BERLIN, Jan 25 (Reuters) – Germany’s economy, Europe’s largest, is likely to reach pre-pandemic levels by mid-2022, according to a draft document prepared by the economy ministry and seen by Reuters on Monday.
The world economic situation, underutilized production capacity and preliminary indicators point to further recovery of the German economy, the ministry said in its draft annual economic report.
Germany’s budget deficit is seen at 7% this year when compared to gross domestic product, leading to a debt ratio of 72.5%, the ministry said, as Berlin spent billions of euros to cushion the economic hit from the pandemic. (Reporting by Christian Kraemer and Andreas Rinke; written by Thomas Seythal; editing by Riham Alkousaa)
RIO DE JANEIRO, Jan 22 (Reuters) – Brazilian miner Vale SA and state authorities narrowed their gap in a potential settlement deal on the Brumadinho mining disaster to 11 billion reais ($ 2 billion) before talks broke down, someone close to the negotiations told Reuters on the day. Friday.
The Minas Gerais state government lowered its demand for a settlement to 40 billion reais in a meeting with Vale on Thursday, down from 54 billion reais in damages previously wanted, said the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity when negotiations closed. . Vale offered 29 billion reais, the person said, with talks failing because of the difference.
Reporting by Marta Nogueira Written by Jake Spring Editing by Leslie Adler
Most of the rain that starts at 7am Monday will be the biggest on the West Coast of the South Island. Image / weatherwatch.co.nz
A storm that is likely to bring destructive winds and swells is centered on New Zealand’s West Coast, prompting warnings for those camping, on foot or on the water.
Weatherwatch.co.nz estimates strong winds “damaging” more than 150 km / h, waves of up to 13 meters, and one meter of snow in the Southern Alps.
There may also be over 200 mm of rain for parts of the West Coast.
Police say they have not issued a specific warning for the storm, but they always urge motorists to drive according to the conditions.
“In wet and windy weather that means slowing down and increasing the distance to follow,” said a spokesman.
Philip Duncan at weatherwatch.co.nz said the storm would be significant.
Weather and wind action today. Image / weatherwatch.co.nz
“The stormy Southern Ocean weather pattern is temporarily putting the La Nina pattern to one side with two significant lows – one today and the other around Tuesday, Wednesday.
“Sunday’s low, which still hasn’t suppressed some thunderstorms, rain and winds for parts of New Zealand, will actually be tracing out of the country today. So we don’t expect anything too serious today, although it remains up-to-date with possible MetService severe warning no matter where you are. “
Estimated wind speed on Monday evening at 7pm. Image / weatherwatch.co.nz
But the ensuing storm worries Duncan, especially for those venturing outdoors.
“The Tuesday / Wednesday event appears to be the most intense with the epicenter of this hurricane potentially crossing Southland and Otago.”
As a hurricane hits the country with its strong northwest strong winds, it will then be followed by a cool southern turn with heavy rains that will hit the West Coast.
Weather and wind types are expected on Tuesday at 13.00. Image / weatherwatch.co.nz
Auckland is expected to cool down but will not experience as violent a storm as the South Island one.
MetService meteorologist Peter Little said southwestern changes that begin on Wednesday through Thursday will bring temperatures down to 10C on the South Island.
Dunedin will drop from 25C today to 15C.
Few say that temperature changes won’t be as dramatic as on the North Island, but people will definitely feel the impact from the southwest.
Auckland will drop from 27C today to 21C on Wednesday, and 20C on Thursday.
Most of the rain that starts at 7am Monday will be the biggest on the West Coast of the South Island. Image / weatherwatch.co.nz
Until then, the hot weather will continue. Whangārei and Gisborne can expect temperatures of 30C, Auckland and Tauranga 27C and Hamilton 26C.
In today’s South Island, Kaikoura is a hot spot of 28C. Christchurch and Ashburton are set at 27C.
The front exerts its energies on the South Island, and central New Zealand – Wellington, Wairarapa – is bearing the brunt of strong winds. Bad weather warning has been issued.
Meanwhile, warnings were in place tonight for the Canterbury Plains and North Otago, where it is expected to see more than 25 mm of rain, along with hail.
MetService has warned people to be prepared for flash floods around low-lying areas such as rivers, streams or narrow valleys, which can cause slipping.
Driving conditions will also be dangerous, with surface flooding and poor visibility during heavy rain.
Heavy hail can cause significant damage to crops, orchards, vines, greenhouses and vehicles.
-RNZ additional reporting
Wind gusts speed early Monday. Image / weatherwatch.co.nz
Against the backdrop of the US Capitol, members of the National Guard change shifts as they exit through an anti-scaling security fence in Washington. Photo / AP
Busloads of buses and cargo of planes, National Guard troops poured into the nation’s capital on Saturday, as governors responded to US defense officials’ urgent requests for more troops to help guard Washington even as they watched anxiously at possible violent protests in their own states.
