News Archives for World - 2021-01-05

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World - 2021-01-05

Europe

UK COVID-19 daily reported cases pass 60,000 for the first time

On Tuesday it was also announced a further 830 people had died within 28 days of a positive test, up from 407 on Monday.

Published 05 Jan, 2021 09:57pm

Europe

No hope of finding landslide survivors: Norway rescue workers

The landslide hit in the early hours of December 30, sweeping away nine buildings.

Published 05 Jan, 2021 09:47pm

Europe

Pompeo calls EU-China investment deal 'weak'

The European Union and China on December 30 approved the deal in principle after seven years of negotiations.

Published 05 Jan, 2021 09:46pm

Europe

Denmark urges public to stay home as Covid strain spreads

A vaccination programme began on December 27 and so far 51,512 people have received a first injection.

Published 05 Jan, 2021 09:44pm

South Asia

Kabul talks team in Doha as govt accuses Taliban of stalling

Afghan government negotiators will push for a permanent ceasefire and to protect existing governance arrangements.

Published 05 Jan, 2021 09:42pm

Middle East

World Bank tips fragile recovery for MENA in 2021

Saudi Arabia will benefit from the resumption of public projects and the recovery of demand after a sharp rise in VAT, tipping a 2.0 percent expansion.

Published 05 Jan, 2021 09:40pm

Africa

World Bank sees 2.7pc growth for sub-Saharan Africa

Regional output dropped by 3.7 percent in 2020 as a result of the coronavirus pandemic and strict lockdowns enacted to stem its spread.

Published 05 Jan, 2021 09:39pm

USA

Pompeo hints at returning 'evil' Cuba to terror list

Cuban Foreign Minister denounced Pompeo for his "vicious political attacks," saying they are "focused on punishing and causing hardships to the people."

Published 05 Jan, 2021 09:38pm

USA

US manufacturers power through December Covid surge

New orders rose 2.8 points to 67.9 percent last month, while production jumped four points to 64.8 percent.

Published 05 Jan, 2021 09:35pm

Europe

No Scottish golf trip for Trump, says leader Sturgeon

Sturgeon told reporters she had "no idea" of his travel plans, joking that she hoped they would be "to exit the White House".

Published 05 Jan, 2021 09:34pm

Europe

Armenian president stuck in London with coronavirus

The 67-year-old president "had symptoms of the novel coronavirus. A test gave a positive result," the presidency said.

Published 05 Jan, 2021 09:31pm

World Bank warns global recovery could erode if virus worsens

The report warns the outlook remains "highly uncertain," and GDP growth could be as low as 1.6 percent this year if the downside risks materialize.

Published 05 Jan, 2021 09:29pm

USA

World Bank sees global output up 4pc in 2021, flags downside risks

The World Bank's semi-annual forecast showed the collapse in activity due to the coronavirus pandemic was slightly less severe than previously forecast.
The near-term outlook remains highly uncertain," the Bank said in a statement.

Published 05 Jan, 2021 09:18pm

Europe

EU seeks up to 100mn more doses of Pfizer vaccine in new deal

The EU is seeking to buy 50 or 100 million additional doses from the companies.
The EU agreed to pay 15.5 euros per dose in that contract, according to an EU document seen by Reuters.

Published 05 Jan, 2021 09:15pm

World Bank working with countries to resolve vaccine indemnification hurdles

He said Bank officials were working with countries to address one of the key obstacles - rules that leave vaccine makers open for lawsuits or judgments - through legislation or other processes.
Malpass also appealed to advanced economies to release reservations of vaccines beyond their ability to distribute them.

Published 05 Jan, 2021 09:10pm

Europe

Italy to invest in biotech ReiThera to support COVID-19 vaccine development

ReiThera is developing the vaccine with Germany's Leukocare and Belgium's Univercells.
Some 92.5% of volunteers had detectable levels of neutralizing antibodies.

Published 05 Jan, 2021 09:07pm

Europe

Denmark imposes new restrictions over fears of coronavirus variant

Denmark imposed a hard lockdown in December, including closing bars, restaurants and other non-essential shops.
The mutation is already so widespread that it cannot be stopped.

Published 05 Jan, 2021 08:49pm

USA

US manufacturing sector activity rises to nearly 2-1/2-year high: ISM

The Institute for Supply Management (ISM) said on Tuesday its index of national factory activity rebounded to a reading of 60.7 last month.
A reading above 50 indicates expansion in manufacturing, which accounts for 11.9% of the US economy.

Published 05 Jan, 2021 08:45pm

USA

Brazil sees no limit on buying vaccines from India, eyes mid-Jan delivery

In a joint statement, the Brazilian Foreign Ministry and Health Ministry said talks between Brazil's Fiocruz biomedical center.
Serum Institute of India to ship finished doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine are well advanced.

Published 05 Jan, 2021 08:40pm

USA

US hits Iran with fresh sanctions in final weeks of Trump presidency

Continuing to increase pressure on Tehran in the final weeks of Donald Trump's presidency.
Washington blacklisted more than a dozen entities and one person.

Published 05 Jan, 2021 08:32pm

Europe

Coronavirus toll at 1100 GMT Tuesday

At least 85,630,080 cases have been registered. Of these, at least 53,615,900 are now considered recovered.

Published 05 Jan, 2021 08:12pm

South Asia

S. Korean destroyer arrives in waters near Iran after oil tanker seizure

Seoul said the 300-strong Cheonghae unit had been in the region since late last year and would not engage in an offensive operation.

Published 05 Jan, 2021 07:58pm

Europe

BioNTech warns against delaying second vaccine dose

BioNTech said its clinical data showing 95 percent efficacy was based on a two-dose schedule separated by 21 days.

Published 05 Jan, 2021 07:54pm

Middle East

Covid-19 hit Lebanese in desperate hunt for hospital beds

With 192,000 reported cases and almost 1,500 deaths, Lebanon is not among the world's worst hit countries.

Published 05 Jan, 2021 07:51pm

Europe

EU vows to 'redouble efforts' to save Iran nuclear deal

"We will redouble our efforts to preserve the agreement and return to its full implementation by all parties," Stano said.

Published 05 Jan, 2021 07:50pm

Europe

UK PM postpones India trip due to Covid crisis

Johnson still hopes to visit India in the first half of 2021, before Modi is due to attend a G7 summit in Britain later this year.

Published 05 Jan, 2021 07:46pm

Europe

Virus-hit Italy gripped by political crisis

The coalition collapsed a year later, but he stayed on at the head of a left-leaning government cobbled together between the M5S, PD and smaller allies.

Published 05 Jan, 2021 07:45pm

Africa

UN opens new Ethiopian refugee camp in Sudan

Refugees are continuing to flee the unrest in Ethiopia's northern Tigray region, with 800 having crossed the border with eastern Sudan since the New Year.

Published 05 Jan, 2021 07:42pm

South Asia

China jails 17 for smuggling pangolin scales worth $28 million

The scales were brought in on, among other things, a consignment "hidden in ginger slices", the court said.

Published 05 Jan, 2021 07:39pm

Europe

Britons ordered to stay at home as third national lockdown begins

Highly contagious new COVID variant spreading fast.
Hospitals under strain, risk being overwhelmed.
All schools, non-essential shops, hospitality closed.
Measures to last at least seven weeks, likely longer.
Italy, Germany keep restrictions in place as infections soar.

Published 05 Jan, 2021 07:38pm

Middle East

Iran confirms first case of new Covid-19 variant

Total infections also grew by 6,113 on Tuesday, remaining relatively stable at that level for the past three weeks, from a high of 14,051 on November 27.

Published 05 Jan, 2021 07:38pm

Middle East

Gulf states sign 'solidarity and stability' deal: Saudi crown prince

Leaders of the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council signed two documents, the Al-Ula declaration, named after the Saudi city where the summit was held, and a final communique.

Published 05 Jan, 2021 07:36pm

Europe

Britain shuts schools as Germany braces for extended lockdown

Covid-19 was first detected in the central city of Wuhan in late 2019, before seeping beyond China's borders to wreak global havoc.

Published 05 Jan, 2021 07:34pm

Africa

Opposition lashes results after C.Africa's Touadera is re-elected

Two-thirds of the country is controlled by armed groups, and many voters in these areas were unable to cast their ballots.

Published 05 Jan, 2021 07:32pm

Europe

UK PM Johnson cancels India visit, citing need to oversee virus response

The prime minister spoke to (Indian) Prime Minister Modi this morning, to express his regret that he will be unable to visit India later this month as planned.
In light of the national lockdown announced last night, and the speed at which the new coronavirus variant is spreading.

Published 05 Jan, 2021 07:30pm

Europe

Covid-19 breaches erode trust in Swedish leaders: poll

Only 31 percent had either a "very high" or "fairly high" level of trust, down seven percentage points.

Published 05 Jan, 2021 07:29pm

USA

Georgia voting in polls that could shape Biden presidency

For nearly 20 years Georgia has voted reliably Republican in the presidential election and Senate contests.

