• The pandemic has killed and infected more people in the United States than anywhere in the world, and left millions out of work due to lockdowns.

• The trains-to-factory software maker said it would review its outlook for fiscal 2021 when it publishes its full earnings release on Feb. 3.

• In a tweet, Fernandez, 61, expressed his gratitude to the state-backed Moscow research centre that developed the vaccine.

• According to data, the government has allocated Rs. 74.49 billion for the power sector projects in the fiscal year 2020-21.

• The CEO of ABTACH Azneem Bilwani called on Sindh Governor Imran Ismail at Governor House here, said a spokesperson of the Governor’s House.

• He was presiding over the weekly meeting of the National Coordination Committee on Housing, Construction and Development (NCCHCD).

• He said the incumbent government would continue striving for establishing a society reflecting the model of Madina State.

• He said that amendments were made in the child protection act after the Nowshera incident to remove loopholes in the legislation.

• He was presiding over the weekly meetings of the priority sectors including Agriculture, Economic Outreach and Knowledge Economy.

• The potential customers can already access existing systems and procedures of banks for resolution of their complaints.

• He recalled that the Broadsheet issue was not surfaced during the tenure of PTI but it was started in the year 2000 and culminated during PTI’s tenure.

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister, Imran Khan has expressed his dissatisfaction over accused the Auditor General of...

• The group last year received a 9 billion euro bailout in which the German government took a 20% stake.

• Midfielder Martin Odegaard, meanwhile, is reported by Spanish media to be seeking a loan move due to scarce first-team opportunities under Zidane.

• At its policy meeting, the ECB kept its deposit rate unchanged at -0.5% and maintained the overall quota for bond purchases under the Pandemic Emergency Purchase Programme (PEPP) at 1.85 trillion euros, as expected.

• The volume is down from the February schedule, which had seven cargoes at a rate of 215,000 bpd.

• The All-share index gained 0.1% to end the day at 64,175 points, while the Top-40 index closed up 0.19% at 58,969 points.

• "Adults should be able to earn a living and pursue a vocation knowing that they will not be fired, demoted, or mistreated because of whom they go home to or because how they dress does not conform to sex-based stereotypes."

• "I haven't been able to meet my son," said Garbey, whose son was born in the United States five months ago. "It's tough."

• All the events consist of international conferences, forums, and concurrent side programs and will produce anniversary publications, and videos.

• He said that current trade volume between Pakistan and Mali was even less than one million dollars while the global imports of Mali were in excess of US $ 5 billion.

• The document also revealed the UNHCR’s key plans for ensuring betterment of the Afghan refugees during the current year through several initiatives relating to health, education and others.

• According to the data released by IRSA, water level in the Indus River at Tarbela Dam was 1470.73 feet, which was 78.73 feet higher than its dead level 1386 feet. Water inflow and outflow in the dam was recorded as 16,200 cusecs each.

• The minimum temperature is expected to remain from 10 to 12 degree centigrade.

• Power projects, rural road construction and highways, hospitals, universities, training institutes, water treatment and the like.

• The minister asserted the government was following the policy of accelerating the industrialisation process to create more job opportunities.

• COAS was given a comprehensive briefing on regional and national security situation during his visit.
• He appreciated the tireless efforts of ISI for national security and expressed his satisfaction over professional preparedness.

• He added that final report would be presented to the prime minister within forty five days.

• According to health authorities, as many as 53 more cases were reported as COVID-19 positive and three more patients lost their lives in Liaquat Medical University hospital Hyderabad.

• Atif Bokhari reiterated that the special Economic Zones (SEZs) are open to all for investment and encouraged Danish enterprises to benefit from the available incentives.

• The minister said the previous government of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) had left fragile economy by taking huge foreign loans.

• The unemployment rate has seen a similar trajectory, shooting up to 14.7 percent in April but declining in subsequent months to its current 6.7 percent.

• The highly contagious H5N8 virus was first detected in a bird in a pet shop on the Mediterranean island of Corsica in November before spreading to duck farms on the mainland in December.

• It has also been forging closer ties with the United States, and last month, Washington removed Khartoum from its blacklist of "state sponsors of terrorism".

• The quake was felt on the northern Indonesian island of Sangihe, but similarly there were no injuries or damage reported.

• The job losses announced in a statement by the airline.

