Russia-Ukraine war LIVE Updates: The European Union was edging closer to setting a USD 60-per-barrel price cap on Russian oil — a highly anticipated and complex political and economic maneuver designed to keep Russia’s supplies flowing into global markets while clamping down on President Vladimir Putin’s ability to fund his war in Ukraine.EU nations sought to push the cap across the finish line after Poland held out to get as low a figure as possible, diplomats said Thursday. “Still waiting for white smoke from Warsaw,” said an EU diplomat, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the talks were still ongoing.The latest offer, confirmed by 3 EU diplomats, comes ahead of a deadline to set the price for discounted oil by Monday, when a European embargo on seaborne Russian crude and a ban on shipping insurance for those supplies take effect. The diplomats also spoke on condition of anonymity because the legal process was still not completed.The USD 60 figure would mean a cap near the current price of Russia’s crude, which fell this week below USD 60 per barrel, and is meant to prevent a sudden loss of Russian oil to the world following the new Western sanctions. It is a big discount to international benchmark Brent, which traded at about USD 87 per barrel Thursday, but could be high enough for Moscow to keep selling even while rejecting the idea of a cap.When the final number is in place, a new buyer’s cartel — which is expected to be made up of formal and informal members — will be born. Western allies in the Group of Seven industrial powers led the price cap effort and still need to approve the figure.
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The mantra of “Mission LiFE” is “Lifestyle for Environment,” i.e., an eco-friendly lifestyle
The mantra of "Mission LiFE" is "Lifestyle for Environment," i.e., an eco-friendly lifestyle It combines the stren… https://t.co/G6lGOFyYIk
— PIB India (@PIB_India) 1669959485000
Tarn Taran Police in a joint search operation with BSF have recovered a Hexacopter drone equipped with modern technology & packets containing heroin weighing 5Kgs from fields near the India-Pakistan border
– DGP Punjab Police
MCD polls: Campaign for elections to end on Friday, results on Wednesday
The campaign for the high-profile MCD elections will come end on Friday, with top campaigners, including Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Union ministers like Piyush Goyal and Hardeep Singh Puri, reaching out to voters in full swing through public meetings and roadshows. The voting for the Municipal Corporation of Delhi polls will be held on Sunday and counting will take place on December 7.
Elon Musk says Kanye West on twitter again violated rule against incitement to violence; account will be suspended
Varanasi court to hear plea seeking worship of ‘Shivling’ in Gyanvapi mosque complex
A court here is likely to hear on Friday a plea seeking worship of ‘Shivling’ in the Gyanvapi mosque complex, Assistant District Government Counsel Sulabh Prakash said. On November 17, the fast-track court had rejected the Gyanvapi Masjid committee’s objection to a petition seeking right to worship the ‘Shivling’ claimed to have been found in the mosque complex and fixed December 2 for hearing the case.
Private lender ICICI Bank to bet big on real estate sector
After shying away from the real estate sector until now, private lender ICICI Bank is set to woo builders with construction finance, regulatory services, inventory funding and lease rental discounting, as the segment has emerged as the fastest growing with built in security like a regulatory framework.
India’s G20 presidency will be ‘watershed moment’ in its history: Amb Kamboj
India’s presidency of the G20 will be a ‘watershed moment’ in its history as the country seeks to play an important role in finding pragmatic global solutions for the well-being of all, India’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj has said.
7 people arrested for having a liquor party in the custody of Excise Dept in Patna’s Paliganj
Bihar | 7 people arrested for having a liquor party in the custody of Excise Dept in Patna's Paliganj We received… https://t.co/pCZmZu55pG
— ANI (@ANI) 1669955705000
Telcos slam app makers, call them ‘free riders’
India’s top telcos Thursday hit out at app makers, again calling them “free riders” and said these platforms use telecom operators’ consumer base for monetising their services and earn massive profits/benefits.The comments from Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), which represent the top telcos, came a day after the Broadband India Forum (BIF), representing tech companies, said that OTT players are not free riders and the platforms are responsible for more than 70% of the telco traffic, failing which the networks of telcos would have remained unutilized.
Scattered easing of COVID curbs across China after week of unrest
Some communities in Chinese cities where COVID-19 is still spreading are easing off on testing requirements and quarantine rules in a marked shift in virus policies after widespread protests across the country.
‘Dry days’ declared in Delhi from 5.30pm on 2nd Dec to 5.30pm on 4th Dec and from 12am to 11pm on 7th Dec (date of counting)
– Government of Delhi
India records single-day rise of 275 new COVID-19 cases, count of active infections declines from 4,767 to 4,672
– Union Health Ministry
MCD Polls
‘Dry days’ declared in Delhi from 5.30pm on 2nd Dec to 5.30pm on 4th Dec and from 12am to 11pm on 7th Dec (date of counting): Government of Delhi
Rupee rises 18 paise to 81.08 against US dollar in early trade
Russia refuses to give Pakistan 30-40pc discount on crude oil
Russia refused to provide Pakistan a 30-40 per cent discount on Russian crude oil after the Pakistani delegation asked for a reduction in price during talks in Moscow, The News International reported on Thursday. Earlier, on Wednesday, the Pakistani delegation comprises of State Minister for Petroleum Musadik Malik, joint secretary and officials of the Pakistan Embassy in Moscow, asked for a discount during talks in Moscow.
