Author: WTX News

The German government slashed this year’s economic growth predictions to 3% on Wednesday citing the impact of coronavirus lockdowns, a drop from last autumn’s 4.4% forecast. Chancellor Angela Merkel and state leaders agreed last week to extend the shutdown until mid-February. GDP Growth forecast “We are currently seeing a flattening of the number of infections, which is giving hope,” said Economy Minister Peter Altmaier said. The economy shrank by a smaller-than-expected 5% last year, which marked the second-biggest economic plunge in the country’s post-war history. The record slump of -5.7 came in 2009 in the aftermath of the global financial crisis. Altmaeir said Germany…

Australian Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has said he met with Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg over plans to force tech giants to pay for news sourced from local media outlets, but the Facebook chief executive and founder was unable to shift the position of the leaders. Mr Frydenberg said he and Communications Minister Paul Fletcher met with Mr Zuckerberg last week after the Facebook chief executive “reached out” to the ministers to discuss the matter in more detail. Facebook wants to post without paying But the facebook founder was unable to move the Government’s position on the code. It has been alleged…

Myanmar’s military has taken control of the country after detaining de-facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi and other politicians in the early hours. Following election Fraud allegations. The armed forces in Myanmar have confirmed that they have carried out a coup d’etat, their first against a civilian government since 1962, and in apparent violation of the constitution which the military promised to honour as recently as last Saturday. But allegations by the army of widespread voter fraud, which the electoral commission denies, have led to the most direct confrontation yet between the civilian Government and the military, who share power…

Hedge fund Melvin Capital lost 53% in January, as wall street feels the hurt from Gamestop stock gamble, according to media reports. The latest surge in silver comes as the damage to one Wall Street firm becomes clearer. However, the firm received commitments for fresh cash from investors in the last days of January and ended the month with $8bn (£5.8bn) in assets after having started the year with roughly $12.5bn, according to Reuters. The firm had bet that ailing video game retailer GameStop’s stock, which traded at less than $5 five months ago, would fall further. But retail investors,…

Silver stock prices leapt to a five-month high on Monday on social media calls to buy the metal and emulate the frenzy that drove up GameStop shares. The recent GameStop surge, which was also fuelled by retail investors, was also seen as a revolt against large institutional investors. Demand for silver is going crazy and rippling through to other commodities and stocks. Shares in a handful of smaller Australian mining firms surged as small-time traders bought en masse. Coin-selling websites also reported unprecedented demand and flagged delays in delivering silver. Silver rose as much as 7% to $28.99 an ounce,…

Queen Elizabeth is set to host President Joe Biden and a slate of other world leaders at Buckingham Palace before the Group of Seven (G7) summit in June. The United Kingdom is set to host the first in-person G7 summit since 2019 in June in Cornwall, England. The G7 is composed of the U.K., the U.S., Germany, France, Canada, Italy and Japan. The queen will be joined by fellow members of the royal family, including Charles, the Prince of Wales, and his wife, Duchess of Cornwall Camilla Parker Bowles, in addition to Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge, and his…

Abu Dhabi-based a thriving Gulf Startup FinTech company, Nymcard has raised $7.6 million funding in its opening series. The first round led by Shorooq Partners to fuel its growth within the Gulf and MENA region. OTF Jasoor Ventures and Venture Souq also participated in the round. Nymcard focuses on processing transactions and issuing cards, including online cards, on behalf of banks, financial institutions and FinTechs that connect to mobile platforms. It does not compete with payment giants like MasterCard and Visa, but works with them, enabling digital and mobile-first applications to process payments. https://twitter.com/NymCard/status/1305475623914295297 The Middle East Sees a booming…

Bahrain marked the completion of its UAE-funded Bahrain International Airport expansion project with a flight to Abu Dhabi to “thank colleagues and friends” at the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD) on Thursday. The new expansion of Bahrain International Airport builds on a 94-year history of being the region’s first airport and aviation hub. The expansion, to which the UAE contributed $3.7 billion, has the capacity to accommodate 14 million passengers annually. “We completed the project in record time, some four years from inception to operation,” he said. The new terminal at Bahrain International Airport is four times the size…

Brief. BrIEf.Me In today’s briefing update, we look at Sunday’s top stories. Most papers focus on the vaccine showdown, Covid-19 frontline workers and the possibility gambling logos will be removed from Sport’s jerseys. Also featured: The latest Covid-19 figures, Sports, business and entertainment news.  …………………………….. Several papers set out details of what the Sun on Sunday calls Boris Johnson’s “seven hour showdown” with EU chiefs. A senior government official tells the Sunday Times and the Sun that the phone calls to  President Ursula von der Leyen were “pretty spicy”. The Mail on Sunday suggests contingency plans were drawn up to…