Published 05 Jan, 2021 07:28pm

Africa

ADF militia kills 21 civilians in eastern DR Congo

It is the second mass killing in a week in the Democratic Republic of Congo's troubled east.

Published 05 Jan, 2021 07:26pm

Europe

Spanish jobless rate soars towards 4 million as pandemic weighs

Tuesday's labour ministry reading of 3.89 million marked a 22% rise year on year, and excluded some 755,000 workers on a state-supported furlough scheme.
Joaquin Perez Rey, the secretary of state for employment, described the data as bad but also "full of anomalies".

Published 05 Jan, 2021 07:14pm

South Asia

Ex-chairman of China Huarong Asset Management sentenced to death

Lai Xiaomin was convicted of receiving or seeking bribes totalling 1.788 billion yuan ($276.72 million) from 2008 to 2018.
The severe treatment of Lai Xiaomin reflects the strong determination of the Central Committee with President Xi Jinping as the core to administer the party and its zero tolerance in punishing corruption.

Published 05 Jan, 2021 07:08pm

South Asia

Japan should impose Tokyo COVID-19 state of emergency quickly

Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato said earlier in the day the government was working toward deciding on Thursday.

Published 05 Jan, 2021 06:53pm

USA

Brazil to requisition syringes for COVID-19 vaccination plan

This requisitioning aims to meet the most pressing needs to start the national vaccination plan.
The Health Ministry sought to buy 331 million syringes at last week's electronic auction but purchased just 8 million.

Published 05 Jan, 2021 06:48pm

Middle East

Eyeing Gulf detente, Saudi Arabia opens summit with call to counter Iran threat

Saudi crown prince opens Gulf summit.
Leaders aim to end dispute with Qatar.
Washington seeks united Gulf front to contain Iran.

Published 05 Jan, 2021 06:42pm

Middle East

Israel tourism sinks 82pc during 2020 pandemic after record year in 2019

Data published by the Central Bureau of Statistics on Tuesday showed just 888,200 visitors to Israel last year.
Israel's economy is estimated to have contracted 3.7% in 2020.

Published 05 Jan, 2021 06:40pm

Europe

Sweden registers 32,369 new COVID-19 cases, 258 deaths since Wednesday

Sweden registered 258 new deaths, taking the total to 8,985. The deaths registered have typically occurred over several days and sometimes weeks.
Sweden's death rate per capita is several times higher than that of its Nordic neighbours'

Published 05 Jan, 2021 06:34pm

South Asia

COVID-19 fight in China's Hebei enters 'wartime mode'

Hebei sees first local COVID-19 cases since June.
Province vows to form defensive 'moat' around Beijing.

Published 05 Jan, 2021 06:31pm

Middle East

Oman registers first case of new virus variant in traveller from UK

The resident developed respiratory symptoms in quarantine, despite testing negative before travelling.
Oman reopened its land, air and sea borders on Dec. 29, after a one-week shutdown over the new variant.

Published 05 Jan, 2021 06:26pm

South Asia

Taiwan says Chinese jets made record 380 incursions in 2020

Chinese jets also crossed over the so-called "median line" of the Taiwan Strait during two high-level visits by US officials.

Published 05 Jan, 2021 05:45pm

South Asia

Pandemic overshadows Japan's New Year tuna auction

The most expensive fish of the day known for its quality tuna -- was bought by another bidder for 20.84 million yen ($202,000).

Published 05 Jan, 2021 05:43pm

Middle East

Gulf leaders, Kushner, converge on Saudi Arabia for crisis talks

Jared Kushner will attend the signing on Tuesday of the "breakthrough" agreement, a US official said.

Published 05 Jan, 2021 05:41pm

South Asia

WHO experts to wade into tricky territory in hunt for virus' origins

Covid-19 was first detected in the central city of Wuhan in late 2019, before seeping beyond China's borders to wreak havoc.

Published 05 Jan, 2021 05:39pm

Europe

Istanbul police detain 17 after student protests

The police accuse the 28 suspects of violating a law on demonstrations and marches, and "resisting an officer on duty".

Published 05 Jan, 2021 05:35pm

USA

US pharmacist who destroyed vaccines was 'conspiracy theorist': police

The people were notified and there is no evidence that the inert vaccines harmed them, according to the hospital's operator.

Published 05 Jan, 2021 05:34pm

Middle East

EU worried about Iran enrichment, aims to save nuclear accord

The European Commission said on Tuesday it regretted that Iran has resumed 20% uranium enrichment at an underground nuclear facility, breaching a 2015 nuclear pact, but believed that the accord was worth saving.

