ΙΜF:Weekend Read: 2021 Priorities | Virus and Vaccines | Middle East Governance | Denmark's Green Vision | Digital Money | Jobs of Tomorrow

 

The latest IMF analysis of global economics, finance, development and policy issues shaping the world //

R   Dear maria,  Welcome to 2021 and the first Weekend Read of the new year! This will be a consequential year for the global economy, and we want to hear more from you, our readers, on issues covered here and beyond. Keep an eye on this space for periodic questions and stay tuned for more original content in the coming year. On that note, we are now planning the 2021 Spring Meetings and would like your input as we craft the agenda of topics and speakers. Who would you like the world to hear from and on what topic? Heads of state, ministers, business executives, civil society leaders, global activists and beyond are all welcome. Please write to Rahim Kanani (rkanani@imf.org) directly with your ideas! In today's edition we hear about three key priorities for 2021, how recovery in the near term will be a race between the virus and vaccines, improving governance and fighting corruption in the Middle East and North Africa, Denmark's green vision, and the legal standing of digital currency. Let's dive right in. THREE PRIORITIES FOR 2021 IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva has laid out three key priorities for the year: Pursue a durable exit from the crisis, ensure a sustainable and inclusive recovery, and halt and reverse a growing divergence between rich and poor countries. "We are still faced with tremendous uncertainties about the exit from the health crisis and we do have a difficult period ahead. There is scarring from [it] we are yet to address. And inequalities within and across countries are on the rise. We also have incredible opportunities for structural transformation that we need to absolutely pursue," she said in a media roundtable this week. An enduring recovery: On the first priority, Georgieva cautioned that vaccination of the global population will be an uneven process. International cooperation will be necessary, including full funding of COVAX, a global initiative to ensure fair and equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines.  "The number that I always flag, and I want to repeat it, is 9 trillion dollars," Georgieva said. "This is what we can gain between now and 2025 if we accelerate vaccination across the world. Of this, 60 percent would go to low income countries and emerging markets and 40 percent would go to advanced economies." Sustainable and inclusive policies: A sustainable and inclusive recovery will require coordinated fiscal stimulus aimed at green and digital investment. Another important effort toward this goal will involve helping countries reduce high debt burdens and cope with volatile capital flows. "We will continue to make the case for sustained policy support until the recovery is firmly underway, and a gradual move to more targeted assistance for the most vulnerable," she said. "We will also work with our members on the concept of resilient economies, accelerating the transition to the new digital and climate economy." Halting divergence: Advanced economies have been able to deploy the equivalent of 20 percent of GDP in fiscal support. For low-income countries, fiscal support has only reached the equivalent of 2 percent of GDP. This disparity threatens to widen the gap even further.  Two important actions on this front will involve pressing private and public lenders to engage in debt restructuring when necessary and to provide more grants and concessional financing, especially in the areas of digital infrastructure and climate resilience. Read the full transcript of the MD's roundtable here. HAPPENING TODAY: RUSSIA AND THE WORLD AFTER THE PANDEMIC IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva will join Vladimir Mau, Rector of the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration, for a one-on-one conversation at the 2021 Gaidar Forum. The event starts at 9 a.m. EST. To watch the livestream in English click here.   Click here to watch live in Russian on the IMF's new Russian Facebook page.   A RACE BETWEEN VIRUS AND VACCINES IMF Chief Economist Gita Gopinath highlighted the uneven rollout of the vaccine as a threat to recovery. She stressed that the COVAX initiative remains underfunded and the need for international cooperation on vaccine distribution. "As we're seeing around the world, there are new variants of the virus coming up," Gopinath said last week on Yahoo! Finance. "And so if we don't control the virus in any part of the world, I think every part of the world is susceptible to this pandemic for much longer." Looking ahead: The IMF will release its World Economic Outlook update on January 26. You'll have to wait for specifics until the report is released later this month, but Gopinath offered some general guidance on what is projected for 2021. In the near term, it will be "a race between the virus and the vaccines." "We'll have the numbers out on the 26th. What you will see is very differential speeds of getting back to the pre-COVID levels, even within the advanced economy group," she said during a separate appearance on CNBC. IMPROVING GOVERNANCE AND FIGHTING CORRUPTION How can strong governance of economic institutions curb corruption? What reforms can be undertaken to promote inclusive growth and ensure government spending is reaching those who need it, especially against the backdrop of COVID-19? And what is the role of digitalization in facilitating these efforts? Watch a distinguished panel, moderated by CNN International’s Eleni Giokos and featuring the IMF Middle East and Central Asia Director Jihad Azour, the United Nations Development Programme’s Mourad Wahba, Oxford University’s Adeel Malik, and Dima Jweihan from the International Center for Not-For-Profit Law, to hear more about these issues and more. The event accompanied the release of an IMF departmental paper examining economic governance reforms to support inclusive growth in the Middle East, North Africa, and Central Asia. “I don't see a one size fits all for the region, but I see a number of good practices that have been tested and proven to be useful that the region can benefit from," Azour said, adding that "the COVID-19 crisis has accelerated a trend that existed before—we are now in the digital age. And there are, to me, three plusses [and] one minus." Watch the full webinar to hear about how digitalization is working well and where it could improve. DENMARK'S AMBITIOUS GREEN VISION Denmark's Parliament overwhelmingly passed a new climate law that aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 70 percent below 1990 levels by 2030, with net zero emissions targeted for 2050. This is an even more ambitious goal than the EU’s target to cut emissions by 55 percent over the same time period. An IMFBlog by the IMF's Nicoletta Batini and Miguel Segoviano  takes a closer look at Denmark’s green strategy and proposes a few adjustments to help the country realize its ambitious goals. In line with earlier IMF recommendations, the blog highlights an IMF staff paper the paper proposes a comprehensive strategy with enhanced carbon pricing, reinforced by fiscal incentives across different sectors. It also urges using revenues from carbon pricing to cut labor taxes. Read the full blog here. IS DIGITAL MONEY REALLY MONEY? An increasing number of central banks are making substantial progress towards having an official digital currency. However, close to 80 percent of the world’s central banks are either not allowed to issue a digital currency under their existing laws, or the legal framework is not clear. In a new IMFBlog from the IMF's Catalina Margulis and Arthur Rossi, a review of central bank laws of 174 IMF members found that only about 40 are legally allowed to issue digital currencies. Any money issuance is a form of debt for the central bank, so it must have a solid basis to avoid legal, financial and reputational risks for the institutions. Ultimately, it is about ensuring that a significant and potentially contentious innovation is in line with a central bank’s mandate. Otherwise, the door is opened to potential political and legal challenges. Read the full blog here. THE JOBS OF TOMMORROW In our most recent issue of Finance & Development, the jobs and skills of future are the focus of a piece by the World Economic Forum's Saadia Zahidi. In her article, "The Jobs of Tomorrow," she lays out five key points on the future of work based on the effect of pandemic-related disruptions placed in the broader context of longer-term technology trends. Rapid automation, the positive impact of the robot revolution, sought-after skills, the need to upgrade worker skills, and the importance of remote work are key trends that will drive the future of work. Some jobs will disappear and others will emerge as the world faces a dual disruption, Zahidi writes. Read the full article republished in IMFBlog. 2020 REWIND: LAST YEAR'S TOP 10 BLOGS Before we step too far into the new year, the editors at IMFBlog invite you to reflect on what the world went through in 2020. As much as we would like to turn the page on 2020, navigating a course forward through still uncertain times entails using all we’ve learned up to now. Our list of your top reads from the past year tracks the COVID-19 pandemic—from the early days of uncertainty and fear through to the tepid and uneven reopening of economies. Naturally, our coverage focused on the profound implications for the global economy and financial stability. But it touched on other dimensions of the crisis as well. As policy makers debated how best to respond, our economists put forward their recommendations on the types of policies needed to meet the crisis head on. Whether these policies protected lives or livelihoods—and indeed they aspire to do both—the crisis like no other has been met with a response like no other. We hope we have helped you make some sense of all this past year has thrown at us, as we now move forward into 2021. Here are the top 10 blogs of 2020, based on your readership. IMF LENDING Check out our global policy tracker to help our member countries be more aware of the experiences of others in combating COVID-19. We are also regularly updating our lending tracker, which visualizes the latest emergency financial assistance and debt relief to member countries approved by the IMF’s Executive Board. To date, 78 countries have been approved for emergency financing, totaling over US$32 billion. Looking for our Q&A about the IMF's response to COVID-19? Click here. We are also continually producing a special series of notes—more than 50 to date—by IMF experts to help members address the economic effects of COVID-19 on a range of topics including fiscal, legal, statistical, tax and more. FINAL THOUGHT Thank you again very much for your interest in the Weekend Read. We really appreciate your time. If you have any questions, comments or feedback of any kind, please do write me a note.  Sincerely, Adam Behsudi Deputy Editor, IMF Weekend Read abehsudi@IMF.org

