing total coronavirus fatalities in the state above 24,000 to date.

Published 29 Dec, 2020 11:56am

Brazil to seek regulatory approval for AstraZeneca vaccine on Jan. 15

"Nobody pressures me for anything, I don't give a damn about it," he said in a video aired on CNN Brasil.

Published 29 Dec, 2020 10:32am

USA

Bolsonaro says COVID-19 vaccine will be available to Brazilians 5 days after approval

Bolsonaro, who was infected with COVID-19 in July.

Published 29 Dec, 2020 10:24am

Worldwide coronavirus cases cross 80.8 million, death toll at 1,766,359

Interactive graphic tracking global spread of coronavirus.

Published 29 Dec, 2020 10:20am

Mexico electricity outage leaves 10.3 million temporarily without power

The National Center of Energy Control (CENACE) said the network lost 7,500 megawatts because of "an imbalance between load and power generation."

Published 29 Dec, 2020 10:14am

China reports 27 new COVID cases vs 21 a day earlier

The number of new asymptomatic cases, which China does not classify as confirmed cases, fell to eight from 20 cases a day earlier.

Published 29 Dec, 2020 10:08am

A Biden-Xi reboot will be frosty but mostly honest

President Donald Trump's tenure was so irascible, Biden can calm troubled waters by simply declining to escalate.

Published 29 Dec, 2020 10:01am

USA

Mexican court rolls back sanction for firm owned by son of president's ally

The SFP-led investigation exonerated him of any wrongdoing.

Published 29 Dec, 2020 09:59am

Mexico reports 5,996 new coronavirus cases, 429 more deaths

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

Published 29 Dec, 2020 09:56am

USA

Venezuela's Maduro calls extension of parliament 'unconstitutional'

Guaido labels Maduro a corrupt dictator who has overseen the economic collapse of the once-prosperous OPEC nation.

Published 29 Dec, 2020 09:55am

FAA to reform new airplane safety approvals after 737 MAX crashes

"We're not going to pay people at the FAA to move planes faster," Cantwell said. "This is about getting safety right."

Published 29 Dec, 2020 09:51am

South Korea to get Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine for 20mn people: Yonhap

This comes a day after officials vowed to speed up efforts to launch a public coronavirus.

Published 29 Dec, 2020 09:48am

Sydney on alert after mystery cases but new infections remain low

Only residents with permits for hospitality venues will be allowed into the city on New Year's Eve and households across Sydney are only allowed to host 10 people. Outdoor gatherings are limited to 50 people.

Published 29 Dec, 2020 09:42am

Trump administration bolsters order barring US investment in Chinese firms

The November executive order sought to give teeth to a 1999 law that mandated that the Department of Defence compile a list of Chinese military companies.

Published 29 Dec, 2020 09:37am

South Korea sets $8.5bn package to fight new coronavirus wave

The ministry said the cash handouts will be offered starting from Jan. 11, and expects that the latest measures could help around a total 5.8 million people.

Published 29 Dec, 2020 09:31am

U.S. government appeals judge's order blocking TikTok restrictions

A separate U.S. appeals court is set to hear an appeal in February of an October ruling by U.S. District Judge Wendy Beetlestone in Pennsylvania.

Published 29 Dec, 2020 09:31am

Lockheed Martin misses F-35 jet delivery target due to COVID-19

The defense contractor delivered 123 aircraft in 2020, underperforming its target established in late 2019.

Published 29 Dec, 2020 09:29am

U.S. screens 1.28 million people at U.S. airports

The United States has reported more than 19 million COVID-19 cases and 333,180 coronavirus-related deaths.

Published 29 Dec, 2020 09:27am

Turkey, UK to sign free trade deal this week -Erdogan

The trading relationship was worth 18.6 billion pounds ($25.25 billion) in 2019.

Published 29 Dec, 2020 09:25am

Asia

Philippines gives green light to trials of Janssen's COVID-19 vaccine

The trials could begin in the next few weeks, FDA head Rolando Enrique Domingo told a media briefing.

Published 29 Dec, 2020 09:25am

Russia gives Kremlin critic Navalny an ultimatum: Return immediately or face jail

The Federal Prison Service (FSIN) on Monday accused Navalny of violating the terms of a suspended prison sentence he is still serving out over a conviction dating from 2014.

Published 29 Dec, 2020 09:22am

First US troops vaccinated in South Korea as country reports record coronavirus deaths

"We made progress in finding the silent spreaders and preventing the transmission," Chung told a meeting.

