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Archive - 2021-02-02
UK virus variant has developed concerning new mutation in small number of cases
Europe

UK virus variant has developed concerning new mutation in small number of cases

  • The UK variant of the coronavirus has developed a new, concerning mutation in a small number of cases, which scientists said makes it similar to the South African and Brazilian variants and could reduce the efficacy of vaccines.
  • The emergence of the mutation to the variant first discovered in Britain highlights how complicated exiting COVID-19 lockdown will be even once vaccines are rolled out.
Published 02 Feb, 2021 10:56pm
Accused Capitol rioters blame Trump in novel legal defense
USA

Accused Capitol rioters blame Trump in novel legal defense

  • Trump told the crowd to “fight like hell,” said “we will not take it anymore” and repeated his false claims that the election was stolen from him through widespread voting fraud. Trump exhorted his followers to go to the Capitol.
  • At least six of the 170 people charged in connection with the Capitol siege have tried to shift at least some of the blame onto Trump as they defend themselves in court or in the court of public opinion.
Published 02 Feb, 2021 10:47pm
UK's Captain Tom Moore has died, family says
Europe

UK's Captain Tom Moore has died, family says

  • Captain Tom Moore, the British World War Two veteran who raised millions of pounds for health service workers on the frontline of the battle against COVID-19, has died aged 100, his family said on Tuesday.
  • Moore died on Tuesday morning at Bedford Hospital. He had tested positive for COVID-19 on Jan. 22 and was fighting pneumonia.
Published 02 Feb, 2021 09:30pm
Rihanna speaks up for farmers' protest in India
World

Rihanna speaks up for farmers' protest in India

  • Sharing a news report by CNN on India’s farmers’ protest, the renowned singer asked, “Why aren’t we talking about this?!”
  • The report by the US publication was about the government’s decision to cut internet services to protesting farmers.
Published 02 Feb, 2021 08:53pm
Justice Qazi Faez Isa's cell phone hacked: SC spokesman
Pakistan

Justice Qazi Faez Isa's cell phone hacked: SC spokesman

  • "The cell phone of Justice Qazi Faez Isa has been hacked and there is suspicion that misguiding communication can be made from his lordship's number to anyone with ulterior motives."
  • Any messages or communication from Justice Isa’s cellphone should be considered “fake and false,” the spokesperson added.
Updated 02 Feb, 2021 08:53pm
Pfizer sees about $15bn in 2021 sales from COVID-19 vaccine
Companies

Pfizer sees about $15bn in 2021 sales from COVID-19 vaccine

  • The company said it expects total 2021 revenue of between $59.4 billion and $61.4 billion.
  • The vaccine was among the first to be authorized for emergency use in the United States and several other countries, and analysts have forecast billions in sales.
Updated 02 Feb, 2021 08:12pm
Iran says has 2 cascades of 348 advanced centrifuges at Natanz nuclear site
World

Iran says has 2 cascades of 348 advanced centrifuges at Natanz nuclear site

  • “Thanks to our diligent nuclear scientists, two cascades of 348 IR2m centrifuges with almost 4 times the capacity of IR1 are now running ...successfully in Natanz,” says Kazem Gharibabadi.
  • “Installation of 2 cascades of IR6 centrifuges has also been started in Fordow. There’s more to come soon.”
Published 02 Feb, 2021 08:06pm
Russia's Sputnik V vaccine 92% effective in fighting COVID-19
World

Russia's Sputnik V vaccine 92% effective in fighting COVID-19

  • Experts said the Phase III trial results meant the world had another effective weapon to fight the deadly pandemic and justified to some extent Moscow’s decision to roll out the vaccine before final data had been released.
  • The results were based on data from 19,866 volunteers, of whom a quarter received a placebo, the researchers, led by the Gamaleya Institute’s Denis Logunov, said in The Lancet.
Published 02 Feb, 2021 07:51pm
PM Imran kicks off COVID-19 vaccine drive in Pakistan
Pakistan