• "The consensus view now (is) that... Biden's early focus will be more on growth than tax hikes," said Axi strategist Stephen Innes.

• According to preliminary information, 33 people were in the building at the time of the fire and 15 of them died.

• All three major indices ended at records Wednesday after Joe Biden was sworn in as president amid optimism over the new administration's plans to support the US economy and improve the Covid-19 vaccine rollout.

• Lagarde said the ECB's forecasts "remain valid" for now, as they took into account lockdowns persisting through the first quarter coupled with a gradual start to vaccinations.

• Portugal has this week been breaking daily records in virus death tolls, with an extra 221 fatalities in 24 hours announced Thursday by the national health authorities.

• The increase must be accompanied by "greater mobility" by the peacekeepers.

• Algeria does not release the results of its tenders and reports are based on trade estimates.

• A shortage of shipping containers since last month has sent freight rates soaring and has also hindered exporters from shipping beans.

• Wall Street's latest highs had been helped by tech shares again. Netflix had said it would no longer need to borrow billions of dollars to finance its TV shows and movies, prompting a near 17% surge in its shares.

• But with temperatures expected to get warmer post-winter, spot prices for cargoes delivered into North Asia in March have fallen to less than half the average price of cargoes to be delivered in February.

• Nearly 40 COVID-19 patients had been turned away from Jakarta hospitals since the end of December, the group's findings showed.

• Spot gold was little changed at $1,871.10 per ounce by 1002 GMT, after hitting its highest since Jan. 8 at $1,874.86 earlier in the day. Bullion had gained 1.7% on Wednesday.

• Palm oil prices are forecast to average at 2,800 ringgit ($694.96) a tonne this year, its highest since 2012, according to the poll.

• Global equity benchmarks hit record highs on Thursday, as investors bet major stimulus from new US President Joe Biden.

• The deals could not be independently verified as the companies do not typically comment on such commercial matters.

• Shibli Faraz said that the inquiry committee on the Broadsheet scandal will complete its inquiry in 45 days.
• Fawad Chaudhry in a tweet stated that Imran Khan has nominated Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed retired as head of inquiry committee on Broadsheet scandal.

• A team of archaeologists uncovered the oldest mosque in the world, in the region of Tiberias in Northern Israel.
• The Al-Juma Mosque (or Friday Mosque) is in the South of Tiberias, at the foot of Mount Berenice.

• Startup investments in Pakistan increased by 97 percent in 2020 as compared to 2019, according to data from MAGNiTT's 'State of Startup Funding - 2021 Emerging Venture Markets' Report.
• The number of startup deals in Pakistan also went up by 45% this year as opposed to the general downward trend in the MENA region.

• "Today, a positive reception of the ECB's decision by the euro may indirectly support the zloty and the currencies of the region," Konrad Bialas, chief economist at DM TMS Brokers said in a note.

• The bank is likely to leave key rates on hold at its monthly meeting next Tuesday based on the unanimous forecast of analysts.

• The administration is also committed to ending new oil and gas leasing on federal lands.

• Democrats like Jason Furman, who chaired former President Barack Obama's Council of Economic Advisers.

• Joseph Edwards of cryptocurrency broker Enigma Securities said these comments had a substantial impact.

• "We remain concerned about the (human rights) situation in Turkey," Borrell said.

• The minister blamed the past governments for the hike.
• “Power generation is 43% expensive because of the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N),” the energy minister said.

• "If the outbreak is contained, the impact may not be much," he said. "Growth of 3-4% should be satisfactory," he added.

• Rusnok said earlier this week that he expected a double-dip recession.

• His performance drew comparisons in local media with India's former captain and wicketkeeper MS Dhoni.

• Around 89% efficacy comes from between days 14 and days 21 after the first dose," Hancock told lawmakers.

• The central bank will hold its first interest rate meeting for 2021 on Monday and Tuesday next week.

• The vaccine's Russian developers have said the shot has been found to be 91.4% effective in providing protection.

• He told reporters that the rescue team had collected more than 324 bags of body parts and plane parts.

• The ministry has not replied to a question about the export duty sent earlier this week.

• Trump accused the WHO of being "China-centric" in the initial stages of the outbreak, a charge rejected by Tedros.

• Shipment of all the grains was sought between Feb. 15 and March 25, depending on origin selected.

