KEY COVID NOS. WORLDWIDE

Pos   /   Country   /   New Daily cases   /   Total Deaths   /        Daily Deaths /           Active Cases   /           Deaths/1M Pop.

               World    5,41,146              /             51,98,292            /             6,378     /             1,98,45,902               /             666.9

1             USA        15,723   /             7,98,520              /             275        /             93,97,969            /               2,393

2             Russia    33,796   /             2,69,057              /             1,238     /             10,34,306            /               1,843

3             UK          47,240   /             1,44,433              /             147        /             10,02,099            /               2,112

4             Germany              76,132   /             1,00,796              /             315        /             7,77,851               /             1,198

5             Ukraine 16,943   /             83,541   /             628        /             4,48,411              /               1,926

6             Netherlands        22,184   /             19,158   /             60           /             4,40,471              /               1,115

7             Poland   28,128   /             82,186   /             497        /             4,18,059              /               2,175

8             Turkey   24,467   /             75,840   /             222        /             3,92,640              /             886

9             Mexico  4,287     /             2,93,186              /             336        /             3,47,015              /               2,241

10           Belgium               23,350   /             26,743   /             38           /             3,36,632              /               2,294

11           France   33,464   /             1,18,777              /             43           /             3,17,371              /               1,814

12           Honduras             123        /             10,402   /             4             /             2,47,175              /               1,027

13           Czechia 18,004   /             32,523   /             33           /             2,39,799              /               3,029

14           Vietnam               12,450   /             24,407   /             164        /             2,00,933              /               248

15           Brazil     12,191   /             6,13,697              /             281        /             1,66,702              /               2,859

16           Italy       13,764   /             1,33,486              /             71           /             1,66,598              /               2,212

17           Hungary               12,165   /             33,704   /             185        /             1,65,862              /               3,501

18           Norway 1,307     /             1,050     /             1             /             1,62,702              /             192

19           Austria  13,592   /             12,233   /             53           /             1,52,483              /               1,348

20           Iran        4,850     /             1,29,376              /             96           /             1,37,643              /               1,513

24           India      9,119     /             4,66,980              /             123        /             1,09,940              /               334

79           Pakistan               363        /             28,690   /             13           /             13,538   /             126

93           Bangladesh         237        /             27,970   /             9             /             7,662     /             168

CHANNEL DEATHS FUEL U.K.- FRANCE TENSIONS

The deaths of at least 27 people in the English Channel is fuelling tensions between the U.K. and France over how to stop migrants from crossing the world’s busiest waterway in small boats.

Despite a pledge from British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and French President Emmanuel Macron that they would “do everything possible” to stop people smugglers from endangering lives, politicians on both sides of the channel are already sniping at their counterparts for failing to prevent Wednesday’s tragedy.

U.K. officials criticise France for rejecting their offer of the British police and border officers to conduct joint patrols along the channel coast with the French police. French authorities say Britain is stoking the crisis because it is too easy for migrants to remain in the country and work if they manage to cross the channel.

Amid the finger pointing, British lawmakers on Thursday will debate the soaring number of migrants who are crossing the channel in small boats. Mr. Macron is scheduled to discuss the issue with European Union officials.

Meanwhile, migrants are continuing to brave frigid weather in small boats and unseaworthy dinghies in hopes of getting to British shores to seek asylum or better opportunities.

UN UPGRADES NEPAL & BANGLADESH TO GROUP OF DEVELOPING NATIONS

The United Nations General Assembly has adopted a historic resolution to graduate three nations, including Bangladesh and Nepal, from the least developed country (LDC) category to the developing country grouping, a major milestone demonstrating the countries’ significant development progress.

The U.N. General Assembly (UNGA) adopted the resolution at its 76th session. The three countries that got clearance for graduation are Bangladesh, Nepal and the Lao People’s Democratic Republic.

"The U.N. General Assembly has adopted resolution A/76/L.6/Rev.1, Graduation of Bangladesh, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic and Nepal from the least developed country category,” the U.N. said in a statement on Wednesday.

“The three countries will graduate from the LDC category after an exceptionally extended preparatory period of five years (the standard period is of three years) to enable them to prepare for graduation while planning for a post-COVID-19 recovery and implementing policies and strategies to reverse the economic and social damage incurred by the COVID-19 shock,” it said.

