Latest in World Highlight
Latest in World
US presidential inauguration to see celebrity line-up with National Guard deployed in Washington DC
Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez to perform at ‘diverse’ Biden inauguration
World can gain $9trn during 2021-2025, if worldwide vaccination accelerated: IMF chief
Ensuring sustainable, inclusive recovery post-COVID-19, reversing divergence between rich and poor countries are main 2021 priorities, says Kristalina Georgieva
Dutch government resigns over child benefits scandal
The next general elections are scheduled for March 17, 2021. Until that date the Dutch government stays on as demissionary cabinet
Indonesia quake kills at least 37, injures hundreds
A total of 29 bodies have been retrieved in Mamuju city, while the search and rescue operation for the Indonesia quake victims persists
Twitter pulls the plug permanently on Trump’s account
Twitter also permanently banned the Trump campaign’s account @TeamTrump after the account shared the same four-tweets from account @POTUS.
Australian bushfires to become “more frequent, prolonged, severe”: study
More than 30 people died in the Australian bushfires with another estimated 445 deaths due to smoke inhalation, and 18 million hectares of land were burned
Washington DC mayor extends public emergency for 15 days as Capitol chaos leaves 4 dead
Confrontations between law enforcement officers and protesters have caused injuries from both sides. At least 4 people have died around the Capitol area
Seattle mayor condemns “insurrection of extremists” at US Capitol
US President-elect Joe Biden condemned the “insurrection” at the US Capitol on Wednesday, after some Trump supporters broke into the building
World leaders react to US Capitol chaos, call it attack on democracy
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg expressed his shock saying “The outcome of this democratic election must be respected.”
Trump calls on Capitol protesters to go home, Biden says “it’s chaos”
The entire D.C. National Guard has been activated following breach of the U.S. Capitol, according to Jonathan Hoffman, chief spokesman for the Pentagon.
US Congress convenes to formally count Electoral College votes
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Kentucky Republican, on Wednesday dismissed Trump’s allegations of widespread fraud in the White House race.
UK PM imposes new coronavirus lockdown on England
Scottish First Minister also announced that Scotland would enter a new lockdown from midnight on Monday, as well as a shutdown of schools until Feb. 1
France’s giant curfew-busting rave ends after 2 days
A French prosecutor has said that police detained seven people including two alleged organisers, on Saturday, after an enormous New Year’s Eve rave drew at least 2,500 people in the west of the country.
US talk show host Larry King hospitalized with COVID-19: report
King hosted CNN’s “Larry King Live” for over two and a half decades and retired in 2010 after clocking in at more than 6,000 episodes.
UK pledges urgent aid for families hit by COVID-19, hunger
Around the world, the UK is releasing new emergency aid worth £47m to help over 1.3 million vulnerable people who face daily threats of hunger, conflict, and the repercussions of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).
UN Security Council calls for more active engagement against terrorism
UN Security Council adopted a resolution encouraging member states to engage with committee overseeing sanctions on individuals linked to IS and Al-Qaida.
Coronavirus in Britain: Over 50,000 cases recorded overnight for first time
Another 414 have died within 28 days of a positive test, bringing the total number of coronavirus-related deaths in Britain to 71,567, the data showed.
US researchers investigating Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine allergic reactions
Meanwhile, Pfizer said in a statement that it “will closely monitor all reports suggestive of serious allergic reactions following vaccination.”
British military to support mass COVID-19 testing in England’s schools
The military has previously helped organise COVID-19 mass testing in Liverpool, and more recently in Kent to clear the backlog of lorries
US rolls out COVID-19 vaccines at long-term care facilities
Since the rolling out of two COVID-19 vaccines nationwide earlier this month, frontline healthcare workers have been the primary focus to get vaccinated.
US dollar inches down as Trump signs coronavirus relief package
US dollar bought 103.83 Japanese yen, higher than 103.57 Japanese yen of the previous session. It was down to 0.8896 Swiss franc from 0.8903 Swiss franc
Republicans sue Vice President Pence in bid to overturn US election results
The litigation asked Texas-based federal judge to grant Pence “exclusive authority and sole discretion” to decide which electoral votes from a given state should be counted.
3 dead in knife attack in Russia’s Chechnya
The offenders, identified as Khasan and Hussein, were brothers from the Russian Republic of Ingushetia, and they moved to Chechnya in 2012
Sweden confirms 1st case of new coronavirus strain in traveler from UK
Public Health Agency increased its efforts to monitor new coronavirus strain and aims to test everyone who has arrived in Sweden from the UK since October
UK records another 34,693 coronavirus cases, 210 deaths
To bring life back to normal, countries such as Britain, China, Germany, Russia and the US are racing against time to develop coronavirus vaccines.
Russia prevents IS terror attack attempt in city of Makhachkala
IS suspects planned to detonate an explosive device near an administrative building of law enforcement agencies and launch an armed attack on police
EU nations welcome last-minute post-Brexit trade deal with UK
The post-Brexit trade deal will need the approval of the European Parliament, the British Parliament and the EU’s 27 member states.
Macron to end self-quarantine, shows no more symptoms of COVID-19
The Élysée Palace, the official residence of the French President, announced, on Thursday, that President Emmanuel Macron can now end his quarantine, following his earlier positive diagnosis with the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).
Afghan airstrikes kill 21 Taliban insurgents in southern Helmand province
A group of Taliban insurgents were gathered in Nawa district to attack security checkpoints, but the military planes targeted them in pre-emptive action
Tokyo stocks close higher on hopes for post-Brexit deal, vaccine rollouts
The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average gained 143.56 points, or 0.54 percent, from Wednesday to close the day at 26,668.35.