AUCKLAND: New Zealand went into lockdown mode on Wednesday, a day after new coronavirus cases were detected in Auckland, ending the country’s 102-day streak without the virus. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said authorities were scrambling to trace anyone who had been in contact with four Auckland residents who tested positive Tuesday, ending the dream run in which the virus had …

The Brazilian state of Parana signed a deal Wednesday to test and produce Russia’s new coronavirus vaccine, though officials stressed they would have to be sure of its safety and effectiveness first. The vaccine would have to receive Brazilian regulatory approval and complete Phase 3 clinical trials, or large-scale testing in humans, before being produced in Brazil, said officials from …

PESHAWAR: Anti-polio campaign kicked off in 21 districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa here on Thursday. According to the Provincial Health Department, more than four million children below the age of five will be administered anti-polio drops during the campaign. The campaign was restarted after a four-month break in the wake of the coronavirus situation in the country. For the purpose over …

PARIS: A golden halo glinting 12 billion light years away is the farthest galaxy resembling our Milky Way yet spotted, astronomers said on Wednesday, adding the “surprisingly unchaotic” infant star system challenges our understanding of the early years of the Universe. The galaxy, called SPT0418-47, is so far away that it took billions of years for its light to reach …

ISLAMABAD: With poor utilisation of the Prime Minister’s Relief-cum-Economic Support Package to absorb Covid-related shock, the government on Wednesday rolled over almost two-thirds of the allocated funds into the new fiscal year through a major Rs540 billion supplementary grant. A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting of the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the federal cabinet presided …

ISLAMABAD: The large-scale manufacturing (LSM) output dipped 10.17 per cent in 2019-20, showed data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) on Wednesday. The declines in big industry output have decelerated since May owing to a resumption of production especially in the textile sector. The revival is clear from the LSM numbers that were up 16.81pc in June month-on-month …

KARACHI: The government on Wednesday raised Rs172 billion from market treasury bills (MTBs) and Pakistan Investment Bonds (PIBs) auctions respectively. The government raised Rs113bn from the MTBs and Rs59bn from the PIBs. Of the MTBs, Rs59.45bn were raised from direct auction wher­eas Rs53.7bn were from non-competitive bids. However, the government borrowed less than the auction target of Rs150bn. The bid …

KARACHI: Mimicking the earlier day’s start to the market, bulls took charge with the index posting hefty gains. However, the benchmark closed in the red by 85.97 points at 40,473.18. Expecting a repeat of the Tuesday’s massive rally, investors scrambled to buy current favourite stocks on the exploration and production (E&P), banks and fertiliser sector which sent the index flying …

mra ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday formed a National Coordination Committee (NCC) on Small & Medium Enterprises (SMEs) development to generate economic activities. The NCC will coordinate and facilitate overall development and promotion of SMEs in the country. It will also recommend policy, legal and regulatory measures to generate and sustain economic activity, employment generation and poverty alleviation. …

LEXINGTON (Kentucky): Serena Williams made a winning return to competitive tennis on Tuesday as she rallied from a set down to beat Bernarda Pera 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 at the Top Seed Open in Lexington, Kentucky on Tuesday in her first match of the Covid-19 era. Serena was five points from falling to the American left-hander in the second set but …