Oil prices fall on renewed coronavirus concerns as China cases climb

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COURTESY BY: https://www.dawn.com/ Brent crude oil prices fell by $1 per barrel on Monday, hit by renewed concerns about global fuel demand amid tough coronavirus lockdowns in Europe and new curbs on movement in China, the world’s second-largest oil user, where infections jumped. Brent crude oil futures were down 78 cents, or 1.4 per cent, at $55.21 a barrel, after falling $1 to a session low of $54.99 earlier. Brent rose in the previous four sessions. US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) slipped 44 cents, or 0.8pc, to $51.80 a barrel. WTI rose…

Germany hits million cases; Russia, India sign deal for vaccine

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COURTESY BY: https://www.dawn.com/ BERLIN: Germany, once a beacon of hope in Europe’s coronavirus nightmare, logged its one millionth case on Friday, while Russia signed up India to mass produce its controversial Sputnik vaccine. Although the virus spread is slowing thanks to weeks of tough restrictions, Europe remains at the heart of the pandemic, recording more cases than the United States in the past week. The pandemic is gaining strength fastest in Asia and Latin America, and is up by a worrying 113 percent over the week in Mexico. Germany had…

India bans 43 more mobile apps as it takes on China

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COURTESY BY: https://www.dawn.com/ India banned 43 mobile apps on Tuesday, including Alibaba Group Holding Ltd’s e-commerce app Aliexpress, in a new wave of web sanctions targeted at China after the neighbours’ months-long standoff on their rugged Himalayan border. The 43 mostly Chinese-origin applications, which also include a few dating apps, threaten the “sovereignty and integrity of India”, the technology ministry said in a statement. India has previously banned more than 170 apps, saying they collect and share users’ data and could pose a threat to the state. The moves, which India’s technology…

China tells Indian media not to call Taiwan a country, Taiwan says ‘get lost’

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COURTESY BY: https://www.dawn.com/ China was accused by Taiwan of trying to impose censorship in India after its embassy in New Delhi advised journalists to observe the “one-China” principle after newspapers carried advertisements for Taiwan’s national day. Coming just months after deadly clashes between Indian and Chinese troops on the disputed Himalayan border between the two Asian giants, the controversy has flared at a time when Indian sentiments toward China are filled with antipathy and suspicion. China’s hackles were raised on Wednesday by advertisements placed in leading Indian newspapers by Taiwan’s…

US To Ban Download Of WeChat And TikTok For National Security

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COURTESY BY: https://www.bolnews.com/ The United States (US) government has once again announced a series of shutdowns on Chinese applications WeChat and TikTok. Initially, in August this year, two different executive orders were issued to shut down WeChat and TikTok. Donald Trump’s orders suggested that TikTok sell its US shares to a US company within 45 days, otherwise, it would be shut down. Similarly, WeChat was told to sell its US assets to a US technology company within 45 days, otherwise, it would be shut down. Following the US President’s threat,…

After Moscow meeting, China and India agree to disengage troops on contested border

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COURTESY BY: https://www.dawn.com/ China and India said they had agreed to de-escalate renewed tensions on their contested Himalayan border and take steps to restore “peace and tranquillity” following a high-level diplomatic meeting in Moscow. Chinese State Councillor Wang Yi and Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar met in Moscow on Thursday and reached a five-point consensus, including agreements the current border situation is not in their interests and that troops from both sides should quickly disengage and ease tensions, the two countries said in a joint statement. The consensus, struck on…

China displays Covid-19 vaccines for first time

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COURTESY BY: https://www.dawn.com/ BEIJING: China has put its homegrown coronavirus vaccines on display for the first time, as the country where the contagion was discovered looks to shape the narrative surrounding the pandemic. High hopes hang on the small vials of liquid on show at a Beijing trade fair this week — vaccine candidates produced by Chinese companies Sinovac Biotech and Sinopharm. Neither has hit the market yet but the makers hope they will be approved after all-important phase 3 trials as early as year-end. A Sinovac representative said his…

China threatens to retaliate after US tightens leash on Beijing diplomats

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COURTESY BY: https://www.dawn.com/ China will deliver “a proper and necessary” response to new curbs by the State Department on its envoys to the United States, the foreign ministry said on Thursday. America’s top diplomat Mike Pompeo introduced the restrictions on Wednesday, including mandating Chinese diplomats to seek approval to visit universities or meet with local officials. He said the measures were a counterpoint to long-established controls imposed on US diplomats in China. American envoys have to ask permission from authorities to meet with officials, conduct outreach or even visit universities.…

118 More Chinese Apps Banned In India, Including PubG

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COURTESY BY: https://www.bolnews.com/ The Indian government has banned 118 more applications, including the popular Game PubG across India, due to rising tensions with China over the Ladakh issue. According to the details, the Indian government said the ban on Chinese applications was in the interest of India’s sovereignty and integrity, defence and security. Tencent Holdings Limited’s video game PubG is among the top 5 smartphone games worldwide and has been downloaded more than 734 million times so far. According to reports, PubG has about 50 million active players in India,…

US blacklists 24 Chinese firms, individuals for South China Sea work

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COURTESY BY: https://www.hindustantimes.com/ The United States announced sanctions and restrictions on 24 Chinese companies and associated officials Wednesday for taking part in building artificial islands in disputed waters in the South China Sea. “Since 2013, the PRC has used its state-owned enterprises to dredge and reclaim more than 3,000 acres on disputed features in the South China Sea, destabilizing the region, trampling on the sovereign rights of its neighbors, and causing untold environmental devastation,” Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement.