Pakistan last week received $2.75 billion from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) under a Special Drawing Rights (SDR) programme to support low-income countries hit by the coronavirus, its central bank said. The funds, part of a $650 billion global programme, will shore up Pakistan’s foreign reserves, under pressure from a rise in the current account deficit and falling remittances from workers based abroad. Pakistan entered a $6 billion IMF program in 2019, a sixth review of which has been pending since March. The country has reported more than 1.1 million coronavirus cases and more than 25,000 pandemic-related deaths.
Tallest man in US dies at 38
Igor Vovkovinskiy, the tallest man in the US, died at 38 in Minnesota. The Ukrainian-born Vovkovinskiy died of heart disease last week while getting treatment at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, his family said. He was 7ft 8.33 inches tall and lived in Rochester. His mother Svetlana Vovkovinska, who is also an ICU nurse at Mayo, announced his death on Facebook. Vovkovinskiy came to the Mayo Clinic in 1989 for treatment. At that time, a tumour was pressing against his pituitary gland, which caused it to secrete abnormal levels of growth hormone. He appeared on TV shows, and was called out by ex-US president Barack Obama during a campaign rally in 2009.
30 killed as Houthis strike on Yemen military base
At least 30 soldiers were killed and 60 wounded as Houthis strike on a military base belonging to forces of the Saudi-led coalition in southwest Yemen, a spokesman for the southern forces and medical sources said. The Houthis have carried out several attacks using armed drones and ballistic missiles on the al-Anad military base, Yemeni southern forces spokesman Mohamed al-Naqeeb said. Naqeeb said that between 30 to 40 soldiers were killed and at least 60 wounded, adding the death toll may still rise as rescuers were still clearing the scene. The southern forces are part of the Saudi-led coalition. Two medical sources said that several bodies had arrived at Lahj province’s main hospital along with another 16 wounded people. It was unclear if civilians were among the casualties.
Mystery shrouds deaths of couple, their kid and dog
The mysterious deaths of a family and their dog on a California hiking trail continue to baffle investigators, almost a week after their bodies were found. Autopsies conducted on John Gerrish, 45, his wife Ellen Chung, 31, and their one-year-old daughter, Miju, found no signs of attack or poisoning. “You come on scene and everyone is deceased,” Sheriff Jeremy Briese told San Francisco Chronicle. “There’s no bullet holes, no medicine, not one clue. It’s a big mystery.” Briese said the couple were carrying water with them, ruling out dehydration. Investigators have combed the area for a disused mine shaft suspecting noxious fumes caused the deaths, but found nothing. They are now checking nearby streams to see if toxic algae could be the culprit.
Putin, Xi agree to step up efforts to combat threats from Af
Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping have agreed their countries will step up efforts to counter “threats” emerging from Afghanistan following the Taliban’s takeover, the Kremlin said. In a phone call, the two leaders “expressed their readiness to step up efforts to combat threats of terrorism and drug trafficking coming from the territory of Afghanistan,” the Kremlin said in a statement. They also spoke of the “importance of establishing peace” in Afghanistan and “preventing the spread of instability to adjacent regions”. Putin and Xi “agreed to intensify bilateral contacts” and “make the most of the potential” of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) that is due to convene for a summit in Tajikistan next month.
World Bank pauses aid to Af
The World Bank is halting all financial assistance for projects to Afghanistan in the aftermath of the Taliban assuming power in the country, a spokesperson said. “We have paused disbursements in our operations in Afghanistan and we are closely monitoring and assessing the situation in line with our internal policies and procedures. As we do so, we will continue to consult closely with the international community and development partners,” the spokesperson of World Bank saidbroadcaster. Deep concern was also expressed by the organisation in relation to “the impact on the country’s development prospects, especially for women.” The World Bank has invested $5.3 billion for development projects in the country, according to the organization’s website.
Oil palm growing picks pace in Uganda
More Ugandan farmers have started growing oil palm since its introduction in 2013. As they prepare to plant new trees in March next year, they are battling price changes, environmental impact and fertilizer shortage. Palm oil exports totaled 45 million dollars in 2020, the government has partnered with private companies to strengthen and broaden the market for a crop that is turning lives around in one of Uganda`'s poorest districts. At least 280,000 dollar is generated from oil palm on Ssese islands alone every month. There are not less than one million trees grown. Raziah Athman, a correspondent, said, “the farmers on these islands have been enjoying the monopoly of cultivating oil palm but now the project is being extended to other parts of the country. Those new to the crop are taking their chances in what accounts for 33% of global oils.”
