News Archives for World - 2021-02-19

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World - 2021-02-19

Europe

G7 says to counter 'non-market' policies from China to ensure free trade

ith the aim of supporting a fair and mutually beneficial global economic system for all people, we will engage with others, especially G20 countries including large economies such as China.
As leaders, we will consult with each other on collective approaches to address non-market oriented policies and practices, and we will cooperate with others to address important global issues that impact all countries.

Published 19 Feb, 2021 09:12pm

USA

US factory activity slows in February but supply bottlenecks push up prices

The data was in line with economists' forecasts, with a reading above 50 indicating growth in manufacturing, which accounts for 11.9% of the US economy.
The supply chain bottlenecks, which are widespread across the manufacturing sector as well as the services industry, have led to higher prices for inputs, including raw materials.

Published 19 Feb, 2021 09:05pm

Europe

EU doubles contribution to COVAX with over $600mn in new funding

The contribution consists of a 300 million euro grant and 200 million euros in guarantees by the European Fund for Sustainable Development plus (EFSD+) that will back a loan by the European Investment Bank.
They are targeting to deliver 1.3 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines to 92 low- and middle-income countries by the end of 2021.

Published 19 Feb, 2021 09:03pm

USA

US existing home sales unexpectedly rise in January

Home resales, which account for the bulk of US home sales, surged 23.7% on a year-on-year basis.
The inventory crunch could ease as builders step up construction, though they are facing challenges from record lumber prices as well as shortages of land and labor.

Published 19 Feb, 2021 08:59pm

USA

Brazil 2021 inflation forecasts revised up, central bank target in spotlight

Banco Itau's economics team, led by chief economist Mario Mesquita, on Friday raised its 2021 inflation forecast to 3.8% from 3.6%, citing strong industrial price pressures.
We emphasize that the (upward) pressure of industrial costs is also being seen in other economies, given the robust demand recovery after coronavirus shock and surging commodity prices.

Published 19 Feb, 2021 08:49pm

USA

Biden, in Munich speech, to say democracy must prevail over autocracy

We have to defend it. Strengthen it. Renew it. We have to prove that our model isn't a relic of our history.
I know that we will meet every challenge and outpace every challenger.

Published 19 Feb, 2021 08:47pm

Europe

Germany pledges additional 1.5 bn euros for COVAX and WHO

We can only get out of the pandemic with vaccinations. We need to make progress on this, at home and abroad.
With today's announcement we make clear: We're standing side-by-side with the poorest countries.

Published 19 Feb, 2021 08:44pm

USA

Canada says COVID-19 variants are boosting threat of a spring resurgence

The comments were the latest from medical authorities across the country expressing concern that the new variants could trigger a third wave of the coronavirus.
A new, longer-range forecast that includes variants of concern indicates a strong resurgence unless we have stringent measures and strict adherence.

Published 19 Feb, 2021 08:41pm

Europe

'Jobs and growth' are the medicine the world needs, Johnson tells G7

G7 leaders, including Biden, meet virtually on COVID-19.
Leaders to talk about repairing the world economy.
Climate change and China also on the agenda.
Italy's Draghi to join G7 leaders' club.
Johnson asks Merkel to mute on G7 call.

Published 19 Feb, 2021 08:38pm

USA

White House working with Facebook and Twitter to tackle anti-vaxxers

Disinformation that causes vaccine hesitancy is going to be a huge obstacle to getting everyone vaccinated and there are no larger players in that than the social media platforms.
"We are talking to them ... so they understand the importance of misinformation and disinformation and how they can get rid of it quickly."

Published 19 Feb, 2021 08:35pm

South Asia

Myanmar protester dies after 10 days on life support; pressure grows on army

Protesters gather daily for two weeks.
UN calls on security forces to avoid using force.
Japan, India, US, Australia agree on need to restore democracy.
Military had said it expected sanctions.

Published 19 Feb, 2021 08:24pm

Energy

Russia's FinMin proposes tax breaks for hard-to-recover gas output

The RBC daily reported last year that Rosneft had asked the government to ease taxes for the formation where it plans to develop the giant Kharampur project with its shareholder, BP .
The ministry said it has proposed to cut the mineral extraction tax for Berezovskaya. The proposal is subject to further discussion.

Published 19 Feb, 2021 07:49pm

Europe

EU moves to allow continued data flows to Britain after Brexit

Ensuring free and safe flow of personal data is crucial for businesses and citizens on both sides of the Channel. The UK has left the EU, but not the European privacy family.
This should be completed before the end of June, when an interim arrangement for data flows after Brexit ends.