PM Imran kicks off COVID-19 vaccine drive in Pakistan

  • The first vaccine was administered to the health care worker in Islamabad in the presence of PM Imran, his adviser Dr Faisal Sultan, and National Command and Operations Centre chief Asad Umar.
  • "I congratulate [all those present here] for working at great speed to import a vaccine. We also thank China for gifting us 500,000 vaccines," he said.
Updated 02 Feb, 2021 07:48pm
Global markets buoyant as US stimulus debate approaches
Stocks

Global markets buoyant as US stimulus debate approaches

  • MSCI world shares index up 0.4%.
  • GameStop's Frankfurt-listed shares down 36.5%.
  • Silver tumbles further from eight-year high.
  • Biden for negotiations with Republicans on stimulus.
  • Euro at seven-week lows on economic outlook.
Updated 02 Feb, 2021 07:34pm
First Abu Dhabi Bank launches 400 million sterling bonds: document
Financial

First Abu Dhabi Bank launches 400 million sterling bonds: document

  • Barclays, First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB), HSBC and TD Securities arranged the deal, another document also from one of the banks arranging the deal showed.
  • FAB had given initial price guidance of around 115 basis points over UK gilts due in September 2025 and received around 850 million pounds in orders for the debt sale.
Published 02 Feb, 2021 07:17pm
Verity Pharma and India's SII apply to distribute AstraZeneca vaccine in Canada
Companies

Verity Pharma and India's SII apply to distribute AstraZeneca vaccine in Canada

  • SII, the world's biggest vaccine maker, has capacity to produce roughly 2.4 million doses per day at its campus in Pune, western India.
  • Verity Pharmaceuticals is providing important support to Serum Institute of India related to its regulatory registration, importation and distribution of the vaccine in Canada, pending Health Canada approval.
Published 02 Feb, 2021 07:15pm
French wheat offered lowest at Egypt's GASC tender
Commodities

French wheat offered lowest at Egypt's GASC tender

  • GASC is seeking an unspecified quantity of wheat for shipment March 15-30,
  • Russia's export tax has blunted the automatic price lead of Russian wheat but not pushed it out of the market. France is back in the picture ...
Published 02 Feb, 2021 07:13pm
Nestle CEO seeks ways to help with COVID-19 vaccine roll out
Companies

Nestle CEO seeks ways to help with COVID-19 vaccine roll out

  • We will also try to find ways to either sponsor the payment for the vaccine or sponsor the way it gets applied in communities where we are present.
  • The price of a vaccine for an advanced economy is negligible...but to a developing country which has been struggling already with all the impacts of COVID.
Published 02 Feb, 2021 07:06pm
OPEC experts meet as rising oil prices mask demand worries
Energy

OPEC experts meet as rising oil prices mask demand worries

  • Oil has rallied from historic lows reached last year as demand collapsed due to the pandemic thanks to record OPEC+ output cuts.
  • "A positive start," said one OPEC delegate. "The group wants a quick meeting with a positive agenda."
Published 02 Feb, 2021 07:01pm
Barty makes winning return in Melbourne
Sports

Barty makes winning return in Melbourne

  • The 24-year-old Australian had not played a competitive match since last February due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • I had so much fun out here today, and I think I missed you guys so much as well.
Published 02 Feb, 2021 06:59pm
Dating app Bumble aims for nearly $6bn valuation in US IPO
Stocks

Dating app Bumble aims for nearly $6bn valuation in US IPO

  • The company, in a regulatory filing on Tuesday, said it would sell about 34.5 million shares, raising over $1 billion at the upper end of the price range.
  • Bumble was founded in 2014 by Whitney Wolfe Herd, who was also one of the founders of rival app Tinder.
Published 02 Feb, 2021 06:53pm
Over 0.5mn health workers registered for COVID-19 vaccination
Pakistan

