News Archives for Latest - 2024-12-20

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Archive - 2024-12-20

Pakistan

KP Apex Committee decides to dismantle bunkers, heavy weaponry in Kurram

At least 133 people killed in tribal clashes in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Kurram district since last month

Updated 20 Dec, 2024 11:47pm

$1.23bn gas drilling carried out in 3 years, Senate panel told

ISLAMABAD: A parliamentary panel on Thursday was apprised that the gas drilling has been carried out at 56 different...

Updated 20 Dec, 2024 11:45pm

Europe

Ex-IMF chief Rato sentenced to new prison term over corruption

MADRID: A Madrid court has sentencedformer International Monetary Fund chief Rodrigo Rato to almost five years in...

Updated 20 Dec, 2024 11:34pm

Pakistan

Sanctions on Pakistan’s missile program not meant to ‘color other areas of cooperation’: US State Dept

United States Principal Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel says longstanding US policy to deny support to Pakistan’s long-range ballistic missile program

Updated 20 Dec, 2024 11:24pm

USA

Trump wants EU to buy more US oil and gas or face tariffs

US President-elect Donald Trump said on Friday that the European Union may face tariffs if the bloc does not cut its...

Updated 20 Dec, 2024 11:20pm

Middle East

Israel’s Netanyahu eyes Iran after military aggression against Hamas, Hezbollah, and Syria

DUBAI: 2025 will be a year of reckoning for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Iran. The Israeli leader...

Updated 20 Dec, 2024 11:20pm

Stocks

KSE-100 gains over 3% as buying returns to PSX

Experts say recent correction created buying opportunity for investors

Updated 20 Dec, 2024 11:16pm

Pakistan

Human trafficking earns bad name for country: PM Shehbaz

Premier calls for strict action against officers responsible for slow anti-human trafficking efforts

Published 20 Dec, 2024 11:06pm

Europe

Sweden doubles aid to Gaza, but ends UNRWA funding

STOCKHOLM: Sweden announced plans Friday to stop funding to the UN’s Palestinian refugee agency in response to an...

Published 20 Dec, 2024 10:54pm

World

3 bodies found at site of Israel strike on Hezbollah chief: media

BEIRUT: Lebanese rescuers recovered three bodies from the rubble of a building struck by Israel in a September air...

Published 20 Dec, 2024 10:49pm

Bullion Rate

Gold price per tola falls further Rs2,000 in Pakistan

Gold prices in Pakistan extended decline on Friday in line with their fall in the international rate. In the local...

Updated 20 Dec, 2024 10:35pm

Stocks

Hoechst Pakistan plans to establish subsidiary in UAE

To capitalize on the business-friendly environment in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), another listed Pakistani...

Updated 20 Dec, 2024 10:33pm

Exchange

Rupee records slight decline against US dollar

Currency settles at 278.42 against greenback in inter-bank market

Updated 20 Dec, 2024 10:29pm

Commodities

Unilever, FrieslandCampina fined for marketing ‘frozen desserts’ as ‘ice cream’

The Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) has imposed a cumulative penalty of Rs170 million on manufacturers and...

Updated 20 Dec, 2024 10:24pm

Markets

PM Shehbaz calls for early completion of Business Facilitation Centres

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday directed authorities to expedite the completion of Business Facilitation...

Updated 20 Dec, 2024 10:08pm

Energy

Oil falls on strong dollar, demand growth worries

HOUSTON: Oil prices eased on Friday due to a strong dollar and worries about demand growth in 2025, especially in...

Updated 20 Dec, 2024 09:45pm

USA

US Congress scrambles to try to avert looming shutdown after Trump demand rejected

WASHINGTON: The U.S. Congress was scrambling to avert a partial government shutdown on Friday, hours after more than...

Published 20 Dec, 2024 08:36pm

Europe

Anger in Germany after Musk backs far right

FRANKFURT: A post from Elon Musk on his platform X that only the far-right AfD party can “save Germany” sparked...

Published 20 Dec, 2024 07:30pm

South Asia

India’s rowdy parliament session ends in police probe

NEW DELHI: India’s winter parliament session ended Friday after chaotic arguments and allegations of violence by...

Published 20 Dec, 2024 07:25pm

USA

Fed’s Daly says this week’s rate cut was ‘close call’

San Francisco Federal Reserve Bank President Mary Daly on Friday said the decision by the U.S. central bank to lower...