Published 19 Feb, 2021 07:48pm

South Asia

France's Total says it is concerned about Myanmar situation

The Business & Human Rights Resource Centre, a group that promotes human rights in business and tracks human rights policy of thousands of companies.
At this time, we are closely following the current situation in the country and working to ensure the health, safety and security of our employees and our contractors.

Published 19 Feb, 2021 07:44pm

Europe

UK economy shows signs of stabilisation after new lockdown hit

Surveys suggest UK businesses stabilised in February.
Retail sales slump 8.2% m/m in January.
Borrowing much lower than expected at 8.8 billion pounds.
Sunak says he will be honest about fixing budget hole.
Economist sees big tax rises in 2022.

Published 19 Feb, 2021 07:27pm

Europe

UK government broke the law by failing to disclose PPE contracts, court rules

As COVID-19 swept across the world last year, Britain scrambled to secure protective gear for medics and nurses on the front line.
The Secretary of State spent vast quantities of public money on pandemic-related procurements during 2020.

Published 19 Feb, 2021 07:19pm

Africa

Ghana expects first delivery of AstraZeneca vaccine shots

The country will spend around $3 for every two shots of vaccine and inoculate around 20 million people against the virus, according to the plan.
On the estimated cost, we are looking at...for every person getting two shots, that would cost nearly $3 per person fully vaccinated for the two doses.

Published 19 Feb, 2021 07:17pm

Europe

Moscow goes green: Russian capital eyes fully electric bus fleet by 2030

"Every year the plan will be to replace all wheeled public transport vehicles with electric buses," said Artyom Burlakov, deputy head of the innovative projects department at Mosgortrans.
They are also buying new, more power-efficient trams, which is a good thing.

Published 19 Feb, 2021 07:13pm

South Asia

India court extends activist Ravi's detention over farm protest

"This court remands the accused, Disha Ravi, to judicial custody for three days," judge Akash Jain said.
Senior lawyers and lawmakers have criticised the sedition case, disputing the allegation by police that the document in question incited violence.

Published 19 Feb, 2021 07:01pm

South Asia

Iran will reverse nuclear actions when US lifts sanctions: Zarif

Iran considering US offer to talk about deal's revival.
Washington must return to the deal, senior official says.
Then a way to 'synchronise steps' can be agreed, he says.
'Give diplomacy a chance', says Iranian official.

Published 19 Feb, 2021 06:57pm

Africa

South Africa adviser says Pfizer 'still very good vaccine' despite study

The advisory committee held its regular weekly meeting on Thursday and discussed the laboratory study, which was published in the New England Journal of Medicine this week.
South Africa is counting on the Pfizer shot, developed with German partner BioNTech, to step up its vaccination programme after administering its first Johnson & Johnson doses on Wednesday.

Published 19 Feb, 2021 06:55pm

Europe

Spain close to vaccinating all nursing-home residents, on track for summer goals

Pedro Sanchez said, which has administered 2.8 million doses and fully inoculated 1.14 million people, was on track to vaccinate 20 million people in the first half of 2021 out of a population of 47 million.
They are very positive data that allow us to be optimistic about the future.

Updated 19 Feb, 2021 06:56pm

South Asia

Japan will need nuclear power in 2050-utilities group head

Scientifically, we may have a breakthrough in storage battery technology that may enable renewable power to meet the entire electricity demand by 2050.
In terms of public opinion, we are not yet at the stage to talk about building new power plants or replacing existing plants.

Published 19 Feb, 2021 06:23pm

Europe

Ukraine's death rate jumps 42.9pc in December

Overall in 2020, Ukraine, a country of 41 million, reported 6.1% more fatalities - or 616,835 people - than in the previous year.
The figure marks a lower per capita death rate than seen in many European countries, a fact the government attributes to its tough lockdown measures.

Published 19 Feb, 2021 05:49pm

Europe

Dutch government fighting in court and Senate to keep coronavirus curfew

Meanwhile, an appeals court was hearing more arguments about whether it had ever been legal to introduce the curfew, which triggered street protests when it was brought in last month.
Protesters and political opponents say the curfew, the first seen in the Netherlands since World War Two, is a unnecessary restriction on freedoms.

Published 19 Feb, 2021 05:48pm

South Asia

Chinese fighters buzz Taiwan's air zone as it appoints new defence minister

Taiwan reports eight Chinese fighters in defence zone.
Taiwan announces new defence, intelligence chiefs.
Tensions have risen as China asserts sovereignty claims.

Published 19 Feb, 2021 05:33pm

Europe

Bulgaria to give COVID-19 shots to all who want them amid high public mistrust

Over 70% of teachers and workers in sensitive infrastructure that had priority for inoculations after frontline medics did not show up for their appointments, health officials said.
Bulgaria has a population of 7 million people but has administered only 90,500 shots against COVID-19 so far. About 25,400 people have had two shots.

Published 19 Feb, 2021 05:31pm

Europe

Moody's says Hungary's economy could grow by 3pc in 2021

Hungary's central bank had projected GDP growth of 3.5%-6.0% for this year in its last inflation report in December.
The outlook would return to stable, or downward rating pressure could arise if there were signs of a (post-pandemic) weakened commitment by policymakers to contain the budget deficit.

Published 19 Feb, 2021 05:28pm

Africa

African Union says Russia offers 300mn doses of Sputnik V vaccine

Africa scrambling to secure vaccine supplies.
Lags wealthier parts of world in immunisations.
Deal could be among biggest by Russia to date.
Russia says most deliveries to start from June.

Published 19 Feb, 2021 05:26pm

South Asia

Facebook's Australia news blackout: a shock four years in the making

Yet this was a shock four years in the making - a potential global turning point for regulation of big social media companies that began with Australia's complex, provincial politics in 2017.
If there is a viable rival to Facebook in years to come, its genesis will be the event that occurred in Australia on the 18th of February.

Published 19 Feb, 2021 05:22pm

Europe

UK court blocks release of HSBC papers in Huawei CFO fraud case

Meng is facing charges of bank fraud in the United States for allegedly misleading HSBC about Huawei's business dealings in Iran, causing the bank to violate US sanctions.
The judge's written judgment on Friday declined Meng's application and ordered her team to pay legal costs of 80,000 pounds ($111,936).

Published 19 Feb, 2021 05:19pm

Europe

COVID-19 prevalence in England falls again, 1 in 115 people infected

In the previous week, the ONS estimated the prevalence to be one in 80 people. Johnson is set to set out his roadmap out of England's third national lockdown on Monday.

Published 19 Feb, 2021 05:09pm

MENA

Iran will reverse nuclear actions when U.S. lifts sanctions: Zarif

Iran will “immediately reverse” actions in its nuclear programme when U.S. sanctions are lifted, its foreign minister said on Friday, reiterating Tehran’s position on Washington’s offer to revive talks.
The Biden Administration said on Thursday it was ready to revive a 2015 agreement between Iran and world powers that former president Donald Trump abandoned in 2018 before reimposing sanctions on Iran.

Updated 19 Feb, 2021 05:06pm

UN experts raise concern over India's move to enact laws in IIOJK that could discriminate Muslims, other minorities

“The number of successful applicants for domicile certificates that appear to be from outside Jammu and Kashmir raises concerns that demographic change on a linguistic, religious and ethnic basis is already underway,” the UN experts said.
The experts are in contact with the Indian government on this matter.

Published 19 Feb, 2021 02:42pm

USA

President Biden to focus on COVID-19, China, at his first G7 summit

In his upcoming meeting with world leaders from the G-7, President Joe Biden plans to focus on the global response to the pandemic, according to the White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki on Thursday.
The Trump Administration held a volatile relationship with China, placing tariffs on Chinese goods and blocking supplies to Chinese telecommunications companies; while Biden as repeatedly taken aim at China for its treatment of the minority Uyghur community.

Updated 19 Feb, 2021 01:26pm

Biden to visit Pfizer factory as Americans clamor for more COVID-19 vaccine supply

Globally, Pfizer and BioNTech aim to make 2 billion doses of the COVID-19 vaccine this year. Pfizer's chief financial officer told Reuters earlier this month that it had recently doubled the size of the batches of its vaccine and increased the number of batches it was producing.

Published 19 Feb, 2021 12:15pm

Afghanistan peace talks under threat as major Taliban spring offensive takes shape

“Taliban violence is much higher than historical norms,” Miller told Reuters. “It just doesn’t create the conditions to move forward in what is hopefully a historic turning point for Afghanistan.”

Published 19 Feb, 2021 12:14pm

Iran is playing with fire, Germany warns

“The more pressure is applied, the more difficult it gets to find a political solution,” German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas

Published 19 Feb, 2021 12:12pm

Israeli study finds Pfizer vaccine 85% effective after first shot

The Sheba Medical Center’s findings compare with overall efficacy of around 95% in a two dose regimen 21 days apart for the shot developed with Germany’s BioNTech.

Published 19 Feb, 2021 11:57am

Canada vows to be next country to go after Facebook to pay for news

Facebook blocked all Australian news content on its service over proposed legislation requiring it and Alphabet Inc’s Google to pay fees to Australian publishers for news links.

