CHINA REPORTS ALMOST 13,000 COVID-RELATED DEATHS IN A WEEK

Beijing: China reported nearly 13,000 Covid-related deaths in hospitals between January 13 and 19, after a top health official said the vast majority of the population has already been infected by the virus.

China a week earlier said nearly 60,000 people had died with Covid in hospitals as of January 12, but there has been widespread scepticism over official data since Beijing abruptly axed anti-virus controls last month.

China's Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said in a statement on Saturday that 681 hospitalised patients had died of respiratory failure caused by coronavirus infection, and 11,977 had died of other diseases combined with an infection over the period.

The figures do not include those who died from the virus at home.

Airfinity, an independent forecasting firm, has estimated daily Covid deaths in China will peak at around 36,000 over the Lunar New Year holiday.

The firm also estimated that more than 600,000 people have died from the disease since China abandoned the zero-Covid policy in December.

SWEDEN'S PM CONDEMNS QURAN BURNING; TENSIONS RISE WITH TURKEY OVER NATO BID

Stockholm: Sweden’s prime minister has condemned as ‘deeply disrespectful’ the weekend burning of a Quran in Stockholm, which has raised tensions with Turkey as the Nordic country courts Ankara over its NATO bid.

Far-right politician Rasmus Paludan set fire to a copy of the Muslim holy book on Saturday in front of Turkey’s embassy in the Swedish capital.

Furious that Paludan had been permitted by Swedish police to carry out the protest, Ankara cancelled a visit by Sweden’s defence minister and summoned Stockholm’s ambassador.

Late on Saturday, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson tweeted: “Freedom of expression is a fundamental part of democracy. But what is legal is not necessarily appropriate. Burning books that are holy to many is a deeply disrespectful act.”

“I want to express my sympathy for all Muslims who are offended by what has happened in Stockholm today.”

Paludan’s demonstration has further damaged relations as Stockholm tries to convince NATO member Turkey to approve Sweden and Finland joining the military alliance.

Sweden’s bid has been stalled amid Ankara’s demands that Stockholm hands over Kurdish activists and prevent rallies attacking Turkey’s leadership.

Many Muslim countries said they were outraged by the burning of the Koran on Saturday.

JACINDA ARDERN ABUSE 'ABHORRENT', SAYS INCOMING NZ PM CHRIS HIPKINS

New Zealand's incoming prime minister has vowed to protect his family from what he called the "abhorrent" abuse that his predecessor, Jacinda Ardern, received while in office.

Ms Ardern announced that she was quitting as the country's leader on Thursday, citing burnout.

Threats against her became more frequent in recent years and included a man claiming he had the right to "shoot the prime minister" for treason and treachery in a YouTube video.

Chris Hipkins, who was speaking on Sunday after MPs from his ruling Labour Party voted unanimously to endorse him, said a "small minority" of Kiwis were responsible for abusing Ms Ardern.

He said that "it does not represent who we are as a country".

Men had a responsibility to call out misogyny, he added.

He said he realised that putting himself forward as leader meant that he was "public property" - but that his family were not, and he wanted his children to have a "typical Kiwi kid life".

Data released in June showed that threats against Ms Ardern had almost tripled over three years, and local media reported that at least eight threats against her had entered the legal system - including the man who filmed the threatening YouTube video.

Police also had to investigate after handwritten fliers vowing to "eradicate" Ms Ardern were delivered to several homes in January 2022.

Radio New Zealand spoke to a former intelligence worker, Paul Buchanan, who said he believed Ms Ardern would need more ongoing security and protection than any former New Zealand prime minister.

Mr Hipkins, 44, was New Zealand's Covid response minister and has extensive political experience.

He is set to be sworn in as prime minister on Wednesday after Ms Ardern formally steps down.

ISRAELIS TAKE TO THE STREETS AGAINST GOVERNMENT’S PLAN TO OVERHAUL JUDICIAL SYSTEM

Tens of thousands of Israelis gathered in Tel Aviv on Saturday night to protest against plans by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s new government to overhaul the judicial system, measures that opponents say imperil the country’s democratic foundation. The Israeli media, citing the police, said some 1,00,000 people were out protesting.

The protest followed another demonstration last week that also drew tens of thousands in an early challenge to Mr. Netanyahu and his ultranationalist and ultra-Orthodox government — the most right-wing in Israeli history. The government says a power imbalance has given judges and government legal advisers too much sway over lawmaking and governance. Mr. Netanyahu has pledged to press on with the changes despite the opposition.