Over 0.5mn health workers registered for COVID-19 vaccination

  • The vaccination drive across Pakistan will start in the morning where health workers of 15 sensitive cities of the country will receive anti-coronavirus doses.
  • The staff of government, private and coronavirus isolation centres will also receive the dose of the vaccine in the first phase tomorrow.
Updated 02 Feb, 2021 06:52pm
Alibaba beats revenue forecast as Chinese regulators hover
Companies

Alibaba beats revenue forecast as Chinese regulators hover

  • Alibaba's total revenue rose 37% to 221.08 billion yuan ($34.24 billion) in the three months ended Dec. 31, above analysts' estimates of 214.38 billion yuan.
  • Net income attributable to ordinary shareholders was 79.43 billion yuan, or 28.85 yuan per American depository share, compared to 52.31 billion yuan, or 19.55 yuan per ADS, a year earlier.
Published 02 Feb, 2021 06:50pm
BioNTech 'confident' it will meet Japan's COVID-19 vaccine demand
Companies

BioNTech 'confident' it will meet Japan's COVID-19 vaccine demand

  • Japan's vaccine chief said last week that export controls imposed by the European Union, where some vaccines are made, could delay the Asian nation's inoculation effort.
  • Pfizer and BioNTech have increased manufacturing capacity to more than 2 billion doses a year from 1.3 billion to meet demand.
Published 02 Feb, 2021 06:47pm
Renault, Daimler in talks to develop next generation large van
Companies

Renault, Daimler in talks to develop next generation large van

  • The pair could team up in some capacity to work on the next generation of Renault Master vans.
  • Demand for vans of all sizes has jumped amid the COVID-19 pandemic, fuelled by ecommerce deliveries as people have ordered more goods from home during lockdowns.
Published 02 Feb, 2021 06:46pm
Mali gold production hits fresh high in 2020
Commodities

Mali gold production hits fresh high in 2020

  • Mali's total gold output for the year was estimated at 71.2 tonnes including an additional 6 tonnes of gold produced by artisanal miners.
  • The West African country is one of Africa's biggest gold producers with about 13 mines operated by multinational companies including Barrick Gold , B2Gold and Resolute Mining.
Published 02 Feb, 2021 06:42pm
Malaysia says its delivery of Pfizer vaccines on track
South Asia

Malaysia says its delivery of Pfizer vaccines on track

  • The Pfizer vaccine is produced in Belgium and the European Commission said on Friday it had agreed a plan to control exports of vaccines from the European Union, including to Britain.
  • With the assurances of both the EU and Belgian Ambassadors, the COVID-19 immunisation plan is expected to proceed according to plan.
Published 02 Feb, 2021 06:25pm
Northern Irish unionist says tensions rising over Brexit deal
Europe

Northern Irish unionist says tensions rising over Brexit deal

  • Tensions have been rising, the Protocol is quite clearly having a damaging impact not just on the port of Larne...
  • We had received intelligence that there was individuals taking registration plate numbers from staff who were coming to and from the port, that's quite sinister.
Published 02 Feb, 2021 06:20pm
Under fire, EU's von der Leyen defends vaccine strategy
Europe

Under fire, EU's von der Leyen defends vaccine strategy

  • EU under fire over slow vaccine rollout, border checks issue.
  • Von der Leyen says Commission has been 'quick on its feet'.
  • Sees easing of supply problems as production ramps up.
  • Says 'marathon' just started, 'we'll make it to finishing line'.
Published 02 Feb, 2021 06:18pm
Aung San Suu Kyi loyalist says learned her health is good
South Asia

Aung San Suu Kyi loyalist says learned her health is good

  • There is no plan to move Daw Aung San Su Kyi and Doctor Myo Aung. It's learned that they are in good health.
  • He also posted that NLD members of parliament detained during the coup were being allowed to leave the quarters where they had been held.
Published 02 Feb, 2021 06:09pm
US automaker group calls for compromise with Biden on fuel economy rules
Industry