China cracks down on celeb culture
China cracked down on what it described as a “chaotic” celebrity fan culture, restricting platforms from publishing popularity lists and regulating the sale of fan merchandise over a series of controversies involving artists. The internet watchdog said it would take action against the dissemination of “harmful information” in celebrity fan groups and shut discussion channels that spread celebrity scandals. Platforms can no longer publish lists of popular celebrity individuals and fan groups will be regulated, the watchdog said. Variety shows have also been barred from charging fans to vote online for their favourite acts.
Ukranian evacuation plane hijacked in Kabul
A Ukrainian plane that arrived in Afghanistan to evacuate Ukrainians has been hijacked by unidentified people who flew it into Iran, Ukraine’s Deputy Foreign Minister Yevgeny Yenin said.
“Last Sunday, our plane was hijacked by other people. On Tuesday, the plane was practically stolen from us, it flew into Iran with an unidentified group of passengers onboard instead of airlifting Ukrainians. Our next three evacuation attempts were also not successful because our people could not get into the airport,” he said. According to him, the hijackers were armed. However, the deputy minister did not report anything about what happened to the plane or whether Kiev would seek to get it back or how the Ukrainian citizens got back from Kabul, onboard of this “practically stolen” plane or another one sent by Kiev. Yenin only underlined that the whole diplomatic service headed by Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba “had been working in the crash test mode” the whole week.
Thai police chief held over death in custody
A Thai police chief against whom a manhunt was launched following accusations he tortured and suffocated a drug suspect to death surrendered last week. Thai police raided the Bangkok mansion of 41-year-old Thitisan Utthanaphon - nicknamed ‘Joe Ferrari’ - recently and found 13 luxury cars, local media reported. National Police confirmed during a late night press conference that Thitisan gave himself up and was arrested in Chon Buri province south east of the capital. Thitisan and some of his colleagues are facing criminal charges after footage of a death in custody went viral. The clip shows Thitisan and others wrapping a plastic bag around the suspect’s head while interrogating. The suspect then falls unconscious and some officers try to resuscitate him, the footage shows.
Al Capone’s favourite gun to be auctioned
Notorious gangster Al Capone’s personal items including his favourite handgun, diamond encrusted jewellery with initials and family photographs are set to be auctioned. One of his granddaughters is hopeful that his soft side will be known to the world through the auction. The collection is titled ‘A Century of Notoriety: the Estate of Al Capone,’ and the auctioneers say it will “no doubt go down as one of the most important celebrity auctions in history.” The items also include a letter to his son written from Alcatraz, where he served an 11-year sentence following his 1934 tax evasion conviction. He has never been convicted for violence.
N Korea asked to clarify order to shoot-on-sight
UN human rights investigators have asked North Korea to clarify whether it has ordered troops to shoot on sight any trespassers who cross its northern border in violation of the country’s pandemic closure. They were referring to a report by a news site focused on North Korea, Daily NK, which published a photo of what it said was a poster describing an August 2020 proclamation prohibiting acts that impede the closure of the northern border, shared mostly with China and a smaller section with Russia. The poster describes a 1-2 km buffer zone and says any person who makes an unauthorized entry to North Korea “shall be shot unconditionally.” It also says trespassers from other countries found on the North Korean side of the Yulu and Tumen rivers will be “shot without prior warning.”
Alert in Kenya, Tanzania over terrorist attacks
The rout of Islamist insurgents in northern Mozambique by Rwandan forces has set off alarm bells in Kenya and Tanzania, where some of the fighters originate, with intelligence agencies on high alert after reported re-entry of some of the fleeing suspects. Just this week, Kenya and Tanzania experienced terrorism-linked incidents, which security experts say point to a spillover from Cabo Delgado, a new headache for the region’s security agencies. A gunman recently killed four people in Tanzania before police shot him dead. Six other people were injured in the incident. This happened just two days after Kenyan security personnel in Mombasa arrested two suspected terrorists and found two AK-47 rifles and explosive-making materials in their car. Police said they were suspected of planning to blow up several installations on the anniversary of the death of radical Muslim cleric Sheikh Aboud Rogo, who was shot dead on August 27, 2012 in Mombasa.
Former Congo minister arrested over missing funds
Former Minister of Health of the Democratic Republic of Congo Eteni Longondo was placed under provisional arrest for alleged misappropriation of funds allocated to the fight against the coronavirus pandemic, sources said. He was health minister from 2019 until last April and is accused of "misappropriation of public funds of more than 7 million dollars intended for the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic. Longondo has denied having embezzled this money, arguing that "these documents were in the process of being verified by his services" at the time of the audit. In November, he returned $721,900 to the public treasury, representing "the overpayment." Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi has made the fight against corruption one of the priorities of his term. Longondo is the first executive of the presidential party to be arrested for embezzling public funds.
The former chief of staff to the Congolese leader, Vital Kamerhe, was sentenced to 13 years in prison for embezzling more than $50 million to build prefabricated houses for the military and police.