• Running out of options to bolster public finances, Russia more than doubled domestic borrowing in 2020, raised some taxes and increased state spending as it relaxed a budget rule that shields the economy from external shocks.

• Moscow will relax some restrictions from Friday, including fully reopening colleges and specialist education institutions, the mayor of the Russian capital said.

• Merkel said Germany's vaccines regulator, the Paul Ehrlich Institute, could offer Russia guidance on EMA's approval process for Sputnik V.

• Israel recorded a budget deficit of 11.7% of GDP last year, up from 3.7% in 2019.

• That meant the forecasts nearly matched what the government had previously expected, Nishimura said, adding that the forecasts did not factor in any fiscal reform measures.

• For riskier Italian bonds, the 10-year yield was little changed at 0.585%.

• Aramco did not immediately reply to Reuters' request for comment.

• Over the past week, cases around the continent decreased by nearly 7% compared to the previous week while deaths increased 10%, according to Africa CDC data.

• Its global dispersion index rose to an average of 55.2 in December from 53.0 a month earlier.

• EU diplomats said this was premature as it was not yet clear if vaccinated people could still transmit the virus to others.

• In Conab's first forecast for Brazil's new coffee crop, it said weather issues in the beginning of the season.

• Foreign investors were net sellers, offloading 601.4 million rupees ($3.08 million) worth of shares, according to exchange data.

• "The output envisioned by the government from these permits will be in conflict with the goals set in the Paris climate agreement of limiting the rise in globale warming," he said.

• Volkswagen is reducing the combustion-engined cars it offers and retooling more factories to build electric vehicles in an effort to keep up with electric carmaker Tesla.

• The exchange rate used by Reuters on Thursday was 7.3885 compared to 7.2733 the previous week.

• Opposition party Left Bloc said the issues must be addressed, saying voters do not get to choose the "day and time when they unfortunately catch the virus".

• The central bank gradually brought the rate down to 6% in June 2020 from 18% in April 2019.

• Salameh also confirmed a Reuters report that he had answered questions from Lebanon's public prosecutor earlier on Thursday.

• "A decision on which scenario will be applied individually in each city during the tournament will be made in March 2021."

• “Daesh terrorist groups might be standing behind the attacks,” Civil Defence chief Major General Kadhim Salman told reporters.
• Salman said the death toll had risen to 28 from 23 initially reported, with 73 more people wounded.

• Meanwhile, the government's top scientific adviser described some hospitals as looking like a war zone.

• "We will have a second semester that will have the virus and a lot of constraints," Macron said.

• "The lucky thing for me is that I'm good at handling the pressure," Lampard said after the Leicester defeat left his side in eighth spot in the table.

• The last reported swine fever outbreak in China was on Oct. 26, when authorities seized a vehicle that was illegally taking pigs into Sichuan province from another region.

• A new study revealed that a 61-year-old man, suffering from renal failure and progressive lymphadenopathy, contracted the coronavirus, and over the span of a few months it was observed that it had an anti-tumour response.
• Shortly after his diagnosis, he was admitted to the hospital with breathlessness and wheezing, and was diagnosed with the coronavirus. After 11-days of medical care, he was discharged to recuperate at home, with no additional immuno-chemotherapy being administered.

• Thailand is set to import 200,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine with the first 50,000 doses expected to arrive next month, Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said on Wednesday.

• AirAsia said it will continue to explore other fundraising options or corporate proposals to improve the group's financial performance in the longer term.

• On Tuesday, in the twilight hours of Trump's administration, the US declared China was carrying out genocide against Uighurs and other mostly Muslim people.

• Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Harris, calling her swearing-in a "historic occasion".

• Serum Institute is producing millions of doses of the Covishield coronavirus vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University.

• The Biden administration is also expected to keep the pressure on China over trade and human rights, after Trump launched a bruising trade war that imposed billions of dollars in tariffs on Chinese goods.

• Still, the group's sleeper cells have continued to operate in desert and mountain areas, typically targeting security forces or state infrastructure with low casualty attacks.

• The term-wise data of the Senators shows that out of the 52 members retiring from the present 103-member Senate in March next year, 34 belong to the opposition parties and 18 from the treasury benches.
• The upcoming Senate will comprise 98 members as there will be no elections on the four vacant seats from the country’s tribal areas after their merger with KP.