‘Protecting democracy’

Protesters filled central streets in the seaside metropolis, raising Israeli flags and banners that read, “Our Children will not Live in a Dictatorship,” and “Israel, We Have A Problem.” “This is a protest to defend the country,” said Opposition leader and former Prime Minister Yair Lapid, who joined the protest. “People came here today to protect their democracy.”

Other protests took place in the cities of Jerusalem, Haifa and Beersheba.

Earlier this week, Mr. Netanyahu, who is on trial for corruption, vowed to continue with the judicial overhaul despite the protests.

NETANYAHU FIRES CABINET ALLY, HEEDING COURT RULING

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fired a key Cabinet ally on Sunday, heeding a court ruling commanding him to do so.

Mr. Netanyahu announced he was firing Aryeh Deri, who serves as Interior and Health Minister, at a meeting of his Cabinet. Israel’s Supreme Court decided last week that Mr. Deri could not serve as a Cabinet Minister because of a conviction last year over tax offences. The ruling came as Israel is mired in a dispute over the power of the judiciary.

According to his office, Mr. Netanyahu told Mr. Deri he was removing him from his post with “a heavy heart and great sorrow.”

“This unfortunate decision ignores the people’s will,” he said. “I intend to find any legal way for you to continue to contribute to the state of Israel.”

CALIFORNIA SHOOTING SUSPECT DEAD AFTER KILLING 10

The man suspected of killing 10 people at a California dance studio is dead, police say.

Armed officers surrounded a white van in Torrance, California more than 12 hours after the shooting

SWAT officers smashed the van's window, finding the man dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound

The suspect is Huu Can Tran, a 72-year-old male Asian, says LA County Sheriff Robert Luna

Ten others have been injured and some of those are in critical condition

The gunman fled the scene and tried to target a second dance studio in nearby Alhambra, police say

In Alhambra, onlookers were able to wrestle the weapon from the suspect but he escaped

Police seized a semi-automatic pistol - they say it's unclear if multiple guns were used

Monterey Park - which is about seven miles (11km) east of Los Angeles - is home to a large Asian community

Thousands of people had earlier gathered for a Lunar New Year festival in the city

A motive for the attack - one of the deadliest mass shootings in California's recent history - is still unclear

‘PAK IMPORTED LUXURY CARS WORTH $1.2BN IN 6 MONTHS’

Islamabad : Pakistan spent $1. 2 billion (Rs 259 billion) on the import of transportation items, including luxury cars, high-end electric vehicles, and their parts, during the last six months amidst sinking reserves and fear of default, a media report said.

The country is in the middle of a financial crunch with the foreign exchange reserves depleting to as low as $4 billion, forcing the central bank to slow down the import of even essential items. The News reported that despite the overall reduction in imports of vehicles and other items, the economy was still burdened with heavy outflows for buying luxury vehicles.

During these six months, the country imported completely built units (CBU), completely knocked down/ semi knocked down (CKD/ SKD) worth $530. 5 million equivalent to Rs 118. 2 billion.

During July-December, $75 million (Rs16. 6 billion) worth of buses, trucks and other heavy vehicles as well as $32. 6 million worth of motor cars were imported under the CBU category.

Under the CKD/SKD category, imports of buses, trucks, and other heavy vehicles were recorded at $722. 5 million (Rs161 billion), while motor car imports were recorded at $ 498 million (Rs111 billion). Motorcycle imports also stood at $27. 6 million. Besides, imports of parts and accessories or vehicles stood at $188. 6 million (Rs42 billion). Similarly, $47. 7 million were spent on the import of aircraft, ships, and boats.

GREEK WARPLANES ESCORT FLIGHT AFTER BOMB ALERT: REPORT

Athens : Greek warplanes scrambled on Sunday to escort aRyanair flight from Poland to Greece with 190 people on board after a bomb alert was reported to authorities, officials said. Two F-16 jets escorted the flight, which took off from Katowice for Athens, as it entered Greek airspace from North Macedonia, the source said. The Boeing 737 had earlier been escorted by Hungarian warplanes, the official added. The flight finally landed at an isolated area at Athens International Airport just before 1600 GMT, a delay of two-and-a-half hours. “The passengers have disembarked and are being inspected,” a Greek police official said. “There were 190 people on board including the crew. ” Police were searching the plane.

Piotr Adamczyk, public relations manager at Katowice airport, said they had received atelephone warning as the plane was flying over Slovakia. “After the plane took off, there was a call to the airport information centre concerning the possible presence of an explosive device on board. ”