Published 05 Jan, 2021 05:32pm

Europe

England's lockdown could last into March says minister

A total of 58,784 people tested positive in the UK on Monday, with cases in the last seven days up 50 percent on the previous week.

Published 05 Jan, 2021 05:32pm

Middle East

Israel authorises use of Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine

Ministry of Health of Israel has secured 6 million doses and first deliveries (are) expected to begin in January.
Israeli Health Minister Yuli Edelstein said he had no knowledge of shipments arriving this month.

Published 05 Jan, 2021 05:31pm

Europe

Italy extends virus curbs, delays high school start

Italy has been one of the countries worst hit by the Covid-19 pandemic, with more than 75,000 deaths so far.

Published 05 Jan, 2021 05:29pm

South Asia

Singapore admits police can access contact-tracing data

Foreign Minister said later that, to his knowledge, police had so far only accessed contact-tracing data on one occasion, during a murder probe.

Published 05 Jan, 2021 05:25pm

Europe

German unemployment stable in December

Unemployment fell by 37,000 people, seasonally adjusted, to 2.7 million, although the figure is still nearly half a million higher than in December 2019.

Published 05 Jan, 2021 05:23pm

South Asia

Iran finds first case of new virus variant in traveller from UK

Unfortunately, we found the first case of the mutated British COVID-19 from a dear compatriot who had returned from England.

Published 05 Jan, 2021 05:22pm

Middle East

Saudi crown prince greets Qatar emir for reconciliation summit

Those countries will meet in the Saudi city of Al-Ula, after Riyadh overnight re-opened its borders to Doha despite lingering enmity between the neighbours.

Published 05 Jan, 2021 05:20pm

Middle East

Saudi and Qatari leaders hug before summit focused on Gulf détente

Gulf Arab leaders arrive for summit in Saudi Arabia.
Leaders aim to end dispute with Qatar.
Washington seeks united Gulf front to contain Iran.

Published 05 Jan, 2021 05:20pm

Middle East

UN envoy plans trip to Yemen and Saudi Arabia after Aden attack

Attacks on the southern port city of Aden on Dec. 30 killed at least 22 people as officials in a government backed by Riyadh arrived there.

Published 05 Jan, 2021 05:18pm

Europe

Germany to prolong shutdown as vaccine row intensifies

The country began a vaccination drive on December 26, and more than 264,000 people have received the first of two jabs.

Published 05 Jan, 2021 05:18pm

South Asia

Vietnam jails three critics ahead of major party congress

In recent months, the authoritarian regime has stepped up its crackdown on dissent and has arrested numerous critics.

Published 05 Jan, 2021 05:16pm

Europe

Turkey eyes 25mn foreign visitors in 2021, tourism officials say

Tourism industry sources say it will take at least two years for the number of arrivals to reach the levels before the pandemic.
The number of foreign visitors to Turkey in 2019 was 45.06 million; tourism revenues stood at $34.5 billion.

Published 05 Jan, 2021 05:15pm

Europe

France vows faster vaccine rollout after criticism

The French government has been playing catch-up with its neighbours since the start of an EU-wide vaccination drive on December 27.

Published 05 Jan, 2021 05:14pm

Europe

Germany set to extend lockdown until end of January

Like many other European countries, Germany is struggling to contain a second wave of the virus.
Merkel and state premiers are largely agreed on keeping shops and restaurants shut until the end of January.

Published 05 Jan, 2021 05:13pm

USA

Georgia votes in polls that could shape Biden presidency

For nearly 20 years Georgia has voted reliably Republican in the presidential election and Senate contests.

Published 05 Jan, 2021 05:12pm

Africa

Rwanda restricts movement as coronavirus cases surge

Rwanda police say up to 57,000 people were arrested for violating measures the week before and after Christmas.

Published 05 Jan, 2021 05:10pm

South Asia

Chinese lawyers involved with HK activists say they face losing licences

The case of the 12, who had all been involved in pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong before they tried to leave for democratic Taiwan.
The two mainland-based lawyers said they had received letters on Monday from authorities about the loss of their licences and they had three days to appeal

Published 05 Jan, 2021 05:08pm

South Asia

India to cull tens of thousands of birds over avian flu outbreak

India has witnessed bouts of devastating bird flu outbreaks in recent decades, most seriously in 2008, when millions of poultry were culled.