US automaker group calls for compromise with Biden on fuel economy rules

  • The Trump administration in March finalized a rollback of US Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards to require 1.5% annual increases in efficiency through 2026,
  • new nationwide emissions framework deal "should achieve improvements in GHG emissions roughly midway between current standards and those of the former Obama Administration.
Published 02 Feb, 2021 06:06pm
India court gives interim relief to Amazon in dispute with Future Group
South Asia

India court gives interim relief to Amazon in dispute with Future Group

  • Amazon, locked in protracted legal disputes with Future, alleges the Indian firm violated contracts by agreeing to sell its retail assets to rival Reliance Industries last year. Future denies any wrongdoing.
  • Indian stock exchanges last month cleared Future's deal with Reliance, despite Amazon's repeated requests to regulators to block the deal.
Published 02 Feb, 2021 06:04pm
Wilbur Ross-backed SPAC looks to raise up to $300mn in IPO
Stocks

Wilbur Ross-backed SPAC looks to raise up to $300mn in IPO

  • The company said it intends to identify a target business with either all or a substantial portion of its activities in North America, Europe, or Asia.
  • Blank-check companies, also known as special purpose acquisition companies (SPACs) had a record run in 2020, raising more than $82 billion through IPOs. In January 2021.
Published 02 Feb, 2021 05:57pm
Florentino Pérez tests positive for COVID-19
Sports

Florentino Pérez tests positive for COVID-19

  • “Real Madrid would like to inform that our president Florentino Pérez has tested positive in the COVID-19 tests that he periodically undergoes, although he is not showing any symptoms.”
  • Perez's positive test comes after Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane also tested positive last month.
Published 02 Feb, 2021 05:58pm
Staff on strike at Deutsche Bank call centre in for the long haul
Money & Banking

Staff on strike at Deutsche Bank call centre in for the long haul

  • About 650 staff in Berlin and Essen have been on an open-ended strike since Saturday as they seek a 6% pay increase, in a significant escalation of a months-long labour dispute.
  • The employees are among the lowest-paid at the German bank, with starting wages of around 12 euros ($14.45) an hour.
Published 02 Feb, 2021 05:55pm
Dollar stands tall as euro zone outlook darkens
Forex

Dollar stands tall as euro zone outlook darkens

  • Those concerns were amplified after retail sales in Germany, Europe's biggest economy, plunged by more than forecast in December, according to data on Monday.
  • Against the dollar, the euro was trading at $1.2078, just above an early December low of $1.2056 the day before.
Published 02 Feb, 2021 05:47pm
EU to temporarily withdraw staff from Northern Irish ports
Europe

EU to temporarily withdraw staff from Northern Irish ports

  • We asked them not to attend their duties today, and we will continue to monitor the situation and adapt accordingly.
  • Northern Ireland temporarily suspended some inspections at two ports late on Monday after a local council withdrew staff over concerns for their safety .
Published 02 Feb, 2021 05:45pm
Luxury carmaker Ferrari says FY 2020 core profit fell 10pc
Companies

Luxury carmaker Ferrari says FY 2020 core profit fell 10pc

  • The 'Cavallino Rampante'- or 'Prancing Horse'- said its adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) stood at 1.143 billion euros ($1.38 billion) last year.
  • In line with a guidance of around 1.125 billion euros the company provided in November.
Published 02 Feb, 2021 05:41pm
US refiner Marathon Petroleum's fourth-quarter loss narrows
Energy

US refiner Marathon Petroleum's fourth-quarter loss narrows

  • Demand for fuel has ticked up in recent months as more people traveled with many states and countries rolling back COVID-19 restrictions.
  • Like its rivals Valero and Phillips 66, Marathon Petroleum on Tuesday pinned economic recovery hopes on COVID-19 vaccine rollouts.
Published 02 Feb, 2021 05:32pm
Iran's parliament rejects proposed Rouhani budget
South Asia