• Viviani, 31, said that he first felt something was not right last Sunday.

• Norwegian, Europe's third largest low-cost airline until the pandemic paralysed global air transport last year, has seen its debt and losses pile up since 2017.

• Just across the Gulf from Iran, Bahrain is a longstanding Western ally and home to the US Fifth Fleet.

• Thursday's news comes almost two months after Unilever became a wholly British company following the completion of a historic merger of its Dutch and British entities that ended its double-headed corporate structure.

• He had 74 to his name by the time Ahmadi was caught by Singh off McBrine on the boundary for 38.

• The report alleges that the 17,691 square metre mansion sits on a property 39 times the size of Monaco and features a casino hall, along with a theatre and a hookah lounge complete with a pole-dancing stage.

• The administration also plans to invoke the Defence Production Act to boost supply of personal protective equipment, lab equipment and to maximize vaccine production.

• He also cited the need for more oxygen supplies, which he said was becoming "critical."

• Arteta had stressed several times he was unhappy with the bloated nature of the squad and feels the departures will help him achieve a better balance.

• China has offered Pakistan to send an airplane and airlift the vaccines, Qureshi said.
• China has played an instrumental role in Pakistan’s fight against COVID-19 with technical assistance and medical expertise," Qureshi said.

• But she pledged to heed the calls pre-dating Trump for Germany and Europe to do more to foster global security particularly on defence.

• "When the situation comes everyone in the team executes the plan really well. I think as far as I am concerned that is the secret behind their team (success)."

• Rescue teams initially lost precious time as it took more than a day for the accident to be reported.

• The statement was a response to what it called "recent media speculation" about a breakaway by some of the world's richest clubs.

• But he conceded he could not guarantee the stands would be full, or rule out the possibility of a Games held without spectators.

• Restrictions on movement between provinces have been imposed since November, leaving about 80,000 people stranded in the capital.

• former President Donald Trump made a total of 30,573 false of misleading claims, during his time in office.
• Among the most repeated false claims that Trump spread was that he was responsible for the greatest economy in history.

• A one-minute silence will be observed on February 5 in solidarity with the Kashmiris.
• The government said that Kashmir day is being observed to “signify political and moral support in their struggle for self-determination and to honour" Kashmiri martyrs.

• They have fleets of vehicles for transportation and are working with governments to make sure they reach their destinations on time.

• FO said that the family members of the deceased have raised serious concerns hinting at the involvement of Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) in the incident.
  • He added that Human Rights Minister Shireen Mazari has also addressed a letter to the United Nations calling for an investigation into the deaths of the Pakistanis in India.

• Google's latest Chrome 88 update will identify weak passwords and allow its users to change them swiftly.

• Before it normally took two to seven years to get a simple Letter of Administration or Succession Certificate.
• Now it will take only 15 days.

• The shuffle feature will allow users to skip browsing entirely and just click on a button to instantly play a title that Netflix has chosen for them.

• As people gathered around the victims, a second attacker detonated his bomb, the ministry's statement said.

• The benchmark German 10-year yield was down half a basis point on the day at -0.534%.

Higher Education plays a key role in development of knowledge economies and learning societies within all nations....

• Lira expected to gain after rate decision.
• Rouble lags as oil prices fall.

• The nationwide death toll stands at 67,832.

• Dollar and other safe havens lag as stocks hit records.
• ECB policy decision at 1245 GMT.

• Imports fell 16% to 250.76 billion euros, while exports decreased 11% to s 238.41 billion euros, the ministry said.

• Vaccinations will begin as soon as possible, but the exact date has yet to be decided, he said.

• There were three people on board, the Monroe County Sheriff's Office said.

• The Biden administration did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Twitter's move.

• The ADC mechanism allowed the tax payers to pay their taxes through internet/mobile banking, Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) or Over-the Counter (OTC) of 16000 branches of commercial banks across the country.

• Under Trump, tensions with China plunged to a nadir over trade, security, technology, the origins of the Covid-19 pandemic and human rights.

• Pakistan's Ministry of Religious Affairs presented a summary to the Economic Coordination Committee, to scale up the Road to Makkah project.
• Under the Road to Makkah Project, initiated by Saudi Arabia, all the immigration requirements of pilgrims would be sorted out at the airport of origin.

