United Kingdom

LONDON, Nov 24 (APP): Pakistan exports to the United Kingdom (UK), during the month of October 2020, registered at US $ 200 million as compared to US $ 154 million realized in the corresponding month of last year showing an increase of 30 percent.

According to Economic Trade and Investment Wing of Pakistan High Commission London, Pakistan imports from the UK in October 2020 stood at US $ 48 million compared to the imports of US $ 62 million in the corresponding month of last fiscal year showing a
negative growth of (-23 percent).

24 Nov 2020; MEMO: France, Germany and Britain hinted yesterday that they will impose sanctions on any party that obstructs the political agreement between the two parties to the Libyan conflict.

In a joint statement, the four countries welcomed recent progress in the Libyan talks under the auspices of the United Nations and the announcement of an election date, reported Libya 24.

LONDON (Reuters) - British finance minister Rishi Sunak said on Tuesday he was determined that the United Kingdom would remain a global leader for asset management after Brexit.

“We’re beginning a new relationship with the EU. And as we do so, we are determined that the UK will remain a global leader for asset management,” Sunak said in comments to a conference organised by The Investment Association, an industry group.

LONDON (Reuters) - Oil hit its highest since March on Tuesday, rising towards $47 a barrel, as a third promising coronavirus vaccine spurred hopes of a quicker recovery in economic growth and oil demand next year.

AstraZeneca said on Monday its COVID-19 shot was 70% effective in trials and could be up to 90% effective, giving the fight against the pandemic a third vaccine. This follows positive results from Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna.

Brent crude rose 31 cents, or 0.7%, to $46.37 a barrel by 0914 GMT and hit a session high of $46.72, its highest since March 6.

LONDON (Reuters) - Bitcoin hit $19,000 on Tuesday for the first time in nearly three years and was just shy touching an all-time high of just under $20,000.

The world’s most popular cryptocurrency has gained around 160% this year, fuelled by a demand for risk-on assets amid unprecedented fiscal and monetary stimulus, hunger for assets perceived as resistant to inflation, and expectations that cryptocurrencies would win mainstream acceptance.

Bitcoin has gained over 37% in November alone.

LONDON, Nov. 23 (Xinhua) -- British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced Monday a "tougher" tiered system of coronavirus restrictions to replace England's current lockdown when it ends on Dec. 2.

Under the "COVID Winter Plan" which Johnson revealed to the House of Commons (lower house of parliament), the revised three-tiered system "is designed to carry us safely to spring".

According to the prime minister, under Tier One, the lowest of the new three-tier system, people in the areas will be urged to work from home wherever possible.

LONDON (Reuters) - Oil prices rose more than 1% on Monday, extending last week’s gains as traders anticipated coronavirus vaccine trials would spur a recovery in demand.

Sentiment was also bolstered by expectations that the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Russia and other producers, a group known as OPEC+, would extend a deal to restrain output.

Brent crude rose 66 cents to $45.62 a barrel by 1247 GMT while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude gained 52 cents to $42.94 a barrel. Both benchmarks jumped 5% last week.

LONDON (Reuters) - Britons will not be able to enjoy a normal Christmas this year due to the second wave of COVID-19, but the government is looking at ways to enable families to get together, Finance Minster Rishi Sunak said on Sunday.

“Frustrating as it is for all of us, Christmas is not going to be normal this year,” he told Sky’s Sophie Ridge on Sunday.

“But that said, the Prime Minister is, for example, looking at ways to see how families can spend time with each other.”

LONDON (AP) — The U.K. signed an interim trade deal with Canada on Saturday, giving it more time to negotiate future trading rules as the British government prepares the country for business life outside the European Union.

The stopgap agreement allows trade between the two countries to continue under the same terms as Canada’s existing treaty with the EU while negotiators begin work on a new bilateral deal between the U.K. and Canada, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said in a statement. Canada is the U.K.’s eighth-biggest non-EU trading partner.

LONDON (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Boris Johnson sought to tone down an independent report that found one of his most senior ministers had bullied staff, two media reports said on Saturday.

Johnson on Friday backed his Home Secretary Priti Patel, despite an inquiry finding she had broken the ministerial code by shouting and swearing at staff. The author of the report, the government’s ethics adviser Alex Allan, resigned.