Published 20 Dec, 2024 07:03pm

PM Shehbaz meets JUI-F chief Fazal-ur-Rehman in Islamabad

Published 20 Dec, 2024 06:54pm

Stocks

UAE markets gain ahead of key US inflation data

Stock exchanges in the United Arab Emirates advanced on Friday, with Abu Dhabi leading the charge ahead of key U.S....

Published 20 Dec, 2024 06:51pm

Forex

India’s forex reserves dip to nearly six-month low

India’s foreign exchange reserves fell by nearly $2 billion to an almost six-month low of $652.87 billion as of Dec....

Published 20 Dec, 2024 05:51pm

Europe

Greek coastguard recovers bodies of eight migrants after collision off Rhodes

ATHENS: Greece has recovered the bodies of eight migrants who fell into the sea after their speedboat collided with...

Published 20 Dec, 2024 05:42pm

Commodities

Copper set for weekly fall on strong dollar, concerns about demand prospects

LONDON: Copper prices remained close to a five-week low on Friday and were on track for a second consecutive weekly...

Published 20 Dec, 2024 05:34pm

USA

Biden cancels $4.28bn more in student debt before leaving office

WASHINGTON: US President Joe Biden said Friday he was canceling student loans for an additional 55,000 Americans,...

Published 20 Dec, 2024 05:29pm

Middle East

Palestinians accuse Israeli settlers of West Bank mosque fire

Israeli settlers set fire to a mosque in the occupied West Bank, Palestinian residents said on Friday, and video...

Published 20 Dec, 2024 05:21pm

Europe

Turkiye will support Syria’s reconstruction, improve cooperation

ANKARA: Turkiye will do whatever necessary for the reconstruction of Syria following the ouster of Bashar al-Assad,...

Published 20 Dec, 2024 05:14pm

Companies

Foxconn interest in Nissan on hold amid Honda merger talks

Taiwan’s Foxconn is pausing its interest in Nissan Motor as the Japanese automaker explores a potential merger with...

Published 20 Dec, 2024 05:09pm

South Asia

US charges ‘Chinese agent’ over political influence

LOS ANGELES: China’s ruling Communist Party used an agent in California to influence state politics, US prosecutors...

Published 20 Dec, 2024 05:01pm

South Asia

Japan inspects US air base over chemical spill

TOKYO: Japanese authorities on Friday carried out an inspection of a US military base in Tokyo, a government...

Published 20 Dec, 2024 04:58pm

Stocks

Indian equity benchmarks snap 4-week rising streak as Fed outlook hurts

Indian shares plunged on Friday, with the benchmarks logging their first weekly decline in five weeks, as sentiment...

Published 20 Dec, 2024 04:48pm

Stocks

Sri Lanka shares end higher for 19th straight session

CSE All-Share index settled 1.07% higher at 14,810.70

Published 20 Dec, 2024 04:46pm

Commodities

Palm extends losses, logs second weekly loss

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian palm oil futures ended lower on Friday and posted a second consecutive weekly loss,...

Published 20 Dec, 2024 04:44pm

Recorder headlines

Published 20 Dec, 2024 04:01pm

Life & Style

Bride, groom, spy: India’s wedding detectives

NEW DELHI: From an anonymous office in a New Delhi mall, matrimonial detective Bhavna Paliwal runs the rule over...

Published 20 Dec, 2024 03:02pm

PIA, Discos sell-off bids falter: Senate panel taps ex-ministers for guidance

ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on Privatisation has decided to invite former ministers for privatisation...

Updated 20 Dec, 2024 02:52pm

PIA sell-off: govt says getting enhanced bids

ISLAMABAD, Dec 19: The National Assembly was informed on Thursday that the government is getting enhanced bids for...

Updated 20 Dec, 2024 02:47pm

Dar-led panel to craft power tariff cut strategy

Government expecting reasonable reduction in electricity bills

Updated 20 Dec, 2024 02:46pm

PM for global action on Gaza, Lebanon

CAIRO: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday tabled strong condemnation of Israel’s ongoing military...

Updated 20 Dec, 2024 02:33pm

Leasing govt land: Punjab cabinet approves terms & conditions

LAHORE: Punjab cabinet, which met here Thursday with Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif in the chair accorded...

Updated 20 Dec, 2024 02:32pm

Establishing peace in Kurram top priority, Mohsin Naqvi assures CM Gandapur

Published 20 Dec, 2024 02:20pm

Forex

South African rand recovers some ground against dollar

JOHANNESBURG: South Africa’s rand recovered some losses on Friday after a slight improvement in risk sentiment. At...