Published 05 Jan, 2021 05:08pm

USA

With US Senate at stake and Trump raging, Georgia votes in runoff elections

Incumbent Republican Senators David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler are trying to hold off Democratic challengers Jon Ossoff.
"There is no way we lost Georgia," Trump said, ticking off a long list of unfounded conspiracy theories about election fraud.

Published 05 Jan, 2021 05:06pm

Middle East

Iran steps up nuclear programme, holds South Korean tanker

On Monday, the Guards launched a dramatic action on the high seas, near the strategic Straits of Hormuz, a chokepoint through which a fifth of world oil output passes.

Published 05 Jan, 2021 05:06pm

South Asia

Iran denies seized Korean ship and crew are being held as hostages

Iran seized ship on Monday on environmental grounds.
Seoul seeks release of ship, 20 crew members.
Iran's control of strait gives it leverage in talks.
Iran wants Biden to lift sanctions.

Published 05 Jan, 2021 05:01pm

Europe

Turkey targets tax and price rises to lessen inflationary impact

Inflation ended 2020 above government forecasts at 14.6%, mainly due to a sharp decline in the lira and surging food prices.
Bankers said the government, in a departure from previous years, is hiking taxes and prices on items that account for only a small portion of the inflation basket.

Published 05 Jan, 2021 04:59pm

Africa

Detained Egypt Al Jazeera contributor denied medication: CPJ

Abdelmonem was arrested in his Cairo home on December 19.

Published 05 Jan, 2021 04:59pm

Europe

Spain jobless grew by 23pc in 2020

In December alone, an extra 36,825 people registered as unemployed.

Published 05 Jan, 2021 04:57pm

Middle East

Iran says South Korea holding its $7bn funds 'hostage'

The incident was the first seizure of a major vessel by the Iranian navy in more than a year.

Published 05 Jan, 2021 04:55pm

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
Karachi Cotton PKR/37.32 KG / Sep 20	18,935
Gold 10 Grams PKR / Sep 20	233,196
Gold Spot USD/Ounce / Sep 20	2,621.88
Cotton US¢/pound / Sep 20	73.52
Petrol/Litre / Sep 21	249.10

Gainers
Losers
Leaders

Stock	Price
786 Invest Ltd / Sep 21 786 Investments Limited(786)	5 ▼ 0.00 (0.00%)
AL-Abbas Sugar / Sep 21 Al-Abbas Sugar Mills Limited(AABS)	585 ▼ 0.00 (0.00%)
Agro Allianz / Sep 21 Agro Allianz Limited(AAL)	16 ▼ 0.00 (0.00%)
AL-Abid Silk / Sep 21 Al-Abid Silk Mills Limited(AASM)	3.49 ▼ 0.00 (0.00%)
Ali Asghar / Sep 21 Ali Asghar Textile Mills Limited(AATM)	2.07 ▼ 0.00 (0.00%)
Allied Bank / Sep 21 Allied Bank Limited(ABL)	87.10 ▼ 0.00 (0.00%)
Abbott Lab. / Sep 21 Abbott Laboratories (Pakistan) Limited(ABOT)	499.34 ▼ 0.00 (0.00%)
Abson Ind. / Sep 21 Abson Industries Limited(ABSON)	2.50 ▼ 0.00 (0.00%)
Alfalah ETF. / Sep 21 Alfalah Consumer Index ETF.(ACIETF)	9.84 ▼ 0.00 (0.00%)

Stock	Price
786 Invest Ltd / Sep 21 786 Investments Limited(786)	5 ▲ 0.00 (0.00%)
AL-Abbas Sugar / Sep 21 Al-Abbas Sugar Mills Limited(AABS)	585 ▲ 0.00 (0.00%)
Agro Allianz / Sep 21 Agro Allianz Limited(AAL)	16 ▲ 0.00 (0.00%)
AL-Abid Silk / Sep 21 Al-Abid Silk Mills Limited(AASM)	3.49 ▲ 0.00 (0.00%)
Ali Asghar / Sep 21 Ali Asghar Textile Mills Limited(AATM)	2.07 ▲ 0.00 (0.00%)
Allied Bank / Sep 21 Allied Bank Limited(ABL)	87.10 ▲ 0.00 (0.00%)
Abbott Lab. / Sep 21 Abbott Laboratories (Pakistan) Limited(ABOT)	499.34 ▲ 0.00 (0.00%)
Abson Ind. / Sep 21 Abson Industries Limited(ABSON)	2.50 ▲ 0.00 (0.00%)
Alfalah ETF. / Sep 21 Alfalah Consumer Index ETF.(ACIETF)	9.84 ▲ 0.00 (0.00%)

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

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