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Archive

World

Wednesday, February 17, 2021

Brazil's 2021 interest rate outlook rises to 3.75pc, survey shows
USA

Brazil's 2021 interest rate outlook rises to 3.75pc, survey shows

  • The average forecast of the benchmark Selic rate at the end of this year rose to 3.75% from 3.50%, while the end-2022 forecast remained steady at 5.00%.
  • Economists at Barclays reckon the central bank will raise rates at its next policy meeting in March.
Published 17 Feb, 2021 09:04pm
COVID response drives $24 trillion surge in global debt: IIF
Europe

COVID response drives $24 trillion surge in global debt: IIF

  • It has meant that debt as a ratio of world economic output known as gross domestic product surged by 35 percentage points to over 355% of GDP.
  • That upswing is well beyond the rise seen during the global financial crisis, when 2008 and 2009 saw 10 percentage points and 15 percentage points respective debt-to-GDP jumps.
Published 17 Feb, 2021 09:00pm
US retail sales rebound strongly in January amid additional stimulus
USA

US retail sales rebound strongly in January amid additional stimulus

  • Retail sales surged by a seasonally adjusted 5.3% last month, the Commerce Department said on Wednesday.
  • Further gains in sales are expected in the months ahead. The US Congress is considering President Joe Biden's $1.9 trillion recovery plan, which will include an additional $1,400 checks to households.
Published 17 Feb, 2021 08:56pm
Spain to give AstraZeneca vaccine to those aged 45 to 55 in next phase
Europe

Spain to give AstraZeneca vaccine to those aged 45 to 55 in next phase

  • Those shots will then be given to those over 70 and over 60, the ministry said, while people under 60 with a high risk of serious COVID-19 infection will be next in line.
  • Overall the country has administered 2.6 million doses and 1.1 million people have received a full course.
Published 17 Feb, 2021 08:50pm
US producer prices post biggest gain since 2009
USA

US producer prices post biggest gain since 2009

  • A 1.3% rise in the prices of services accounted for two-thirds of the increase in the PPI. That was the biggest gain since December 2009 and followed a 0.1% drop in December.
  • Slack in the labor market remains excessive, with at least 20 million Americans on unemployment benefits.
Published 17 Feb, 2021 08:18pm
US producer prices post biggest gain since 2009
USA

US producer prices post biggest gain since 2009

  • A 1.3% rise in the prices of services accounted for two-thirds of the increase in the PPI. That was the biggest gain since December 2009 and followed a 0.1% drop in December.
  • Slack in the labor market remains excessive, with at least 20 million Americans on unemployment benefits.
Published 17 Feb, 2021 08:18pm
Germany warns against swift withdrawal from Afghanistan
Europe

Germany warns against swift withdrawal from Afghanistan

  • The Afghan government and Taliban militants began peace talks in Doha last September, but negotiations have largely stalled.
  • This (lack of progress in peace talks) means we will have to prepare for a changing security situation and a rising threat to both international troops and our own soldiers.
Published 17 Feb, 2021 07:55pm
Senegal expects first delivery of China's Sinopharm vaccine
Africa

Senegal expects first delivery of China's Sinopharm vaccine

  • Like other African countries that have struggled to procure vaccines, Senegal is still waiting for disbursements through African Union and World Health Organization-backed (WHO) programmes.
  • It was not clear how many doses would be in the first shipment or when vaccinations might start.
Published 17 Feb, 2021 07:08pm
Dutch government races for plan B to uphold nighttime coronavirus curfew
Europe

Dutch government races for plan B to uphold nighttime coronavirus curfew

  • Tuesday's court ruling found the government's current justifications lacked sufficient legal basis, sending authorities scrambling to draft a bill and enact it swiftly into law.
  • The measure sparked several days of rioting by anti-lockdown protesters when it was introduced on Jan. 23, and has been heavily criticised by Rutte's opponents in parliament in the run up to the March 17 elections.
Published 17 Feb, 2021 06:46pm
France to discuss Iran with Germany, UK and US counterparts this week
Europe

France to discuss Iran with Germany, UK and US counterparts this week

  • The planned meeting on Thursday comes after Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei demanded "action, not words" from the United States if it wants to revive Tehran's 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, the latest challenge to new President Joe Biden to take the first step towards a thaw.
Published 17 Feb, 2021 06:36pm
Pay gap for US female executives narrows but persists
USA