Why do men get sucked into Covid conspiracies more than women?  Men are twice as likely to die from Covid-19 than women.  It also appears men are more likely to believe in Covid-19 conspiracies. Anti-mask demonstrations and online discussions seem to show a gender-based trend when it comes to conspiracy theories – which is terrifying considering men are twice as likely to die in the UK from Covid than women.  A lot of the more prominent Covid deniers and conspiracy theorists on a public stage appear to be men too.  A few months back, Right Said Fred – the one-hit…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WgN5EAGdvm8&t=28s Friday’s Briefing Video: Novavax vaccine 89% effective – Amateur traders fight Wall Street Covid-19: Novavax vaccine shows 89% efficacy in UK trials UK economy suffering most damage since first wave of Covid-19 UK launches visa scheme for Hong Kong citizens Poles take to the streets in renewed protest against abortion restrictions Jordan presses Israel to vaccinate Palestinians Lebanon: Funeral held for demonstrator killed in Tripoli protests North America’s Largest Cemetery Struggles to Cope with COVID Deaths GameStop: Meet the amateur traders fighting Wall Street Liverpool end winless run with victory at lacklustre Tottenham Khloe Kardashian begs Tristan Thompson for…

Daily News Briefing Brief. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WgN5EAGdvm8&t=28s The top stories Covid-19: Novavax vaccine shows 89% efficacy in UK trialsBBC News says a new vaccine has been shown to be 89.3% effective in large-scale UK trials.The Novavax jab is the first to show it is effective against the new variant of the virus discovered in the UK. The PM welcomed the “good news” and said the UK’s medicines regulator would now assess the vaccine.The UK has secured 60 million doses of the jab, which will be made in Stockton-on-Tees.Read on………………..UK economy suffering most damage since first wave of Covid-19The Guardian says Britain’s economy…

Covid not a ‘once in a century event’ COVID-19 is being referred to as a “once in a century event” – but the next pandemic is likely to hit sooner than you think. In the next few decades, we will likely see other pandemics. We can predict that with reasonable confidence because of the recent increased frequency of major epidemics (such as SARS and Ebola), and because of social and environmental changes driven by humans that may have contributed to COVID-19’s emergence. Another pandemic is coming — it’s time to prepare TribLive says even as we confront a still-surging covid-19…

Rita Ora: Venue was paid to breach Covid rules, police tell committee Pop star Rita Ora celebrated her 30th birthday breaking lockdown rules. Her team offered a restaurant £5,000 to break rules so she could celebrate, according to police.  Her security team also asked for CCTV cameras to be turned off during the party at Casa Cruz, in Notting Hill, on 28 November, during the second national lockdown, police said.  CCTV hard drives were wiped two days later, a licensing hearing at Kensington and Chelsea Council heard. Rita Ora declined to comment but has previously apologised for the party.  She…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vw8b2-VBRRg Thursday’s News Briefing: Covid-19 rates dropping – NHS pressure- Boris off to Scotland Boris Johnson to visit Scotland despite Nicola Sturgeon warning Covid cases in England ‘must fall faster to ease NHS pressure’ EU seeks access to AstraZeneca’s Covid-19 vaccines produced at UK plants ‘Military grenades’ injure 9 soldiers during clashes with anti-lockdown protesters in Lebanon’s Tripoli Dubai updates entry requirements as UAE COVID-19 cases surge Indian farmers call off parliament march after deadly violence US issues heightened terrorism threat alert from domestic extremists US Indicts Oath Keeper Members Over Plot to Storm Capitol Record iPhone sales for Apple…

Daily News Briefing Brief. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vw8b2-VBRRg The top stories Boris Johnson to visit Scotland despite Nicola Sturgeon warningBBC News says Boris Johnson is due to visit Scotland on Thursday despite the country’s first minister questioning whether the trip is necessary.The PM is expected to emphasise the strength of the UK working together in the fight against Covid-19.He is also likely to thank the staff involved in responding to the pandemic.Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has questioned whether his trip is “essential”. Asked at her daily coronavirus briefing on Wednesday how she felt about the expected visit while strict travel restrictions were…

The third world legal system has taken a turn for the worse as a court in India has ruled that groping a minor girl “without touching her skin” is not sexual assault under the Protection of Children against Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. India’s attorney-general KK Venugopal has called the court order “disturbing” and says it sets a dangerous precedent. In a shocking decision, The Indian Supreme Court upheld a decision of the Bombay high court (HC) which ruled that groping a minor girl without touching her skin did not amount to sexual assault under Protection of Children against Sexual Offences…