Iran's parliament rejects proposed Rouhani budget

  • The rejection came with a vote of 148 to 99, who already control parliament and the judiciary, appear poised to win the presidency in the June polls.
  • In a session broadcast live on state radio, opponents of the budget, which had been amended by a parliament committee.
Published 02 Feb, 2021 05:24pm
Arabica prices seen rising by end-2021 as deficit looms
Commodities

Arabica prices seen rising by end-2021 as deficit looms

  • Arabica prices will end 2021 at $1.35 per pound, up 7.7% from Monday's close (Feb.1) and 5.3% above levels seen at the end of 2020, based on the median forecast of survey participants.
  • Top producer Brazil enters an off-year in its biennial crop cycle in the upcoming 2021/22 season.
Published 02 Feb, 2021 05:19pm
Alibaba beats quarterly revenue estimates
Industry

Alibaba beats quarterly revenue estimates

  • Revenue rose 37% to 221.08 billion yuan ($34.24 billion) in the three months ended Dec. 31, above estimates of 214.38 billion yuan, according IBES data from Refinitiv.
Published 02 Feb, 2021 05:04pm
Bridging Industry and Academia - Crowd Learning comes to Rescue
Technology

Bridging Industry and Academia - Crowd Learning comes to Rescue

  • With the world increasingly moving online during the pandemic, iBridge used its crowd learning resources to bring together bright students from underprivileged areas in South Asia, especially Sindh, Pakistan.
  • As education remains a distant dream from many living in the under-privileged areas of a country, learning experiences of most students are crippled by lack of basic infrastructure, dearth of good teachers and absence of competition between schools.
Updated 02 Feb, 2021 05:03pm
Egypt central bank expected to leave interest rates on hold
Financial

Egypt central bank expected to leave interest rates on hold

  • "It's a clear indication that liquidity is gaining more priority now. Lending growth has hardly picked up and deposits continue to rise at a strong pace," said Allen Sandeep of Naeem Brokerage. "Inflation is low enough to accommodate another cut."
Published 02 Feb, 2021 03:32pm
Oil prices extend rally as producers restrain output
Energy

Oil prices extend rally as producers restrain output

  • However, energy giant BP flagged a difficult start to 2021 amid declining product demand, noting that January retail volumes were down by around 20% year on year, compared with a decline of 11% in the fourth quarter.
Published 02 Feb, 2021 03:28pm
Enemy attacks on civilians, Afghan forces "much higher" than last year: Report
South Asia

Enemy attacks on civilians, Afghan forces "much higher" than last year: Report

  • According to a report by the Special Investigator General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR), the frequency of enemy attacks in Kabul was significantly higher than in the same quarter last year.
  • The quarterly report articulated that "recent heavy fighting between American, Afghan and Taliban forces in the Helmand and Kandahar Provinces has forced thousands of Afghan civilians to flee their homes", as the peace negotiations continue to stall.
Updated 02 Feb, 2021 03:24pm
Suu Kyi's party demands her release as Myanmar generals tighten grip
Asia

Suu Kyi's party demands her release as Myanmar generals tighten grip

  • The party of Myanmar’s detained elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi called on Tuesday for her immediate release and for the junta to recognise her victory in November elections, a day after a military coup sparked global outrage.
  • The United States threatened to reimpose sanctions on Myanmar’s generals after they seized power and arrested Suu Kyi and dozens of her allies in dawn raids on Monday.
Published 02 Feb, 2021 03:16pm
SUVs demand increase in Europe despite shift towards EV
World

SUVs demand increase in Europe despite shift towards EV

  • Both South Korean companies Hyundai and Kia led the pack, making up 39% of battery-electric SUV and crossover volumes in 2020.
  • SUVs and crossovers are even more popular with hybrid buyers — accounting for 53% of plug-in hybrid electric-vehicle volumes last year.
Published 02 Feb, 2021 02:52pm
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