WORLD
Covid killed more people in US than HIV/AIDS did in 40 yrs
The US government's initial approach to both HIV/AIDS and Covid-19 was "denial and indifference", Xinhua news agency quoted the report by The National website published on Friday. When AIDS rampaged through communities in parts of the US in the early 1980s, the federal government looked the other way and even slashed spending on public health agencies, said the report. As to the Covid-19 pandemic, when it was reported in the US, the White House played down the risks, dismissing it as akin to "a regular flu", it said.
Has FATF failed in its duty to blacklist Pakistan?
FATF, the global body working to combat financing of terrorism and money laundering let Pakistan off the hook, despite Islamabad's repeated failure to adequately investigate and prosecute senior leaders and commanders of UN-designated terrorist groups. Nevertheless, Pakistan remains grey-listed -a dubious position that it has maintained for more than three years in a row.
Turkey denounces addition to FATF 'grey' list
"We all know that this decision is not a just and appropriate decision, but a political decision," he said at a press conference. "It is Europe and the West that finances terrorism and gives it strength and direction. We are the ones who pay the price and struggle of this, but it is Turkey that they blame." Along with Turkey, the FATF also place Mali and Jordan on its increased monitoring list, reports Xinhua news agency.
Xi vows to bolster ties with N.Korea in letter to Kim
Xi made the remarks in a reply to North Korean leader Kim's earlier letter to mark the 72nd Chinese National Day, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). In the reply, Xi said he has highly taken note of relations between North Korea and China, and expressed his willingness to raise bilateral ties to a "new level", Yonhap News Agency reported citing KCNA. North Korea and China have emphasised their close relations amid the paused nuclear talks between Pyongyang and Washington, and an escalating rivalry between the two superpowers.
NATO defence plan justifies Russia severing ties with it: Kremlin
Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov made the remarks during his daily briefing on Friday after NATO Defence Ministers agreed on a new master plan a day earlier to defend against Russian threats on multiple fronts, reports Xinhua news agency. The Kremlin said that the new plan of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to deter Russia fully justifies Moscow's decision to end all official dialogue with the alliance.
3 policemen killed in clashes with TLP workers in Lahore
In a statement, Lahore DIG (Operation) spokesperson Mazhar Hussain identified two of the slain officials as Ayub and Khalid. The identity of the third official has not yet been ascertained, but a statement from the provincial Chief Minister stated that three policemen were killed. Hussain said that several others were also injured and taken to the hospital in critical condition.
US, EU, Australia, Canada agree to end export credit support for coal power
The UK, the host to the COP26 after missing 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, ended all financial support for overseas fossil fuel projects in March 2021 and is encouraging international partners to make similar commitments as President of the G7 and an independent member of the OECD. This was agreed at the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) meeting on Friday.
Pfizer says its Covid vax 90.7% effective in kids aged 5-11
The companies revealed the data in a document posted on Friday ahead of a meeting of advisers to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) scheduled for October 26. Pfizer and BioNTech are applying FDA emergency use authorization (EUA) of a two-dose regimen of their 10-microgram dose for children of the mentioned age group. The two doses would be administered three weeks apart.
Biden, Macron agree to meet in Rome
The agreement came during a phone conversation between the two leaders on Friday during which they also discussed efforts to support stability and security in the Sahel region in Africa, enhance cooperation in the Indo-Pacific and enable a more capable European defence, Xinhua news agency quoted the White House as saying in a statement. The statement added that Biden and Macron will meet in Rome later this month to continue their conversation on bilateral cooperation.
Covid sees significant resurgence in Europe, Asia
According to the latest update by the World Health Organisation (WHO), the highest numbers of new cases were reported from the UK (283,756 new cases; a 14 per cent increase) and Russia (217,322 new cases; a 15 per cent increase) The European Region showed a 7 per cent increase of new weekly cases as well highest weekly incidence in deaths.
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