Bangladesh has decided to move more rohingya refugees to the remote island of Bhasan Char. The government says the relocation is voluntary but some refugees from the first group that went there in early December have spoken of being coerced. Despite global criticism from the United Nations and other human rights organisations from around the world, Bangladesh has decided to relocate 2,000to 3,000 more Rohingya refugees from neighbouring Myanmar to the remote island of Bhasan Char island. Since early December, Bangladesh has moved more than 3,500 refugees to Bhasan Char from border camps where a million live in ramshackle huts…

Dele Alli PSG loan move is almost done as both clubs have agreed on terms for the move and is being held back on Spurs finding a replacement before the end of the January transfer window. Paris Saint-Germain are pushing to sign Dele Alli on loan from Tottenham and talks have reached an agreement between the clubs. The two clubs have been in talks for some time to try to find a way for Alli to rejoin his former manager, Mauricio Pochettino, at PSG but Spurs are concerned that letting the 24-year-old go would leave them short in the final…

Wednesday’s Briefing VIDEO: 100,000 UK deaths – lockdown 3 France – Iran rejects US vaccines https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eltBUIu6FIU Covid: Archbishops call for daily prayer after 100,000 UK deaths AstraZeneca CEO: ‘Britain will hit its vaccine targets’ Calls for third lockdown grow as France’s new Covid-19 hospitalisations rise sharply Tehran to use Russian, Chinese, Indian & own vaccines, while US jabs are rejected due to ‘lack of trust’ – Iranian FM to RT Lebanese protesters break lockdown: ‘Death by COVID-19 is better than starvation’ Israel: Military revising operational plans for Iran attack Judge bars Biden from enforcing 100-day deportation ban Trump Impeachment…

Daily News Briefing Brief. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXLMP8NTNMw The top stories Covid: Archbishops call for daily prayer after 100,000 UK deathsBBC News says the Church of England’s archbishops have urged the public to reflect on the “enormity” of the pandemic after the official number of coronavirus deaths in the UK passed 100,000.In an open letter, they called on people to join a daily “prayer for the nation”.The PM said he was “deeply sorry for every life lost” and said he took “full responsibility”, adding: “We truly did everything we could.”Read on………………..AstraZeneca CEO: ‘Britain will hit its vaccine targets’CityAM says, CEO of AstraZeneca Pascal Soriot…

2020 exposed the hypocrisy of Celebrity NO famous people. We’re not all ‘in it together’ 2020 and beyond exposed the toxicity of celebrity culture as stars continue to flout rules for luxury holidays and continue to get away with it. If there’s ever a perfect time to be a celebrity, it’s during a global health crisis with forced lockdowns, mass unemployment and misery. Whilst most of us can not even comprehend when we’ll be on holiday next if you’re famous all you need to do is hop on a private jet. So did 2020 expose the hypocrisy of Celebrity? Are we still obsessed with…

Tuesday’s Briefing Video: Quarantine Hotels – Moderna vaccine fights Covid-19 variants https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MBtZLAG5_UQ Covid: Quarantine hotel plans set to be announced Teachers in England ‘should pick vulnerable pupils for early return’ Italy PM set to quit and seek new govt amid pandemic and political turmoil Brazil launches probe into health minister amid allegations he botched Covid response in virus-ravaged city Jordan demands Israel end Al-Aqsa ‘provocations’ Sri Lanka’s cremation of COVID dead a ‘human rights violation’ US House sends Trump impeachment article to Senate, triggering trial Moderna says its vaccine is effective against COVID-19 variants UK access to Pfizer jab…

Daily News Briefing Brief. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MBtZLAG5_UQ The top stories Covid: Quarantine hotel plans set to be announcedBBC News says the government is expected to announce that some travellers coming to England will have to quarantine in hotels, over concerns about new Covid variants.Boris Johnson will make a decision after discussing the proposals with senior ministers later. The new measures are likely to apply to UK citizens and those with permanent residency rights arriving from high-risk countries such as South Africa.Most foreign nationals from high-risk countries already face UK travel bans.Read on………………..Teachers in England ‘should pick vulnerable pupils for early return’The Guardian…

FBI investigation after bomb is thrown at anti-LGBT church in California  The FBI has started an investigation after a bomb was thrown at an anti-LGBT church in California just weeks after the pastor received an arson attack threat.  In the early hours of Saturday morning, police and fire services were called to the First Works Baptist Church after reports of an explosion.  The FBI said an improvised explosive device had been thrown at the building and it had also been covered in graffiti.  No one was injured in the attack, authorities said. There has been a lot of controversy surrounding…