GoldyBrar detained in California- Report
GoldyBrar, who is the mastermind & prime accused in Sidhu Moosewala’s murder, was detained in California; booked under anti-terror law, UAPA, reported Mirror Now quoting sources.
Fed’s Barr: It’s ‘smart’ to slow pace of rate hikes
Federal Reserve Vice Chair of Supervision Michael Barr on Thursday signaled that he is among U.S. central bankers backing a slowdown in the pace of interest rate hikes as soon as the Fed’s Dec. 13-14 meeting. “Now we’re at a point, since I believe we’re in restrictive territory, that we can get to a sufficiently restrictive rate at a slower pace,” Barr said at the American Enterprise Institute. “I imagine we’re going to be considering this. And I think that’s smart; it’ll give us space to begin to modulate a bit and then think about, again, what that rate is, how high it needs to be, how long we need to keep it at that rate in order to get the job done.”
Citigroup in talks to recoup errant $500 mln Revlon loan payment
Citigroup Inc is negotiating the return of about $500 million it mistakenly paid a group of hedge funds and investment firms on a loan owed by Revlon Inc, the now-bankrupt cosmetics company controlled by billionaire Ronald Perelman. In a Thursday filing in Manhattan federal court, lawyers for the bank and the lenders said they have been discussing a “consensual resolution” to end Citigroup’s August 2020 lawsuit to recoup the mistaken payment.
China reports 34,980 new COVID cases
China reported 34,980 new COVID-19 infections on Dec. 1, of which 4,278 were symptomatic and 30,702 were asymptomatic, the National Health Commission said on Friday. That is compared with 36,061 new cases a day earlier – 4,150 symptomatic and 31,911 asymptomatic infections, which China counts separately.
IMF Georgieva warns of rising inflationary pressures in Asia
International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said on Friday inflationary pressures were rising in Asia which, along with China’s slowing growth, were among risks to the region’s economic outlook. “ASEAN countries are a bright spot with growth projected at 5% this year and moderating slightly in 2023. Still, the outlook is exceptionally uncertain and dominated by risks,” such as the fallout from Russia’s war in Ukraine, global financial tightening and a slowdown in China’s growth, she said.
Musk delivers first Tesla Semi trucks
Tesla Inc Chief Executive Elon Musk unveiled the company’s first heavy-duty Semi truck on Thursday at an event in the electric automaker’s Nevada plant, making its first foray into the trucking industry.
Musk’s company aims to soon test brain implant in people
Tech billionaire Elon Musk said his Neuralink company is seeking permission to test its brain implant in people soon. In a “show and tell” presentation livestreamed Wednesday night, Musk said his team is in the process of asking US regulators to allow them to test the device. He said he thinks the company should be able to put the implant in a human brain as part of a clinical trial in about six months, though that timeline is far from certain.
Tesla set to launch Semi Truck
Tesla Semi Truck launch in 5 mins! https://t.co/jG3s9wuVGb
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) 1669942974000
South African President faces impeachment threat over ‘Farmgate’
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is facing a possible impeachment threat over claims that he covered up the theft of millions of dollars in cash allegedly hidden in furniture at his game farm. Ramaphosa, 70, is being probed in an ongoing scandal linked to the theft from his private game farm in 2020.
Russian shelling cuts off power again in liberated Kherson
Russian shelling cut off power in much of the recently liberated Ukrainian city of Kherson on Thursday, just days after it was restored amid Moscow’s ongoing drive to destroy key civilian infrastructure as freezing weather sets in. In Kyiv, Mayor Vitali Klitschko warned the capital’s millions of residents that they should stock up on water and preserved food to see them through a winter that could prove miserable if more energy infrastructure is damaged.
Germany out of World Cup despite 4-2 win over Costa Rica
Germany was eliminated from the group stage of the World Cup for the second tournament in a row. The four-time champions beat Costa Rica 4-2 Thursday but it wasn’t enough to reach the round of 16. Japan’s 2-1 victory over Spain in the other group game allowed both of those teams to advance instead, with the Japanese team finishing at the top of Group E.
Japan beats Spain 2-1 as both teams advance at World Cup
Similar shocking victory for Japan at the World Cup. After beating Germany 2-1 in its opener, Japan found its way into the round of 16 of the World Cup by defeating Spain by the same score in its last group game Thursday. Spain also advanced despite the loss.
Biden, Macron vow unity against Russia, discuss trade row
Presidents Joe Biden and Emmanuel Macron vowed to maintain a united front against Russia on Thursday amid growing worries about waning support for Ukraine’s war effort in the US and Europe. Biden also signalled he might be willing to tweak aspects of his signature climate legislation that have raised concerns with France and other European allies.
US hits Hezbollah accountants with terrorism sanctions
The Biden administration on Thursday slapped terrorism sanctions on two accountants and two companies in Lebanon for providing the militant group Hezbollah with financial services. The Treasury Department announced it would also impose sanctions on a third person for assisting Hezbollah, a US-designated “foreign terrorist organisation,” with weapons acquisitions.