• Mumbai's Sensex also climbed, topping 50,000 for the first time, while London, Paris and Frankfurt all opened with gains.

• London's benchmark FTSE 100 index rose 0.5 percent to 6,774.02 points.

• The drug is being produced by India's Serum Insitute, the world's biggest vaccine manufacturer.

• The virus has officially killed fewer than 5,000 people in China.

• The building belonging to the Church of the Virgin de la Paloma and San Pedro el Real located next-door, was completely destroyed in the blast.

• Pursuant to the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) Ordinance, 2002, and the provisions of CNG (Production and Marketing) Rules, 1992, issuance of a CNG license to any prospective investor/applicant falls under the exclusive domain of the Ogra.

• The plan has been issued with alternative routes to facilitate commuters and motorists in the metropolis.
• New Preedy Street and Karsaz Road have been closed for traffic. The areas around the National Stadium and flyovers have also been closed.

• Russian stock indexes were up.

• Benchmark rate unchanged at 3.75%, as expected.
• Central bank govt: vows to direct all instruments to support economy.

• Wheat is expected to rise towards this high again.

• The pan-European STOXX 600 index rose 0.7% by 0807 GMT, hitting new highs since February.

• FTSE 100 up 0.5%, FTSE 250 adds 0.3%.

• The benchmark index in Saudi Arabia added 0.3%, with Saudi Telecom gaining 0.7% while Riyad Bank traded 0.9% up.

• The RBI expects Asia's third-largest economy to contract by 7.5% in the current fiscal year to March.

• Sweden has been skeptical about the use of face masks, with no recommendations about their use in public until late December.

Biden promised the deportation moratorium on the campaign trail. “For 100 days, starting January 22, 2021, DHS will pause removals for certain noncitizens ordered deported to ensure we have a fair and effective immigration enforcement system focused on protecting national security, border security, and public safety,” DHS said in a release announcing the memo.

• The pressure on food prices is especially sensitive in the run-up to the country's most important holiday.

• Taiwanese shares close at a record high.
• S. Korean stocks extend gains to a third day.

• “Their fans have never seen them play and that’s almost like a generation and that’s missed seeing them play”
• “For Pakistan to have that back, there is going to be a lot of joy for the people”

• Britain, an EU member for 46 years, voted to quit in 2016 and completed its tortuous journey out of the bloc on Dec. 31, when Brexit fully took effect.
• The EU has 143 delegations, equivalent to diplomatic missions, around the world.

• The 23-year-old announced in 2019 that she would be renouncing her US citizenship.

• Tokyo, Shanghai, Sydney, Seoul, Singapore, Taipei, Bangkok and Wellington all rose, though Jakarta dipped while Manila was flat.

• A notification issued by the Finance Ministry said that the rate of return on Defense Savings Certificates has been increased from 8.49 percent to 9.42pc while the rate of return on Regular Income Certificates has been increased from 8.04pc to 9pc.

• Takeda is also handling production in Japan of Novavax Inc's vaccine, with its domestic trial expected to begin next month.

• Commercial banks posted the shilling at 109.75/95 per dollar, up from Wednesday's closing rate of 109.90/110.10.

• Asking prices for 12.5% milling soft wheat added $2 a tonne and were quoted between $292 and $303 per tonne FOB Black Sea.

• The number of new asymptomatic cases, which China does not classify as confirmed infections, rose to 113 from 58 a day earlier.

• The ECB will announce its own policy decisions at 1245 GMT, followed by Lagarde's news conference at 1330 GMT.

• Rand traded at 14.8775 versus the dollar, 0.15% firmer than its previous close.

• Nikkei share average gained 0.82% to 28,756.86, the highest close since August 1990, while the broader Topix inched up 0.6% to 1,860.64.

• Chinese blue-chips added 1.75%, Australian shares climbed 0.79% and Seoul's Kospi rose 1.54%.

• The report was of the view that that the imports of goods are likely to increase higher then earlier expected as economic activity picks including rise in import of auto CKD/CBU, coal for cement, while pressure on account of import of machinery through TERF is also anticipated.

• Mumbai's main Sensex index was up 344 points or 0.69 percent at 50,137 points at 1130 am (0600 GMT).
• The Nifty 50 was up 93 points or 0.64 percent at 14,738 points.

