SoftBank CEO slams Olympics as Japan races to catch up on vaccinations

Japanese tycoon Masayoshi Son warned of significant dangers around holding the Olympics in Tokyo, where the government on Monday kicked off a mass vaccination drive to catch up with other countries and ensure a “safe and secure” Games.
EXCLUSIVE HSBC CEO says Bitcoin not for us

HSBC (HSBA.L) has no plans to launch a cryptocurrency trading desk or offer the digital coins as an investment to customers, because they are too volatile and lack transparency, its Chief Executive Noel Quinn told Reuters.
Veteran stock picker to join ‘Son-chan’ on SoftBank board

The nomination of Koei Tecmo (3635.T) chair Keiko Erikawa to SoftBank Group’s (9984.T) board adds a veteran games industry executive known for her stock-picking skill, bringing an authoritative voice after the loss of senior industry figures.
S. Korea’s c.bank moves to develop pilot digital currency

South Korea’s central bank on Monday said it will choose a technology supplier to build a pilot platform for a digital currency, moving a step closer to creating a central bank-backed digital currency.
SHARES WARY ON U.S. INFLATION, BATTERED BITCOIN CHARTS RECOVERY

Asian shares got off to a cautious start on Monday as investors anxiously awaited a key read on U.S. inflation this week for guidance on monetary policy, while Bitcoin took a hammering after China cracked down on mining and trading of the cryptocurrency.
India’s Cadila to produce up to 30 mln COVID-19 vaccine doses a month – executive

India’s Cadila Healthcare (CADI.NS) is aiming to triple monthly production of a COVID-19 vaccine candidate to as many as 30 million doses, its managing director said on Monday, as the country battles a massive wave of infections.
G7 is close to agreement on taxation of world’s largest companies – FT

Group of Seven countries are close to reaching agreement on the corporate taxation of multinationals, clearing the way for a global deal later in the year, the Financial Times reported.
Virgin Galactic moves one step closer to commercial space flights

Flying at Mach 3 and reaching more than 55 miles above the Earth Saturday, British billionaire Sir Richard Branson’s private spaceship company Virgin Galactic Holdings Inc (SPCE.N) completed its first manned space flight from its new home port in New Mexico.
Shares wary on U.S. inflation, battered bitcoin charts recovery

Stocks struggled for momentum on Monday as investors awaited key U.S. inflation readings for guidance on monetary policy, while bitcoin rebounded from its hammering on news of China’s clampdown on mining and trading of cryptocurrencies.
Why school closure is a last resort

By Hyuncheol Bryant Kim, Sungsup Ra, Ryotaro Hayashi School reopening should be done on a risk-based approach – with situations closely monitored, particularly for the effect of COVID-19 variants – and school closure be used as a last resort. Schools have been fully or partially closed for more than a year in many developing countries. The world’s longest […]