Pay gap for US female executives narrows but persists

  • Author Jackie Cook said the narrower difference pointed to progress that should continue as companies file disclosures in coming weeks showing 2020 compensation.
  • The female executives were still well paid, with median compensation of $1.76 million in 2019, and their gap with male counterparts narrowed faster than did the pay gap for working women overall.
Published 17 Feb, 2021 06:33pm
EU steps up fight against COVID variants pledging more funds
Europe

EU steps up fight against COVID variants pledging more funds

  • More contagious mutations are spreading fast across the world, and experts believe a British variant is likely to become prevalent on the European continent.
  • Brussels also pledged to accelerate regulatory approvals of upgraded vaccines that work against variants and to help ramp up vaccine production.
Published 17 Feb, 2021 06:31pm
German vaccination programme accelerating, but variants raise stakes
Europe

German vaccination programme accelerating, but variants raise stakes

  • He added that a government programme to offer everyone free, rapid antigen coronavirus tests from March, financed from the public purse, would also help slow the spread of the virus.
  • Spahn said the more infectious British variant now made up 22% of new cases, and its share was doubling each week, while the South African variant made up 1.5%.
Published 17 Feb, 2021 06:02pm
South Korea offers to help Poland build nuclear power plants
South Asia

South Korea offers to help Poland build nuclear power plants

  • Poland currently generates most of its electricity from coal and is betting heavily on nuclear power to meet its future energy needs, alongside wind and solar power.
  • We are ready to cooperate with Poland to build its nuclear power plant through access to the proven advanced Korean nuclear technology, and by seeking financial solutions.
Published 17 Feb, 2021 05:50pm
Mumbai court stops arrest of associate of 22-year-old climate activist
Asia

Mumbai court stops arrest of associate of 22-year-old climate activist

  • Ravi was arrested over the weekend on charges of sedition and remains in police custody.
  • Politicians, students and activists have held protests against the arrest of Ravi, a founding member of the local arm of Thunberg’s Fridays for Future climate change movement.
Published 17 Feb, 2021 03:24pm
Jack Ma's Ant IPO blocked by Chinese government, after probe revealed political beneficiaries
China

Jack Ma's Ant IPO blocked by Chinese government, after probe revealed political beneficiaries

  • Last year, Chinese premier Xi Jinping blocked Ant Group's initial public offering, as it was speculated that the decision was based on Jack Ma's public criticism of Jinping's financial oversight campaign, and that it could add risk to the financial system.
  • A group of well-connected Chinese power players backed the company; including those linked with political families that pose a potential challenge to Jinping's authority.
Updated 17 Feb, 2021 05:05pm
NASA all set to land first tiny helicopter on Mars
World

NASA all set to land first tiny helicopter on Mars

  • The Ingenuity helicopter will overcome several challenges including the rarefied Martian atmosphere, which is just one percent the density of Earth's
  • The helicopter consists of large blades and spin about five times faster and is equipped with two cameras, computers, and navigation sensors
Published 17 Feb, 2021 12:14pm
New Covid-19 cases down 16 percent last week: WHO
World

New Covid-19 cases down 16 percent last week: WHO

  • The interim distribution list issued on February 3 broke down the programme's initial 337.2 million doses -- of which all barring 1.2 million Pfizer-BioNTech doses, are from AstraZeneca. Both WHO-approved vaccines require two injected doses.
Published 17 Feb, 2021 11:13am
South Africa offers AstraZeneca jabs to AU
World

South Africa offers AstraZeneca jabs to AU

  • "The first batch of Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 vaccines have arrived at OR Tambo International Airport," Mkhize tweeted as the precious cargo landed in the financial capital Johannesburg.
Published 17 Feb, 2021 11:06am
Taliban 'open letter' urges US to honour Doha agreement
World

Taliban 'open letter' urges US to honour Doha agreement

  • The letter, signed by the Taliban deputy leader Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, warned that the group would not allow anyone to interfere in Afghanistan’s affairs
  • The US pledged to withdraw all international troops by April this year but violent conflict continues in Afghanistan
Published 17 Feb, 2021 10:57am