Military leaders spent most of the night Thursday and Friday calling on the state in an unprecedented call for more National Guard troops to help lock down large swathes of the city in the days before President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration. In the dribs and drabs, the governor replied, some agreeing to send an extra dozen, 100 or even 1,000, while others said no.
The calls reflect concerns that violent extremist groups are targeting the city after a deadly uprising on the US Capitol on January 6.
Threats range from armed insurgents to possible attempts to plant explosive devices on so-called soft targets. But as Washington begins to resemble an armed camp, with more than 25,000 guards set to be in the city as early as next week, concerns about violence in the state capital have mounted.
Oregon Governor Kate Brown said she rejected a federal request to send at least 100 more National Guard troops to DC “I don’t think we can safely fulfill that commitment,” Brown said. Oregon has agreed to send 30 to Washington, but state leaders are concerned about violence at the state capitol in Salem.
Others agreed, sparking dizzying bursts of military and convoy flights into the region.
“The peaceful transfer of power is a central principle of American democracy, and Connecticut stands ready to help protect our country.” said Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont, who initially agreed to send 100 guards and on Friday agreed to send 200 more.
In all, more than 130 US Air Guard flights in the past 72 hours have brought at least 7,000 Guard troops to Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, according to US officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal numbers. Thousands more were in buses and military trucks, rumbling down the highway to Washington.
Army General Dan Hokanson, head of the National Guard Bureau, called in general aides across the country, and others, such as Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy, called in governors for help. McCarthy praised the state, saying defense and military officials were well aware of the threats they also faced.
“The governors and TAG were great. They helped us a lot,” McCarthy told The Associated Press.
“That’s the problem – that in the midst of a very dire situation you see how great this country is, everyone is getting together and helping each other get through this.”
Troops walk behind a security fence in Washington as security is stepping up ahead of the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris. Photo / AP
What began in early January as a routine deployment of some 350 DC National Guard members to aid protests that are expected to explode over the past two weeks became a much larger operation to protect the inauguration and the US Congress Building, and to block access to the city and its many historical monuments.
When the protesters entered the Capitol on January 6, only a little over 100 National Guards were scattered around the city, guarding the Metro’s checkpoints and entrances. Hours later, five people are dead, the Capitol is in disarray and 1100 DC Guards have been activated.
The next day, as information arrived about more planned violence, requests went out for 6,200 members of the Guard from surrounding states.
On Thursday evening, as law enforcement and defense officials flooded maps and conducted security drills, they concluded they needed at least 25,000 to lock down Capitol grounds and vast areas of DC, including the National Mall. And they agreed that most of the Guards would be armed.
At that time, a new chapter of summons to state governors and military leaders began.
Many governors were willing to help, but they made it clear that the state capital was their priority. Some agreed to send more, while others couldn’t. And the numbers vary widely.
Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf doubled his initial commitment from 1,000 to 2,000. Other states managed to collect an additional dozen.
After reviewing threats against its own country, Minnesota decided it could significantly increase its contribution and would send 850 guards rather than the 130 originally deployed to leave, according to the state’s aide general, Major General Shawn Manke.
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has agreed to send 700. On Friday, he announced he would send 300 more – even as he ordered nearly 600 to secure the Ohio state home in Columbus. So it is with the Governor of North Carolina.
Roy Cooper initially agreed to send 200 guards, and on Friday a Ford Porter spokesman said the country would send 100 more. Iowa first said it sent 250 and now the number is 265.
The big military response comes as Congress and law enforcement authorities try to figure out how the US Capitol captured the dramatic power of January 6.
The leaders of four committees in the Democratic-controlled House sent a letter on Saturday seeking briefings and documents from the FBI and other federal agencies as part of their review of the insurgency.
The call for more American soldiers also underscores the Pentagon’s limits on the use of active duty troops. Under the law, they cannot be used for law enforcement, and officials intend to avoid the emergence of armed active forces being used against US citizens on American soil.
Active duty forces routinely prepare to respond to emergencies in Washington, such as flight violations in restricted airspace over DC, and rapid reaction forces are on standby. Other active duty units will take part in various inauguration ceremonies.
LONDON, Jan 12 (Reuters) - Britain has given 2.4 million
people a first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine so far, government
statistics showed on Tuesday.
The government is aiming to have made initial doses of
COVID-19 vaccines available to 15 million high-risk people by
mid-February.
Here are the latest figures on the progress to that target,
according to the government's statistics portal.
Country/Nation First dose Second dose
United Kingdom 2,431,648 412,167
England 2,080,280 393,925
N Ireland 84,187 15,288
Scotland 175,942 2,857
Wales 91,239 97
(Reporting by Costas Pitas and Alistair Smout; editing by
William James)