Published 20 Dec, 2024 02:14pm

Stocks

European stocks slide as Trump’s warning spooks investors

European shares were on course to post their worst week in three months on Friday, as US President-elect Donald...

Published 20 Dec, 2024 02:12pm

Forex

Russian rouble edges up vs dollar ahead of rate decision

MOSCOW: The Russian rouble strengthened against the US dollar and China’s yuan on Friday, ahead of an anticipated...

Published 20 Dec, 2024 02:10pm

Luxury

Luxury labels focus on lower-priced goods to appeal to middle-class shoppers

PARIS: Confronting a broad decline in demand for their usual fare, including $3,000-and-up handbags and...

Published 20 Dec, 2024 02:02pm

World

Sydney New Year’s fireworks threatened with cancellation

SYDNEY: Sydney New Year’s fireworks, one of the world’s most spectacular celebrations of the calendar change, face...

Published 20 Dec, 2024 01:57pm

Europe

Italy’s Salvini risks jail as verdict due in migrant trial

PALERMO: An Italian court is set to rule Friday in the long-running trial of deputy premier Matteo Salvini, who...

Published 20 Dec, 2024 01:55pm

World

Rescuers extend search for Vanuatu quake survivors

PORT VILA: Rescuers say they have expanded a search for trapped survivors in quake-rocked Vanuatu to “numerous...

Published 20 Dec, 2024 01:53pm

Europe

Macron thanks Gisele Pelicot after France rape trial

PARIS: France’s president on Friday thanked Gisele Pelicot, the woman who was drugged and raped for a decade by her...

Published 20 Dec, 2024 01:52pm

Business & Finance

France’s debt grows further in challenge to new PM

PARIS: France’s public debt pile grew further in the third quarter, official data showed Friday, posing another...

Published 20 Dec, 2024 01:48pm

Asia

Malaysia agrees to resume search for missing MH370 plane

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s cabinet has agreed to a proposal to launch a new search for Malaysia Airlines flight MH370,...

Published 20 Dec, 2024 01:46pm

Europe

Poland summons Hungary envoy over asylum for ex-official

WARSAW: Poland has summoned Hungary’s ambassador and recalled its envoy for consultations to protest Budapest’s...

Published 20 Dec, 2024 01:43pm

South Asia

Sri Lanka navy rescues boat of 100 Rohingya refugees

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka’s navy said Friday it had rescued 102 Rohingya refugees from war-torn Myanmar adrift in a fishing...

Published 20 Dec, 2024 01:41pm

Europe

Russia conducted mass cyberattack on Ukraine’s state registries, deputy PM says

Russia has carried out a mass cyberattack on Ukraine’s state registries, Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Olha...

Published 20 Dec, 2024 12:45pm

Sports

FIFA chief hails women-only crowd at Iranian top-flight clash

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has offered “heartfelt gratitude” to Iranian authorities for allowing tens of...

Published 20 Dec, 2024 12:42pm

Commodities

China’s 2025 steel demand to fall 1.5% on year, state research institute says

BEIJING: China’s steel demand is forecast to fall 1.5% in 2025 and drop 4.4% in 2024 from the year before, the...

Published 20 Dec, 2024 12:34pm

Mutual Funds

JGB yields slide to one-month lows on dovish BOJ signals

TOKYO: Japanese government bond yields dropped to the lowest in a month on Friday, a day after Bank of Japan...

Published 20 Dec, 2024 12:21pm

Forex

Thai baht weaker vs US dollar at 0231 GMT

BANGKOK: The Thai baht dropped in morning trade on Friday as the US dollar remained supported by a hawkish US rate...

Published 20 Dec, 2024 12:19pm

Stocks

South Korean shares set to post weekly loss on hawkish Fed

SEOUL: Round-up of South Korean financial markets: South Korean shares fall on caution ahead of central bank events...

Published 20 Dec, 2024 12:16pm

Sports

Australia dump McSweeney, bring in teen Konstas for Boxing Day Test

SYDNEY: Australia have dumped Nathan McSweeney after three Tests and rushed uncapped teenager Sam Konstas into the...

Published 20 Dec, 2024 12:10pm

Stocks

China stocks rise, led by tech and banking shares; HK gaming stocks fall

SHANGHAI: China stocks rose on Friday, as signs of fresh Sino-US tensions in technology fuelled bets on shares of...

Published 20 Dec, 2024 12:03pm

Sports

Ruben Amorim praises United’s fightback in Spurs League Cup loss

Manager Ruben Amorim took heart from Manchester United’s fightback in Thursday’s 4-3 loss at Tottenham Hotspur in...

