WASHINGTON, USA | XINHUA | U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said on Sunday that White House and congressional lawmakers must reach an agreement in 48 hours if they want to pass a new COVID-19 relief package before the presidential election in November. “The 48 only relates to if we want to get …
Read More »U.S. equities post modest weekly gains amid stimulus uncertainty, economic data
New York, UK | Xinhua | Wall Street’s major averages eked out modest gains in the week as investors monitored updates about a U.S. coronavirus stimulus bill, while poring through a batch of key economic data. For the week ending Friday, the Dow inched up 0.1 percent, the S&P 500 rose …
Read More »Iran says UN arms embargo lifted
Tehran, Iran | Xinhua | A United Nations-imposed arms embargo on Iran ended officially on Sunday in line with a 2015 landmark nuclear deal, the Iranian foreign ministry said. “As of today, all restrictions on the transfer of arms, related activities and financial services to and from the Islamic Republic of …
Read More »Global oil market to rely more on Middle East as U.S. output falls, experts
New York, US | Xinhua | Global oil market will rely more on the Middle East as U.S. shale oil production is expected to continue to fall, according to industry experts. U.S. shale oil production will fall by 900,000 barrels per day in 2020 and drop another 1.1 million barrels per …
Read More »UK farmers concerned over low quality meat imports after Brexit
London, UK | Xinhua | For Alan West, a recently retired sheep farmer and agricultural lecturer based in South East England, concern is growing over Britain’s position on the standards of imported meat and the fate of the British farm industry. Earlier this week, MPs rejected the latest attempt to require …
Read More »Trump administration approves California’s request for wildfire relief funds
LOS ANGELESL, USA | XINHUA | U.S. President Donald Trump has approved California’s request for a Major Disaster Declaration to bolster the state’s emergency response to wildfires, California governor Gavin Newsom said Friday. “Just got off the phone with President Trump who has approved our Major Disaster Declaration request. Grateful …
Read More »Turkey, Ukraine vow to boost cooperation amid COVID-19 pandemic
ISTANBUL, Turkey | XINHUA | Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday pledged to enhance cooperation in a wide range of areas amid the COVID-19 pandemic. “Ukraine and Turkey are ready to develop their strategic partnership in every field in which they have mutual …
Read More »EU’s von der Leyen undergoes 2nd self-isolation in two weeks
Brussels, Belgium | XINHUA | European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen started to self-isolate on Thursday after a workmate tested positive for COVID-19, she said on twitter. “I have just been informed that a member of my front office has tested positive to COVID-19 this morning,” she tweeted on …
Read More »UK will prepare to embrace no-trade deal with EU: PM
London, UK | XINHUA | British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Friday that as the European Union (EU) Summit in Brussels refused to offer London a Canada-style deal, Britain will prepare to embrace a no-trade deal scenario. Johnson made the response following the EU Summit discussions on Brexit Thursday. EU’s …
Read More »3 billion people globally lack handwashing facilities at home – UNICEF
United Nations | Xinhua | Although handwashing with soap is vital in the fight against infectious diseases, including COVID-19, billions of people around the world do not have ready access to a place to do it, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said on Thursday. According to new UNICEF estimates, 40 percent …
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