Published 19 Feb, 2021 11:35am

Japan to receive second vaccine shipment on Sunday, Jiji says

Japan launched its inoculation drive on Wednesday, giving medical personnel the Pfizer-BionTech vaccine.

Published 19 Feb, 2021 11:34am

New look at first black hole detected shows it is bigger than expected

While it is still one of the closest-known black holes, they found it is somewhat farther away than previously calculated, at 7,200 light years - the distance light travels in a year, 5.9 trillion miles (9.5 trillion km) - from Earth.

Published 19 Feb, 2021 11:31am

Rich nations stockpiling a billion more COVID-19 vaccine shots than needed: Report

In an analysis of current supply deals for COVID-19 vaccines, the ONE Campaign said wealthy countries, such as the United States and Britain, should share the excess doses to “supercharge” a fully global response to the pandemic.
On Thursday, the World Health Organization urged nations with vaccines not to share them unilaterally, but to donate them to the global COVAX scheme to ensure fairness.

Updated 19 Feb, 2021 02:55pm

Kamala Harris's stepdaughter makes catwalk debut in New York

The final-year student at the Parsons School of Design in New York is also a knitwear designer.

Published 19 Feb, 2021 11:08am

US offers to meet Iran, reverses Trump steps in push to save nuclear deal

"This gets us back into a position where we can work within that framework and work with our closest allies, in particular on addressing our concerns with Iran."

Published 19 Feb, 2021 11:05am

Taliban 'clearly' behind violence in Afghanistan: US

A study mandated by the US Congress has called for a delay in the pullout, warning it would effectively hand the Taliban a victory.

Published 19 Feb, 2021 11:00am

Senator's Mexico trip draws ire as Texas hit by winter storm

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki offered a dry assessment of the incident when questioned by journalists.

Published 19 Feb, 2021 10:58am

US seeks fallback Saudi bases in case of Iran tensions

The show of force was intended to deter Tehran from carrying out any attack on US forces on the first anniversary of the assassination by the United States of top Iranian general Qassem Soleimani.

Published 19 Feb, 2021 10:49am

Facebook, Google, Twitter CEOs will testify about misinformation before U.S. Congress

This will be the seventh time Zuckerberg has testified before Congress since 2018.

Published 19 Feb, 2021 10:30am

US consults Japan, South Korea on North Korea review

The Trump administration argued that it ended a diplomatic logjam and effectively stopped North Korea's nuclear and missile tests, although critics say that Pyongyang nonetheless advanced on the programs.

Published 19 Feb, 2021 10:23am

Malaysian news site hit with massive fine amid press freedom fears

It was a split decision, with one of the seven judges dissenting.

Published 19 Feb, 2021 10:05am

China confirms four died in June clash on India border

Beijing and New Delhi later sent tens of thousands of extra troops to the border.

Published 19 Feb, 2021 10:02am

Myanmar generals under sanctions pressure

"We will be waiting for the EU sanctions announcement" on Monday, said Thinzar Shunlei Yi, one of the main activists who kicked off an online "Civil Disobedience Movement" campaign which has spilled onto the streets.

Published 19 Feb, 2021 09:46am

One in four UK firms plan to fire staff if furlough ends soon

LONDON: A quarter of British businesses expect to fire staff if finance minister Rishi Sunak does not extend a job...

Published 19 Feb, 2021 04:07am

UK Black and South Asian groups lag in vaccinations

LONDON: Only 55% of Black people in England in their 70s had been vaccinated against COVID-19 by last week compared...

Published 19 Feb, 2021 04:07am

US life expectancy fell by a year as Covid hit

WASHINGTON: Life expectancy in the United States fell by a whole year in the first half of 2020 as the Covid-19...

Published 19 Feb, 2021 04:07am

Backlash grows as Facebook imposes Australia news blackout

BRISBANE, (Australia): Facebook was branded “arrogant” and “unconscionable” for banning Australian users ...

Published 19 Feb, 2021 04:07am

USA

Democrats to introduce Biden immigration bill amid long odds to passage

Democrats will on Thursday formally introduce President Joe Biden’s sweeping immigration bill in Congress, a measure that would provide a path to U.S. citizenship for an estimated 11 million immigrants in the country illegally, but the proposal faces long odds to passage.

Published 19 Feb, 2021 12:09am

Asia

UK and Canada impose sanctions on Myanmar generals after coup

Britain and Canada imposed sanctions on Myanmar’s ruling generals on Thursday for toppling the civilian-led government while Japan said it had agreed with the United States, India and Australia that democracy must be restored there quickly.