Published 20 Dec, 2024 12:01pm

Energy

China’s Nov fuel oil imports extend gains to seven-month high

SINGAPORE: China’s fuel oil imports hit their highest in seven months for November, customs data showed on Friday,...

Published 20 Dec, 2024 11:58am

Business & Finance

Colombia’s central bank board seen making 50 bp cut at last 2024 meeting

BOGOTA: The board of Colombia’s central bank will meet on Friday for its last meeting of the year, where analysts...

Published 20 Dec, 2024 11:54am

Commodities

Iron ore heads for weekly loss as seasonally weak demand weighs

BEIJING: Iron ore futures prices were rangebound on Friday but were set for a weekly loss, pressured by the...

Published 20 Dec, 2024 11:51am

Commodities

Palm recoups early losses after Indonesia hikes export levy, but set for weekly loss

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian palm oil futures recovered early declines on Friday after Indonesia hiked its export levy,...

Published 20 Dec, 2024 11:49am

Commodities

Copper rebounds from 5-week low, firmer dollar caps gains

SHANGHAI: Copper prices rebounded on Friday from a five-week low touched in the last session, as most base metals...

Published 20 Dec, 2024 11:47am

USA

Top US officials in Damascus to meet new Syrian rulers, State Department says

WASHINGTON: Top diplomats from the Biden administration are in Damascus on Friday to meet new Syrian authorities led...

Published 20 Dec, 2024 11:45am

Europe

UK finance minister to revive regular economic talks with China in January trip, sources says

BEIJING: Britain’s finance minister Rachel Reeves will visit China on a two-day trip in January to revive high-level...

Published 20 Dec, 2024 11:39am

Forex

China’s yuan heads for weekly fall as yield gap with US widens

SHANGHAI: China’s yuan was steady against the dollar on Friday, helped by firmer central bank guidance but was...

Published 20 Dec, 2024 11:36am

Business & Finance

Thailand expects cash flow of $2bn from tax break plan, official says

BANGKOK: Thailand expects a new tax break on consumption could create extra cash flow of 70 billion baht ($2...

Published 20 Dec, 2024 11:34am

Business & Finance

Malaysia’s November CPI rises 1.8% y/y, less than forecast

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s consumer price index rose 1.8% in November from a year earlier, government data showed on...

Published 20 Dec, 2024 11:30am

Commodities

China’s Nov soy imports from Brazil falls 25% y/y, US arrivals jump

BEIJING: China’s soybean imports from Brazil shrank 25% in November from a year earlier, while shipments from the...

Published 20 Dec, 2024 11:27am

World

Australia to boost police support to Solomon Islands amid competition with China

SYDNEY: Australia will provide over $100 million to the Solomon Islands to expand its police force so the Pacific...

Published 20 Dec, 2024 11:23am

Mutual Funds

India bond traders eye debt sale, central bank minutes for further cues

MUMBAI: Indian government bond yields were largely unchanged in early deals on Friday, with the benchmark bond...

Published 20 Dec, 2024 11:19am

Forex

No relief for Indian rupee as robust US data supports Fed’s hawkish stance

MUMBAI: The Indian rupee is likely to hold near its all-time low at the open on Friday after robust US data...

Updated 20 Dec, 2024 11:17am

Business & Finance

Philippine central bank governor says open to rate cut in early 2025

MANILA: The Philippine central bank is open to cutting rates at its first policy meeting in 2025, and is monitoring...

Published 20 Dec, 2024 11:16am

Stocks

Japan’s Nikkei set for weekly decline despite weak yen tailwind

TOKYO: Japan’s Nikkei share average on Friday was headed for its worst week since early November despite the...

Published 20 Dec, 2024 11:13am

Commodities

Strong US dollar pushes wheat closer to four-year lows

CANBERRA: Chicago wheat futures edged higher on Friday, but were set for a 3.5% weekly drop, pressured by a firmer...

Published 20 Dec, 2024 11:09am

Forex

South Korea to ease FX regulations to improve liquidity conditions

SEOUL: South Korea’s financial authorities said on Friday they would loosen foreign exchange regulations to improve...

Published 20 Dec, 2024 11:07am

Stocks

Australian shares extend losses for second straight session

Australian shares extended losses for the second straight session, dragged down by commodity stocks, a day after the...

Published 20 Dec, 2024 11:04am

Sports

Jack Draper out of United Cup but confident about Australian Open return

Briton Jack Draper has pulled out of the season-opening United Cup mixed team tournament in Australia due to a hip...

