WORLD
EU launches $340 bn infrastructure plan to rival China
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the global gateway scheme should become a trusted brand. China has funded rail, roads and ports, but has been accused of leaving some countries saddled with debt. The Commission chief said countries need "trusted partners" to design projects that are sustainable, the report said.
Most Americans view China as top threat
The poll was conducted for this year's Reagan National Defense Survey, with the institute comparing the results to how Americans viewed a variety of issues in 2018. In contrast, only 21 per cent viewed China as the top threat in 2018, when 30 per cent had named Russia. In 2021, China was in front for members of both parties, as 44 per cent Democrats saw it as the biggest threat, while 64 per cent Republicans said the same.
Pak to ban imported cars to slash massive current account deficit
With the approval of a temporary ban on the import of CBU, the government wanted to curtail its import bill to the tune of over $3 billion on annual basis, the report said. Now the government seems worrying that with the existing pace, the CAD might cross the $15 billion mark for the current fiscal year.
US FDA experts narrowly recommend Merck's Covid-19 new drug molnupiravir
The drug, known as molnupiravir, has shown efficacy to modestly reduce the risk of hospitalisation and death, predominantly from the Delta, Mu and Gamma variants, reported The New York Times (NYT). Merck plans to study whether molnupiravir is effective against the Omicron variant that was discovered days ago.
UK & India about to embark on FTA negotiations
A source close to the process stated that there is "a meeting of political minds"; in other words, both Boris Johnson and Narendra Modi are streenuously behind the move. This could mean flexibility where otherwise, if left to bureaucrats, there would be rigidity. An upbeat UK India Business Council (UKIBC) posted on its website: "We believe it is both the right ambition and is eminently achievable."
What vaccine makers are saying on protection against Omicron variant
All major drug makers including Pfizer, Moderna, Johnson and Johnson, and AstraZeneca have said that they are working to quickly investigate and adapt their shots to a new and highly mutated strain of the virus. Pfizer and BioNTech said they are investigating the new, heavily mutated variant, the Wall Street Journal reported.
EU investment plan to rival China's Belt and Road
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will present the "Global Gateway" initiative on Wednesday. The EU is looking at how it can leverage billions of euros, drawn from member states, financial institutions and the private sector, the report said. Von der Leyen said in her State of the Union speech in September: "We want investments in quality infrastructure, connecting goods, people and services around the world."
Pashtuns in Balochistan in revolt against Islamabad as ethnic nationalism in Pakistan soars
PTM leader Ali Wazir, who has been under arrest for 11 months, is Member of Parliament from South Waziristan. The PTM rally also asked the government to take back the 'Criminal law Ordinance'-by the Balochistan assembly that bans protests in the province. Under the 'Criminal Law Balochistan Amendment Ordinance', the government can arrest anyone without warrant for three to six months and impose a fine of Rs 10,000. The ordinance has come into immediate effect.
Xi's top secret speeches behind China's plans to alter religious, demographic composition of Uyghurs
While China has continued to deny all allegations that said Beijing is committing genocide against Uyghurs, the six speeches from April 2014 that surfaced in the leaked data imply otherwise. The data named after the Chinese region that is home to the majority of the Uyghur population was leaked to Uyghur Tribunal which is an independent tribunal based in the UK.
Blast hits Kabul, causing panic among war-weary Afghans
The blast, according to the Interior Ministry, took place at 09:40 a.m. local time on Tuesday when an improvised explosive device placed in a vase put on the Darul Aman road went off, causing no casualties. "There was a blast on Tuesday morning but left no casualties," Interior Ministry spokesman Qari Sayed Khosti said.
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