Uzbekistan: In a change of tack, president preaches supply-side economics
Forcing traders to keep prices low will not fix the problem, he said
COVID-19
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IEA: global demand to return to pre-pandemic levels at the end of 2022
Oil steadies after hitting 2-yr high as demand hopes face supply growth
Tokyo warned locals pose greater Covid risk to Olympics than visitors
Most foreign athletes will be vaccinated but doctors worry about pressure on medical services
WHO says can’t force China to give more info on COVID origins
WHO official Mike Ryan said the agency could not ‘compel’ China to share more but expects full ‘cooperation’ from member states
Uzbeks weigh vaccines: Russian vs. Chinese
A journalist by trade, Djabborov referenced an article he had written a few months before, where he promised to be the first to volunteer for clinical trials if Uzbekistan developed its own “national” vaccine. Since that hadn’t happened, he said, he would instead participate in trials taking place in Uzbekistan for a Chinese-made vaccine, to “do his part” in the battle against the coronavirus
Japan cannot cancel Olympics despite alarming forecasts
It was supposed to be a "short and powerful" two-week state of emergency designed to get Japan's fourth wave of coronavirus infections under control ahead of the Olympics. But after that fortnight had lapsed with infections continuing to place extreme pressure on the medical system, it was extended for another three weeks
World on a needle: pandemic causes increase in number of drug addicts
In 2009, it was estimated that there were 210 million drug users, accounting for 4.8% of the world’s population aged 15-64, compared to 269 million ones in 2018, accounting for 5.3% of the population, Modern Diplomacy writes. Over the past two decades, drug abuse in developing countries has grown much faster than in developed countries. To some extent, this reflects the difference in overall population growth during this period – 7% in developed countries and 28% in developing countries – but it also highlights the rapid growth of the young population in developing countries
Brazilian scientists propose to fight pandemic under the auspices of BRICS
Geopolitics and international relations have undergone several transformations throughout the 20th century. The first two decades of the 21st century marked the resurgence of other powers, with the reappearance of Russia and China: Russia recovering part of its sphere of influence in its surroundings; and China consolidating itself as a global economic power, both of which play an important role on the geopolitical board, Edgar Gandra and Charles Pennaforte, Professors at the Federal University of Pelotas (UFPEL), Brazil, write for Modern Diplomacy
How will Europe's 'vaccine passport' work?
What to know before it starts July 1
European vaccination: from vampire castle to Salisbury Cathedral
As the vaccination campaign is gaining steam, some European nations resort to the most uncanny of places to provide people with the anti-COVID jab. Football stadiums, cathedrals, subway stations, cinemas and even the infamous Dracula’s castle in Romania are all used to attract people into getting the vaccine
"Vaccine tours" to Russia becoming popular
Why don't European countries just allow the use of the Russian vaccine?
Gazprom changes strategy on Turkish direction
Before 2020, Russia was the leading gas exporter to Turkey with a market share around 33%. Few were those who predicted any sudden alterations to this order of things
New Covid-19 strain in India restrain oil prices
Oil prices rose on Friday, reversing some of the previous day's sharp losses as stock markets strengthened and the U.S. dollar slipped, though gains were capped by the coronavirus situation in major oil consumer India. Brent crude oil futures were up $1.23, or 1.8%, at $68.28 a barrel by 1349 GMT and West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude was up $1.12, or 1.8%, at $64.94. The two contracts lost about 3% on Thursday.
Vaccine skepticism in Armenia
The country has taken the rare step of offering the vaccine to anyone, including foreigners, without registration. But the number of takers is still low.
India's COVID crisis spawns black market
As patients struggle to find available hospital beds, life-saving drugs and medical oxygen, a flourishing black market is fleecing hapless people across the country.
Vision 2030 helps Saudi Arabia cope with pandemic-triggered recession
Saudi Arabia’s non-oil economy — the key focus of the Vision 2030 diversification strategy — has shown its first year-on-year growth since the beginning of the pandemic recession, Arab News writes
Biden's US pins its hopes on COVID-19 for global image
The COVID-19 crisis has probably been the most significant and consequential public health crisis the world has faced in the past century. Since the 1917 Spanish flu, this is the first time that the world has dealt a crisis of …
UNDP: landmines are found in over 70 countries
Mine-free world is vital for social-economic development of least developed countries
Employees must be vaccinated to attend workplace in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia said on Friday that getting vaccinated against Covid-19 would be mandatory for all employees to attend their workplaces in an effort to curb the spread of the virus, DPA reports. Saudi Arabia's state news agency …
India’s COVID-19 crisis threatens a global oil recovery
India, the world’s third-largest oil consumer behind the U.S. and China, was meant to be a major driver of oil’s demand recovery as economies reopened. But the country’s devastating health crisis has made that impossible. Everyone from oil traders to the world’s biggest producers are panicking, The Japan Times writes