Currently, there are 46 countries on the LDC list, according to the U.N. Committee for Development Policy (CDP). According to the U.N., per capita income of $1,230 is one of the requirements for transitioning into a developing nation.

COVID: NEW HEAVILY MUTATED VARIANT B.1.1.529 IN SOUTH AFRICA RAISES CONCERN

Scientists in South Africa said on Thursday they have detected a new Covid-19 variant with a large number of mutations, adding it was responsible for a surge in infections.

Tulio de Oliveira, a bio-informatics professor who runs gene-sequencing institutions at two South African universities, said at a briefing on Thursday that the new discovery, called B.1.1529, carries an unusually large number of mutations and is “clearly very different” from previous variants.

“Here is a mutation variant of serious concern,” South African health minister Joe Phaahla said.

The World Health Organization (WHO) is expected to convene an emergency meeting on Friday to discuss the potentially rapidly spreading coronavirus strain found in South Africa and Botswana that might make vaccines less effective and scuttle efforts to fight the pandemic, reports said on Friday.

The WHO said it is "closely monitoring" the reported coronavirus variant and will determine if it should be designated a variant of "interest" or of "concern" in the technical meeting on Friday.

"Early analysis shows that this variant has a large number of mutations that require and will undergo further study," the WHO added.

PAKISTAN'S DEBT, LIABILITIES CROSS PKR 50 TRILLION, FOR THE FIRST TIME: REPORTS

For the first time ever, the total debt and liabilities of Pakistan have crossed 50.5 trillion Pakistani rupees (PKR), reports said, citing official figures released on Wednesday. Out of this amount, the addition of PKR 20.7 trillion is under the current government alone. The total debt and public debt of Pakistan has been deteriorating since the Imran Khan government has come into power, news agency ANI reported.

The State Bank of Pakistan released the debt figures till September 2021, a day after Prime Minister Imran Khan described the increasing debt as a "national security issue", Express Tribune reported.

Pakistan's total debt and liabilities jumped to the record PKR 50.5 trillion at the end of September 2021, an addition of PKR 20.7 trillion in the past 39 months. There was an increase of nearly 70 per cent in total debt of the country, Express Tribune reported.

On Friday, Pakistan National Assembly was also informed that the country's public debt increased by ₹14.9 trillion from July 2018 to June 2021 by the Ministry for Finance and Revenue.

According to The Express Tribune, the International Monetary Fund has also rejected Pakistan's request for borrowing and did not agree on any meaningful accountability of the State Bank of Pakistan. The report said that the central bank's profit would also not be transferred 100 per cent to the federal government until Pakistan's State Bank gets cover to back its monetary liabilities.

TAIWAN-CHINA ROW: OZ SENDS TROOPS TO QUELL RIOTS IN SOLOMON ISLANDS

Australia announced on Thursday it is sending police, troops and diplomats to the Solomon Islands to help after anti-Government demonstrators defied lockdown orders and took to the streets for a second day in violent protests.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the deployment includes a detachment of 23 federal police officers and up to 50 more to provide security at critical infrastructure sites, as well as 43 defence force personnel, a patrol boat and at least five diplomats. “Our purpose here is to provide stability and security,” he said.

Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare declared a lockdown on Wednesday after about 1,000 people gathered in protest in the capital, Honiara, demanding his resignation over a host of domestic issues.

Tensions between the Government and the leadership of the most populous island of Malaita have been simmering for some time.

The premier of Malaita has been outspokenly critical of Mr. Sogavare’s 2019 decision to cut the country’s diplomatic ties with Taiwan, switching its diplomatic allegiance to China instead. The province has also complained it has been unfairly deprived of Government investment.

The protesters on Wednesday breached the National Parliament building and burned the thatched roof of a nearby building, the Government said.

PAKISTAN SUCCESSFULLY TEST FIRES SURFACE-TO-SURFACE BALLISTIC MISSILE SHAHEEN 1-A

Pakistan on Thursday conducted a successful flight test of the Shaheen-1A surface-to-surface ballistic missile.

"The test flight was aimed at re-validating certain design and technical parameters of the weapon system," the army said in a statement.

However, the army did not share any technical detail of the missile.

Congratulating scientists and engineers on the successful conduct of the flight test, Mr. Manj appreciated their technical prowess, dedication and commitment, the statement said.