• The dollar fetched 103.35 yen in Asian afternoon trade, against 103.53 yen in New York.

• On Saturday, the city where Covid-19 was first detected in late 2019 marks one year since it was locked down to crush the outbreak.

• Trump has not publicly conceded defeat and spent the months since November's election falsely claiming he was cheated out of a second term.

• it said that the total value of seized goods is expected to be Rs.11million.

• The fall from this day high of $14.34-1/2 may consist of three parts. Only the first part is over, which will be partially reversed.

• Support is at $5.21-1/2, a break below which could confirm the extension of the fall towards $5.09 to $5.15-1/4 range.

• Palm climbs 2% after falling to over 2-month low.
• Market anticipates lower production due to floods.

• ASX200 just over 300 points short of record pre-pandemic peak.
• Tech stocks end at record high on U.S. cues, buy-now-pay-later boost.

• The blue-chip NSE Nifty 50 index rose 0.6% to 14,735 and the S&P BSE Sensex was up 0.62% at 50,102.28 by 0530 GMT.

• Bharat Biotech, which has developed COVAXIN with the Indian Council of Medical Research, is the fourth vaccine maker to apply for emergency use in the Philippines.

• The United States remains the worst-hit country, with around a fifth of the two million global Covid-19 deaths.

• Employment +50,000 in Dec, matching forecasts.
• Jobless falls to 6.6%, down from 6.8%, beating forecasts.

• As President Joe Biden was sworn into office, the U.S Embassy in Israel briefly changed its Twitter account title to include the West Bank and Gaza.
• By the time the account was amended, it had already gained a great deal of speculation in the Israeli press.

• U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres welcomed the U.S. return to the Paris accord but added: “There is a very long way to go. The climate crisis continues to worsen and time is running out to limit temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius and build more climate-resilient societies that help to protect the most vulnerable.”

• The Chinese Embassy account, @ChineseEmbinUS, posted a tweet this month that said that Uighur women were no longer “baby making machines,” citing a study reported by state-backed newspaper China Daily.

• The jets are a major component of a $23 billion sale of high-tech armaments from General Atomics, Lockheed Martin Corp and Raytheon Technologies Corp to the UAE announced this fall.

• Haque said that Right of Way Policy will pave way for laying of telecommunication network and digitalization.

• The vote was 84-10, with all the “no” votes coming from Republicans.

• The number of new asymptomatic cases, which China does not classify as confirmed infections, rose to 113 from 58 a day earlier.

• Bangladesh will from Thursday start receiving millions of India-made doses of another vaccine licensed from Oxford University and AstraZeneca.

• The PM said he is also looking forward to working with Biden in improving public health, combating corruption and promoting peace in the region and beyond.
• Biden administration said it sees Pakistan as an essential partner in any peace process in Afghanistan.

• Lebanon has seen daily infection rates soar to the highest levels in the region, with over 6,000 cases reported on Friday.

• The nationwide rollout of the CoronaVac vaccine, produced by China's Sinovac, reached 1 million people in its first week.

• About 600 people are involved in the rescue, with as many as 25 ambulances waiting at the scene, as well as neurosurgeons.

• LME aluminium increased 0.9% to $1,998.50 a tonne.
• Nickel climbed 0.9% to $18,385 a tonne.

• S. Korean shares set for third straight day of gains.
• Taiwan 2020 export orders hit record high.
• Bank Indonesia seen holding rates.

• The global dollar index fell to 90.311 at midday, when the offshore yuan was trading at 6.4592 per dollar.

• Leading the gains, both CSI300 materials index and the CSI300 transport index jumped 3.1% each.

• Soybeans firm after 3 days of losses, LatAm weather limits gains.
• Broad-based gains in global markets support agricultural products.

• The blue-chip NSE Nifty 50 index rose 0.44% to 14,708.
• Benchmark S&P BSE Sensex was up 0.45% at 50,014.55 by 0346 GMT.

• The controversial ban was introduced during Trump’s first week in office and restricted travel from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen.
• "These are just all starting points," Biden said, as he signed 15 executive actions on his first day in office.

• Yields will dictate gold movement.
• ECB monetary policy decision due at 1245 GMT.

• US crude stocks rise 2.6 million barrels.
• Biden announces return to Paris climate accord.

• He said that due to the central bank scheme a ‘substantial’ amount of investment was brought in Pakistan.

• Brazil exited recession in the third quarter of 2020 with economic growth of 7.7 percent, but is still reeling from the effects of the pandemic.

• Guterres also congratulated Washington for rejoining the World Health Organization as one of Biden's first actions as president.

• European Commission chief said the bloc will soon expand vaccines beyond the BioNTech/Pfizer and Moderna.

Fecto Cement Limited (PSX: FECTC) was set up in 1981 as a public limited company. It produces and sells ordinary...

• Trudeau said he was "disappointed" by the move, which came shortly after Biden took office.

• Policymakers are expected to stop short of taking fresh action after ramping up their pandemic support for the eurozone last month.

• The EU has a raft of major issues with Turkey, including Ankara's role in the Syria, Libya and Nagorny Karabakh conflicts.

• He urged the pro-government legislature, the National Assembly, to "take initiatives" towards a "new beginning" with Washington.

• The process has been stalled ever since, despite a third encounter in the Demilitarized Zone that divides the peninsula.

• The order to stop work on the hulking steel fence was one of Biden's first acts after he was sworn in on Wednesday.

• Mexico welcomed the move, as well as his other immigration-linked reforms.

• "No injustice can last forever," Talaat Fahmy, the Islamic movement's official spokesman, told AFP in Istanbul.

• The ruling Democratic Progress Party described it as "a new breakthrough in 42 years".

• He said the challenge would be submitted "as soon as possible" in the court in the city of Seremban but could not confirm when it would begin.

• The Hang Seng Index rose 0.17 percent, or 49.72 points, to 30,012.19.

• Veteran and incoming presidents along with campaigning hopefuls have long sought to lean on star power and song to bolster their images.

• Dec exports +2.0% yr/yr vs forecast +2.4%.
• Imports -11.6% yr/yr vs forecast -14.0%.
• Trade surplus at 751bn yen vs forecast 942.8bn yen.

• Nikkei share average rose 0.81% to 28,755.68 as of 0141 GMT, while the broader Topix rose 0.67% to 1,861.82.

• Near term increasingly challenging.
• ECB has plenty of untapped firepower.
• Longer term uncertainty on the decline.

• Greenback and other traditional havens lag as stocks hit records.
• Canadian dollar paced gains in commodity currencies overnight.

• The jobless rate dropped to a seven-month low of 6.6%, though that remains well above the pre-pandemic level of 5.2%.

• The correction from the Jan. 13 high of $57.42 may have extended.

• U.S. stocks hit record high overnight.
• Gold stocks rise on robust commodity prices.

• A sudden break above $54.19 could confirm the continuation of the uptrend towards the range of $56.37-$57.72.

• Gold has cleared a lower resistance at $1,867. It is heading towards the $1,884-$1,902 range.

• Japan's Nikkei was up 0.72%, less than 1% off three-decade highs reached last week.

• Board keeps rate targets unchanged.
• BOJ says economy 'picking up as a trend'.
• Quarterly report warns of risks to growth, price outlook.

• Brent crude futures similarly dropped 26 cents, or 0.5%, to $55.82 a barrel.

• Hong Kong rose for a sixth successive day to breach 30,000 points for the first time since April 2019.

• The dollar fetched 103.50 yen in early Asian trade, against 103.53 yen in New York.

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LAHORE: The entire business community on Tuesday felt proud of Pakistan Army for ranking the 10th most powerful in...

LAHORE: Chief of Jamaat-e-Islami Senator Sirajul Haq has said the rulers are reluctant to raise strong voice against...

LAHORE: Provincial Minister for Social Welfare and Bait-ul-Maal Syed Yawar Abbas Bukhari has said the Punjab...

LAHORE: Pepsi has become the principal partner of the Pakistan women’s national cricket team with the announcement...

SHIGAR: A Nepali climbing team which made history at the weekend by becoming the first to summit the world’s...

CAIRO: Libyan envoys at UN-backed talks in Egypt agreed Wednesday to hold a constitutional referendum before planned...

MADRID: At least three people were killed on Wednesday when a huge explosion ripped through a building in Madrid,...

OCCUPIED JERUSALEM: Israel has invited tenders for more than 2,500 new settler homes in annexed east Jerusalem and...