Top foreign stories at 2000 hrs

     FGN36 VIRUS-UK-QUARANTINE
     England cuts minimum COVID-19 self-isolation to 5 days from Monday
     London: The UK government on Thursday announced that the minimum period of self-isolation for someone who tests positive for COVID-19 will be reduced from the current seven days to five, effective from Monday. By Aditi Khanna
    
     FGN35 UK-INDIA-TECH-INVESTMENTS
     2021 record year for Indian tech investments, Bengaluru in world's top 5
     London: The year 2021 was a record one for venture capitalist (VC) technology sector investments in India, which jumped from ranking fourth globally in 2020 to third, according to new research released in London on Thursday. By Aditi Khanna
    
     FGN20 CHINA-NARAVANE-REAX
     Hope 'relevant people' will refrain from making 'unconstructive comments'; China on Naravane’s remarks
     Beijing: China said on Thursday that it hopes "relevant people" in India will refrain from making "unconstructive comments", a day after Chief of Army Staff Gen M M Naravane stated that threat in eastern Ladakh has “by no means reduced” and the Indian Army will continue to deal with the Chinese military in a "firm" and "resolute" manner. By K J M Varma
    
     FGN21 US-INDIA-2NDLD CAATSA
     US discourages India from acquiring Russian S-400 missile defence systems: Prez Biden's nominee
     Washington: The US is "discouraging" India from acquiring S-400 missile defence systems from Russia but Washington will have to weigh "important geostrategic considerations" on growing calls for a presidential CAATSA waiver to New Delhi, President Joe Biden's nominee for Coordinator for Sanctions Policy has told lawmakers. By Lalit K Jha
    
     FGN5 US-INDIA-LD GARCETTI
     Key Congressional panel clears nomination of LA mayor as US envoy to India
     Washington: A key Congressional panel has voted in favour of the nomination of Los Angeles Mayor Eric M Garcetti to serve as the US Ambassador to India. By Lalit K Jha
    
     FGN8 UN-VESSEL-INDIANS
     UN mission speaks to crew members of UAE-flagged vessel seized by Houthis with 7 Indians on board
     United Nations: A United Nations mission said it has spoken to the crew members of a United Arab Emirates-flagged cargo vessel that was seized by Houthi rebels off the port of Hodeidah in Yemen and has seven Indians on board. By Yoshita Singh
    
     FGN7 UN-YEMEN-VESSEL-INDIANS
     Deeply concerned about safety of 7 Indians on Houthi-seized ship; call for immediate release of crew, vessel: India at UNSC
     United Nations: India has voiced deep concern over the safety of seven Indian nationals on a Houthi-seized United Arab Emirates-flagged cargo vessel, calling for the immediate release of the crew and the ship. By Yoshita Singh
    
     FGN33 IRAN-TRUMP-THREAT
     Iran leader's website showcases Trump drone strike animation
     Tehran: The website of Iran's supreme leader has showcased an animated video that appears to show a robot calling in a drone strike to assassinate former President Donald Trump. (AP)
         
     FGN22 CHINA-US-MARITIME
     China defends sweeping maritime claims after US criticism
     Beijing: China on Thursday defended its “historical rights” to virtually the entire South China Sea, following a new US government report saying Beijing's claims are almost entirely invalid. (AP)
    
     FGN18 UK-VACCINE-LD STUDY
     AstraZeneca vaccine as third dose effective against Omicron: Study
     London: The AstraZeneca Vaxzevaria vaccine showed an increased antibody response to the Omicron variant of COVID-19 after a third booster dose, preliminary data released by the Anglo-Swedish biopharma major said on Thursday. By Aditi Khanna    
    
     FGN25 VIRUS-PAK
     Pakistan reports 46 per cent spike in infections over last 24 hours
     Islamabad: Pakistan has reported more than 3,000 new coronavirus cases on Thursday, a whopping 46 per cent jump in the last 24 hours, and the highest single-day surge witnessed over the last four months has been fuelled predominantly by the Omicron variant, according to official data. By Sajjad Hussain IND
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(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)