Published 29 Dec, 2020 09:21am

EU-China investment deal likely this week - officials

“The talks are about to be concluded. It’s looking good. There are only some minor details left which need to be hammered out,” an EU official with knowledge of the talks told Reuters.

Published 29 Dec, 2020 09:18am

Asia

Bangladesh moves second group of Rohingya refugees to remote island

Some 1,804 Rohingya were being moved in seven ships to Bhasan Char island, said Navy Commodore Abdullah Al Mamun Chowdhury.

Published 29 Dec, 2020 09:10am

USA

US police officer fired after killing unarmed Black man

Hill, who was not armed at the time of the shooting, was the second African-American killed by police in less than three weeks in Columbus.

Published 29 Dec, 2020 09:02am

Biden says Trump Pentagon stalling transition, posing risks

Miller released a statement Monday saying the Pentagon's coordination efforts with the transition team "already surpass those of recent administrations with over three weeks to go."

Published 29 Dec, 2020 08:57am

New York state passes tough new anti-eviction bill

The New York Times described the measures as "one of the most comprehensive anti-eviction laws in the nation."

Published 29 Dec, 2020 08:50am

Brexit deal puts UK fishermen in uncharted waters

On January 1, when Britain leaves the single market, the headache begins along with the heartache.

Published 29 Dec, 2020 08:40am

In final days, a weakened Trump faces first veto override

President-elect Joe Biden, asked by a reporter Monday if he favored raising the payouts to $2,000, replied, "Yes."

Published 29 Dec, 2020 08:35am

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

WEST PALM BEACH, (United States): After delaying for nearly a week and under pressure from all sides, US President...

Updated 29 Dec, 2020 03:51am

South Asia

Sri Lanka welcomes first tourists despite new coronavirus strain

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka welcomed its first foreign tourists in nine months Monday even as a new deadlier strain of the...

Updated 29 Dec, 2020 03:51am

17 fishermen feared dead after trawler sinks in Arctic Russia

MOSCOW: Seventeen fishermen were missing and feared dead on Monday after a Russian trawler capsized during a storm...

Updated 29 Dec, 2020 03:51am

Europe

Russia expels Bulgarian diplomat

MOSCOW: Russia on Monday said that it had expelled a Bulgarian diplomat in a tit-for-tat response after the EU and...

Updated 29 Dec, 2020 03:51am

Middle East

Iran warns Israel not to cross Gulf 'red lines'

TEHRAN: Iran warned Israel on Monday not to cross its "red lines" in the Gulf in the final days of Donald Trump's...

Updated 29 Dec, 2020 03:51am

Africa

US criticises arrest of Reuters cameraman in Ethiopia

NAIROBI: Ethiopian police arrested a Reuters cameraman last week and have held him in custody without charge, the...

Updated 29 Dec, 2020 03:51am

Sydney bans New Year crowds as Australian virus cluster grows

SYDNEY: Plans to let thousands of frontline workers ring in the new year around Sydney Harbour were ditched Monday ...

Updated 29 Dec, 2020 03:51am

Europe

Vaccine campaign grows alongside fears Covid spreading faster

BRUSSELS: Belgium on Monday joined a growing list of countries to launch Covid-19 vaccination campaigns, while a new...

Updated 29 Dec, 2020 03:51am

Europe

Croatia rattled by 5.2 magnitude quake

ZAGREB: A 5.2-magnitude earthquake rattled central Croatia and Zagreb early Monday morning, the...

Updated 29 Dec, 2020 03:51am

Africa

WHO chief speaks of 'personal pain' over Ethiopia conflict

The fighting in Tigray has left thousands dead, according to the International Crisis Group think tank, and sent tens of thousands of refugees streaming across the border into Sudan.

Updated 29 Dec, 2020 03:47am

Europe

Spain's COVID-19 death toll tops 50,000, infection rate drops

The death toll rose by 298 to 50,122, showed the first set of nationwide data released since Sunday's start of vaccination against the virus.

Published 29 Dec, 2020 01:20am

Africa

South Africa bans alcohol sales, tightens curfew in new COVID-19 restrictions

"We now have to flatten the curve to protect the capacity of our healthcare system to enable it to respond effectively to this new wave of infections," Ramaphosa said.

Published 29 Dec, 2020 01:17am

Europe

COVID-19 hospitalisations continue to rise in France

There were 2,960 new coronavirus infections over the past 24 hours on Monday, down from 8,822 on Sunday and from Saturday's 3,093.

Published 29 Dec, 2020 01:15am

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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