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Archive

World

Wednesday, December 30, 2020

UK imposes further English lockdowns as COVID variant spreads
Europe

UK imposes further English lockdowns as COVID variant spreads

  • Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the Midlands, the north east, parts of the north west and parts of the south west would be moved into Tier 4 from 00.01 on Thursday.
  • Unfortunately this new variant is now spreading across most of England and cases are doubling fast.
Published 30 Dec, 2020 08:32pm
U.S ‘grateful’ to Pakistan for appealing acquittals in Daniel Pearl case
USA

U.S ‘grateful’ to Pakistan for appealing acquittals in Daniel Pearl case

  • The United States Department of Justice released a statement thanking the Pakistan government for appealing against a court order acquitting Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh, who was convicted over the 2002 beheading of the Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl.
  • This controversial decision is now being appealed separately by the Pakistani government, and by Pearl's family in the Supreme Court; stating that Sheikh's release from prison would endanger the public.
Published 30 Dec, 2020 07:33pm
Italy parliament gives final approval to government's 2021 budget
Europe

Italy parliament gives final approval to government's 2021 budget

  • Sidetracked by the coronavirus emergency and tensions in the ruling majority, the government rushed the budget through parliament leaving little opportunity for debate.
  • In a final vote of confidence the Senate approved the package with 156 votes in favour and 124 against.
Updated 30 Dec, 2020 07:41pm
Slow French start to COVID-19 vaccinations draws critics
Europe

Slow French start to COVID-19 vaccinations draws critics

  • France, which is primarily targeting the most vulnerable people in nursing homes for the first phase of vaccination.
  • That is well below the 42,000 tally in Germany, for instance, which also began its roll-out on Sunday as part of a coordinated European campaign.
Published 30 Dec, 2020 07:08pm
India's current account surplus shrinks in latest quarter
South Asia

India's current account surplus shrinks in latest quarter

  • The surplus stood at 2.4% of the gross domestic product in the latest quarter, compared with a deficit of $7.6 billion, or 1.1% of GDP.
  • The current account surplus remained robust in Q2 FY2021, despite the entirely expected moderation from the level recorded in the lockdown quarter.
Published 30 Dec, 2020 07:00pm
Convicted U.S spy greeted by Netanyahu as he arrives in Israel
Middle East

Convicted U.S spy greeted by Netanyahu as he arrives in Israel

  • On Wednesday, Jonathan Pollard, an American jailed in the United States since 1985 on charges of spying for Israel, landed in Israel where he was received by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
  • Israel's raid on the Palestinian Liberation Organisation's Tunis headquarters in October 1985, that killed around 60 people, was planned through information from Pollard.
Updated 30 Dec, 2020 07:05pm
WHO, marking year since COVID-19 began, urges fair vaccine distribution to all
Europe

WHO, marking year since COVID-19 began, urges fair vaccine distribution to all

  • Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO director-general, appealed for $4 billion to buy COVID-19 vaccines for distribution in lower and middle-income countries.
  • Vaccines offer great hope to turn the tide of the pandemic. But to protect the world, we must ensure that all people at risk everywhere - not just in countries who can afford vaccines - are immunised.
Updated 30 Dec, 2020 06:36pm
China's Xi, EU leaders to hold call on investment deal
Europe

China's Xi, EU leaders to hold call on investment deal

  • EU chiefs Ursula von der Leyen and Charles Michel will be joined by German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron on the call, the EU said.
  • The deal addresses complaints by the EU and US about China’s industrial subsidies and forced technology transfers.
Published 30 Dec, 2020 04:57pm
UK approves AstraZeneca/Oxford COVID-19 vaccine
Europe

UK approves AstraZeneca/Oxford COVID-19 vaccine

  • We welcome this news because of the delivery attributes, the potential scale and affordability.
  • Vaccination is the key to getting out of this pandemic. Preventing death and suffering is key. It is the key to getting our normal lives back.
Updated 30 Dec, 2020 05:16pm
Using drones, tunnels and new routes, Mexico’s drug cartels seek to fend off the COVID’s economic fallout
USA

Using drones, tunnels and new routes, Mexico’s drug cartels seek to fend off the COVID’s economic fallout

  • The coronavirus pandemic had an unprecedented impact on the global economy, thrusting economies into uncharted territory - and drug cartels were no different.
  • The cartel - being one of the world's most powerful drug trafficking groups - used a mix of ingenuity and business acumen to adapt to the rapidly changing circumstances in a pandemic-stricken world.
Updated 30 Dec, 2020 05:22pm
Nurse tests positive for COVID-19 after receiving Pfizer vaccine: report
USA

Nurse tests positive for COVID-19 after receiving Pfizer vaccine: report

  • Matthew W. said in a Facebook post on December 18 that he had received the Pfizer vaccine, telling the ABC News affiliate that his arm was sore for a day but that he had suffered no other side-effects.
  • He went to a drive-up hospital testing site and tested positive for COVID-19 the day after Christmas, the report said.
Published 30 Dec, 2020 03:41pm
Defying Trump, McConnell puts off vote on $2,000 checks, urges override of defense bill veto
USA

Defying Trump, McConnell puts off vote on $2,000 checks, urges override of defense bill veto

  • Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Tuesday put off a vote on increasing COVID-19 relief checks from $600 to $2,000 and urged senators to override President Donald Trump’s veto of a defense bill.
  • McConnell tied the larger checks, which were demanded by Trump and supported by Democrats, to two other measures the president wants but which most Democrats oppose.
Published 30 Dec, 2020 03:39pm
Syrian soldier killed in Israeli air raid near Damascus
Middle East

Syrian soldier killed in Israeli air raid near Damascus

  • One Syrian soldier has been killed, with several others wounded, in an Israeli attack on a military compound in the outskirts of Damascus, on Wednesday.
  • Since the start of the prolonged civil war in 2011, Israel has launched hundreds of air raids on Syria, targeting pro-government troops, allied Iranian forces and Hezbollah fighters.
Updated 30 Dec, 2020 03:36pm
First US Congressmember dies of Covid-19
World

First US Congressmember dies of Covid-19

  • "Congressman-elect Letlow was a ninth generation Louisianan who fought passionately for his point of view and dedicated his life to public service," Pelosi said in the statement.
Published 30 Dec, 2020 11:43am