Published 20 Dec, 2024 11:01am

Bullion Rate

Gold set for weekly drop; traders await US data for cues

Gold prices were set for a weekly decline on Friday after the Federal Reserve’s verdict on its monetary...

Published 20 Dec, 2024 10:59am

Stocks

Indian shares set for muted open, IT in focus after upbeat Accenture results

Indian shares are set for a muted open on Friday after the previous session’s declines on concerns over a slower...

Published 20 Dec, 2024 10:54am

Pakistan-Azerbaijan PTA: FBR unveils tariff concessions on imports

ISLAMABAD: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has announced tariff concessions on the import of items under Pakistan...

Updated 20 Dec, 2024 09:59am

Gas price hike: Industrialists urge govt to revisit decision

KARACHI: Industrialists have strongly opposed the proposed gas price hike, urging the federal government to...

Updated 20 Dec, 2024 09:26am

BR Research

Power generation inches up at snail’s pace

Power generation in November 2024 went up nearly 6 percent year-on-year at 7.7 billion units. This comes at the back...

Published 20 Dec, 2024 09:05am

BR Research

Cordoba Logistics & Ventures Limited

Cordoba Logistics & Ventures Limited (PS: CLVL) was incorporated in Pakistan as a public limited company in...

Published 20 Dec, 2024 08:47am

2022 Sindh floods: WB Board likely to approve $450m housing project today

ISLAMABAD: The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors is likely to approve “Sindh Flood Emergency Housing...

Updated 20 Dec, 2024 08:58am

FO says fresh US sanctions ‘biased’

ISLAMABAD: Calling the decision “biased”, Pakistan on Thursday vociferously reacted to the imposition of United...

Updated 20 Dec, 2024 08:57am

Business & Finance

Japan’s core inflation accelerates, keeps BOJ rate-hike chance alive

TOKYO: Japan’s core inflation accelerated in November as rising food and fuel costs hit households, data showed on...

Published 20 Dec, 2024 08:53am

USA

Senators urge Biden to grant ByteDance 90-day reprieve from law requiring sale

WASHINGTON: Democratic Senator Ed Markey and Republican Senator Rand Paul on Thursday urged President Joe Biden to...

Published 20 Dec, 2024 08:45am

USA

Lawsuit alleges U.S. failed to evacuate Palestinian Americans trapped in Gaza

WASHINGTON: Nine Palestinian Americans sued the U.S. government on Thursday, alleging that it had failed to rescue...

Published 20 Dec, 2024 08:40am

BR’s refresher: your morning briefing for the day

Important updates from December 19, 2024

Published 20 Dec, 2024 08:38am

USA

Biden to travel to Rome in January to meet with Pope Francis

WASHINGTON: U.S. President Joe Biden will travel to Rome in January to meet with Pope Francis and Italian Prime...

Published 20 Dec, 2024 08:33am

USA

FAA banning drone flights over New Jersey, New York sites

WASHINGTON: The Federal Aviation Administration on Thursday said it was temporarily barring drone flights over 22...

Published 20 Dec, 2024 08:29am

USA

Trump-backed spending deal fails in House, shutdown approaches

WASHINGTON: A spending bill backed by Donald Trump failed in the U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday as dozens...

Published 20 Dec, 2024 08:24am

Business & Finance

Nike warns its turnaround will be a slog, after results beat expectations

Nike, offered a muted forecast on Thursday, reversing gains in its shares made earlier in the day after the...

Published 20 Dec, 2024 08:14am

Stocks

Asian shares pinned near three-month lows, dollar towers at 2-yr peak

SYDNEY: Asian shares were pinned near three-month lows on Friday as investors awaited key U.S. inflation data that...

Published 20 Dec, 2024 08:06am

Forex

Dollar set to end week on a high, yen at five-month low

SINGAPORE: The dollar was set to cap the week on a strong note on Friday as it was perched near a two-year high...

Published 20 Dec, 2024 07:59am

World

Starbucks workers’ union to strike in LA, Chicago, Seattle before Christmas

The workers’ union representing more than 10,000 Starbucks baristas said its members will strike at stores in Los...

Published 20 Dec, 2024 07:53am

Sports

Rizwan, Babar steer Pakistan to ODI series win over South Africa

CAPE TOWN: Pakistan veterans Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan laid the foundation for a convincing, series-clinching...

Published 20 Dec, 2024 03:08am

Opinion

Tax amendment bill

The Finance Minister has introduced a very important and pertinent tax amendment bill in the National Assembly. This...