Asian stocks slipped while the U.S. dollar was steadfast on Wednesday, following U.S. inflation data and remarks from central bank officials that have investors worrying interest rates are going to be higher for longer. Headline U.S. CPI came in at 6.4% year-on-year for January, a bit higher than the 6.2% economists had expected, setting off … Read more
Only five hospitals in Afghanistan still offer Covid-19 treatment, with 33 others having been forced to close in recent months for lack of doctors, medicines and even heat. This comes as the economically devastated nation is hit by a steep rise in the number of reported coronavirus cases. At Kabul’s only Covid-19 treatment hospital, staff … Read more
by Shiva Pillay During 2020 and 2021, there was a shift in focus to improving remote working capabilities, access to cloud infrastructure and securing data. Over the next year, however, I believe businesses will desire more control of their data, with a greater focus on the ability to facilitate portability and seamless response to the … Read more
The problem with staff absence is that it is unpredictable and lumpy in the sense that you don’t know where somebody is going to get sick and, when somebody does get sick, it’s then more likely that other people in that team will get sick and hospitals and healthcare systems are complex, they’re inter-dependent, so … Read more
9.55am GMT 09:55 The UK Health Security Agency’s chief has suggested the government might decide on whether further restrictions are needed in England based on Omicron’s wider impact, rather than the variant’s severity alone. The risk of hospitalisation is up to 70% less for people with Omicron compared to those infected with Delta, according to … Read more
Eleven US states have launched legal actions to challenge a new federal vaccine requirement for workers at companies with more than 100 employees, a key component of Joe Biden’s Covid response plan. “This mandate is unconstitutional, unlawful, and unwise,” said a court filing by Missouri’s attorney general, Eric Schmitt, one of several Republicans vying for … Read more
The Chinese president, Xi Jinping, said on Saturday that reunification with Taiwan must happen and that it would happen peacefully, despite a week of tensions. Xi spoke at an official celebration in Beijing’s Great Hall of the People that focused largely on the ruling Communist Party continuing to lead China as the country rises in … Read more
China has been regarded the world’s largest creditor as its total outstanding claims exceed more than 5% of the global GDP. It has even surpassed the world’s official leading creditors such as IMF, World Bank etc. Till 2019, China Development Bank and China Import-Export bank granted loans worth almost $120 billion to the developing countries … Read more
By Joanna Ossinger and Vildana Hajric Bitcoin surged close to $40,000 as a flurry of short-covering intensified a rally apparently sparked by speculation over Amazon.com Inc.’s involvement in the crypto industry. A job posting from the retail giant seeking an executive to develop the company’s “digital currency and blockchain strategy” stirred questions among analysts over … Read more
7.19am BST07:19 India makes $6.7 billion bank move to boost financing for healthcare efforts India has released $6.7 billion in cheap financing for vaccine makers, hospitals and other health firms, to counter the devastating coronavirus surge gripping the country. Reserve Bank of India governor Shaktikanta Das also vowed to deploy “unconventional” measures if the crisis … Read more