Brazil hopes veterinary facilities can help increase COVID-19 vaccine output

SAO PAULO (Reuters) – Brazil hopes to use veterinary facilities to increase COVID-19 vaccine output, authorities said on Saturday, as the country accounts for the world’s worst daily death tolls and its vaccination efforts lag. Brazil already makes or finishes coronavirus vaccines at its two main public health institutes, although those efforts have not been […]
Gaps Remain in Countries Readiness to Deploy COVID-19 Vaccines

Assessments by World Bank and partners provide insights into more than 120 countries’ readiness to safely distribute vaccines WASHINGTON, March 18, 2021 – As countries undertake the largest vaccination campaign in history, the World Bank has worked with governments, WHO, UNICEF, the Global Fund and GAVI on assessing countries’ readiness to safely deploy COVID-19 vaccines in […]
Japan to lift Tokyo area state of emergency as planned on Sunday

TOKYO (Reuters) – The Japanese government’s advisory panel on coronavirus measures approved on Thursday a plan to let the state of emergency expire in the Tokyo area as scheduled on March 21, while the capital’s governor warned citizens not to let down their guard.
U.S. pandemic relief program mistakenly paid $692 million in duplicate loans: watchdog

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) mistakenly paid out $692 million in duplicate small-business pandemic relief loans because of technical errors and other mistakes, the agency’s internal watchdog said on Monday.
EU regulator to meet on Thursday to discuss AstraZeneca vaccine

(Reuters) – The European medicines regulator said on Monday it would hold a meeting this week on the information gathered into whether the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine contributed to thromboembolic events in those inoculated. While its investigation is ongoing, the European Medicines Agency remains of the view that the benefits of the AstraZeneca vaccine in preventing […]
Banks boost European stocks as recovery hopes grow

(Reuters) – Shares of banks and automakers lifted European shares on Monday as investors continued to move into economy-linked sectors on hopes of a solid economic rebound from the coronavirus downturn.
Recovery bets support stocks as Fed comes in focus

MILAN/TOKYO (Reuters) – World shares inched higher while U.S. bond yields hovered near a 13-month peak on Monday on bets economic growth would accelerate even though investors became wary of the Federal Reserve and other key central bank meetings in the days ahead.
Virgin Atlantic set to raise 160 million pounds in new financing

(Reuters) – British airline Virgin Atlantic, which has been hammered by the COVID-19 pandemic like much of the sector, is set to raise 160 million pounds ($222.75 million) in new financing, a spokeswoman for Richard Branson’s airline said in an emailed statement. “We continue to bolster our balance sheet in anticipation of the lifting of […]
European shares at fresh one-year peak after dovish ECB signal

(Reuters) – European stocks hit their highest level in a year on Thursday as worries about a spike in inflation eased and the European Central Bank said it was ready to accelerate money-printing to keep a lid on euro zone borrowing costs.
Shaping Africa’s post-Covid recovery: A new eBook

While most African countries have been largely spared so far from the direct health effect of the Covid-19 pandemic, the continent’s economy has been significantly hurt by the economic consequences. This is particularly concerning given Africa’s high prevalence of extreme poverty. A new eBook from CEPR Press focuses on business and household responses to the Covid-19 crisis in Africa, as well as access to international finance, patterns in international borrowing, and country-specific experiences during the pandemic.