Published 19 Feb, 2021 12:06am

Previous Day

Forex
World
Commodity

Currency	Rate
USD PKR Interbank Selling / May 17	278.30
USD PKR Interbank Buying / May 17	278.10
USD to Japanese Yen / May 17	155.67
USD to Swiss Franc / May 17	0.91
Pound Sterling to USD / May 17	1.27
Euro to USD / May 17	1.09

Stock	Volume
S&P 500 / May 17	5303.27
India Sensex / May 17	73917.03
Tokyo Nikkei / May 17	38787.38
Nasdaq / May 17	16685.97
Hang Seng / May 17	19535.61
FTSE 100 / May 17	8420.26
Dow Jones / May 17	40003.59
Germany DAX 30 / May 17	18704.42

Item	Value
Crude Oil USD/Barrel / May 17	79.59
Karachi Cotton PKR/37.32 KG / May 17	19935
Gold 10 Grams PKR / May 17	210562
Gold Spot USD/Ounce / May 17	2386.18
Cotton US¢/pound / May 17	76.29
Petrol/Litre / May 18	273.10

Gainers
Losers
Leaders

Stock	Price
786 Invest Ltd / May 18 786 Investments Limited(786)	5 ▼ 0.00 (0.00%)
AL-Abbas Sugar / May 18 Al-Abbas Sugar Mills Limited(AABS)	585 ▼ 0.00 (0.00%)
Agro Allianz / May 18 Agro Allianz Limited(AAL)	16 ▼ 0.00 (0.00%)
AL-Abid Silk / May 18 Al-Abid Silk Mills Limited(AASM)	3.49 ▼ 0.00 (0.00%)
Ali Asghar / May 18 Ali Asghar Textile Mills Limited(AATM)	2.07 ▼ 0.00 (0.00%)
Allied Bank / May 18 Allied Bank Limited(ABL)	87.10 ▼ 0.00 (0.00%)
Abbott Lab. / May 18 Abbott Laboratories (Pakistan) Limited(ABOT)	499.34 ▼ 0.00 (0.00%)
Abson Ind. / May 18 Abson Industries Limited(ABSON)	2.50 ▼ 0.00 (0.00%)
Alfalah ETF. / May 18 Alfalah Consumer Index ETF.(ACIETF)	9.84 ▼ 0.00 (0.00%)

Stock	Price
786 Invest Ltd / May 18 786 Investments Limited(786)	5 ▲ 0.00 (0.00%)
AL-Abbas Sugar / May 18 Al-Abbas Sugar Mills Limited(AABS)	585 ▲ 0.00 (0.00%)
Agro Allianz / May 18 Agro Allianz Limited(AAL)	16 ▲ 0.00 (0.00%)
AL-Abid Silk / May 18 Al-Abid Silk Mills Limited(AASM)	3.49 ▲ 0.00 (0.00%)
Ali Asghar / May 18 Ali Asghar Textile Mills Limited(AATM)	2.07 ▲ 0.00 (0.00%)
Allied Bank / May 18 Allied Bank Limited(ABL)	87.10 ▲ 0.00 (0.00%)
Abbott Lab. / May 18 Abbott Laboratories (Pakistan) Limited(ABOT)	499.34 ▲ 0.00 (0.00%)
Abson Ind. / May 18 Abson Industries Limited(ABSON)	2.50 ▲ 0.00 (0.00%)
Alfalah ETF. / May 18 Alfalah Consumer Index ETF.(ACIETF)	9.84 ▲ 0.00 (0.00%)

Stock	Volume
P.I.A.C.(A) / May 18 Pakistan International Airlines Corp(PIAA)	47,200,500 ▲ 0.00
Cnergyico PK / May 18 Cnergyico PK Limited(CNERGY)	29,719,327 ▲ 0.00
Pak Petroleum / May 18 Pakistan Petroleum Limited(PPL)	21,170,581 ▲ 0.00
Pak Refinery / May 18 Pakistan Refinery Limited(PRL)	16,965,134 ▲ 0.00
The Searle Co. / May 18 The Searle Company Limited(SEARL)	15,793,227 ▲ 0.00
P.T.C.L. / May 18 Pakistan Telecommunication Company Ltd(PTC)	15,054,641 ▲ 0.00
K-Electric Ltd. / May 18 K-Electric Limited(KEL)	14,145,556 ▲ 0.00
WorldCall Telecom / May 18 Worldcall Telecom Limited(WTL)	13,158,668 ▲ 0.00
Telecard Limited / May 18 Telecard Limited(TELE)	12,358,668 ▲ 0.00

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