Κακλαμανάκης: Να μπει τέλος στην ομερτά, απόλυτη συμπαράσταση στην Μπεκατώρου

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Κακλαμανάκης: Να μπει τέλος στην ομερτά, απόλυτη συμπαράσταση στην Μπεκατώρουby mariak

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mariak | January 17, 2021 at 11:20 am

Συνέντευξη Υπουργού Εξωτερικών, Ν. Δένδια, στην Πορτογαλική εφημερίδα DIÁRIO DE NOTÍCIAS

Αθήνα, 16Ιανουαρίου 2021

Συνέντευξη Υπουργού Εξωτερικών, Ν. Δένδια, στην Πορτογαλική εφημερίδα DIÁRIO DE NOTÍCIAS

Ποια η σημασία της τρέχουσας πορτογαλικής προεδρίας για την Ελλάδα ως προς τα θέματα εξωτερικής πολιτικής;
Είναι ιδιαιτέρως σημαντική διότι, κατά πρώτο λόγο, συμπίπτει με την έναρξη των διερευνητικών επαφών με την Τουρκία. Η σχέση της ΕΕ με την Τουρκία βρίσκεται στο επίκεντρο του Συμβουλίου και θα συζητηθεί στις 25 Μαρτίου. Ως εκ τούτου, η πορτογαλική προεδρία καλείται να παίξει έναν σημαντικό ρόλο και όχι μόνο στο θέμα της σχέσης της ΕΕ με την Τουρκία. Η κατάσταση είναι πολύ ρευστή σε όλη την περιοχή μας, όπως για παράδειγμα το θέμα της Λιβύης στη Βόρειο Αφρική. Έπειτα, θα έχουμε μια νέα αμερικανική κυβέρνηση και θα δούμε πώς θα διαμορφωθούν οι νέες σχέσεις Ευρώπης-ΗΠΑ. Για το λόγο αυτό, το γεγονός ότι θα ασκήσει την προεδρία μια χώρα σχετικά μικρή, ανάλογη με τη δική μας και με παρεμφερή τρόπο σκέψης, μας ικανοποιεί ιδιαίτερα.



Ως προς το μέλλον της ΕΕ, μετά το Brexit και μετά την θετική πρωτοβουλία για ταυτόχρονο εμβολιασμό σε όλα τα κ-μ, οι προοπτικές της ΕΕ είναι καλύτερες από ότι πριν από έναν χρόνο;



Θεωρώ ότι η ΕΕ είναι ένα από τα μεγαλύτερα εγχειρήματα της ανθρώπινης ιστορίας. Ταξίδεψα πολλές φορές μεταξύ Γερμανίας, Πολωνίας και Γαλλίας και, κάθε φορά που περνούσα από το Άουσβιτς, ερχόταν στη σκέψη μου πόσοι νέοι έχασαν τη ζωή τους εκεί και στα πεδία της μάχης. Έχουμε επιτύχει μια Ευρώπη που ζει ειρηνικά από το 1945. Και όχι μόνο αυτό. Καταφέραμε, επίσης, να δημιουργήσουμε μια οικογένεια και να πορευόμαστε μαζί. Υπάρχουν προβλήματα, πολλά προβλήματα, αλλά -θα το τονίσω και πάλι- αυτό το μοναδικό επίτευγμα στην ανθρώπινη ιστορία χρειάζεται χρόνο για να ωριμάσει. Εγώ αισθάνομαι πολύ υπερήφανος για την Ευρωπαϊκή Ένωση. Ταυτόχρονα, αισθάνομαι μεγάλη λύπη για το Brexit. Όντας ένας πεπεισμένος Ευρωπαίος, δεν μπορώ να κατανοήσω το Brexit. Μπορώ να το αντιληφθώ σε ψυχολογικό επίπεδο, αλλά τίποτε παραπάνω. Θα δούμε πώς το Ηνωμένο Βασίλειο θα βλέπει τον εαυτό του σε 10, 20 ή 30 χρόνια.



Ατενίζοντας την Ευρώπη ως ένα σχέδιο που έφερε την ειρήνη, θεωρείτε ότι η τουρκική ενταξιακή διαδικασία, το ενδεχόμενο μια μέρα η Τουρκία να αποτελεί κράτος-μέλος της ΕΕ, μπορεί να συμβάλει ώστε να αλλάξουν οι σχέσεις της Ελλάδας με την Τουρκία; Ή ο ανταγωνισμός μεταξύ των δύο χωρών είναι τόσο ισχυρός που αποτρέπει την επίλυση , έστω και αν οι δύο χώρες ανήκουν στην ίδια ομάδα;



Οφείλω να πω ότι η μαγική πλευρά της ΕΕ είναι ότι δεν πρόκειται απλώς για την υπογραφή μιας συνθήκης, πρόκειται για την ένταξη σε ένα πολιτισμικό αξιακό σύστημα, για έναν συγκεκριμένο τρόπο προσέγγισης και αντίληψης των πραγμάτων. Η ΕΕ είναι κάτι πολύ παραπάνω από μία συνθήκη. Συνεπώς, εάν η Τουρκία γίνει, κάποτε, μέλος της ΕΕ, αυτό σημαίνει ότι, προηγουμένως, θα έχει συνυπογράψει και αποδεχθεί πλήρως αυτή την μοναδική ευρωπαϊκή εμπειρία. Κατά την ταπεινή μου άποψη και, πιστεύω, των περισσοτέρων Ελλήνων, αυτό θα σήμαινε μια μεγάλη εποχή για την Τουρκία, μια μεγάλη εποχή για την ειρήνη, μια μεγάλη εποχή για την ΕΕ. Αλλά -να το επαναλάβω- αυτό θα σήμαινε ότι η Τουρκία θα έχει αποδεχθεί και υιοθετήσει όλο το ευρωπαϊκό κεκτημένο. Λυπάμαι που θα πω ότι δεν βλέπω κάτι τέτοιο να συμβαίνει, όπως επίσης με λυπεί η απομάκρυνση της Τουρκίας από την ευρωπαϊκή διαδικασία, κατά τα τελευταία χρόνια. Ας ελπίσουμε ότι, με την πάροδο του χρόνου, η Τουρκία θα μπορέσει να αντιληφθεί με σαφήνεια τα οφέλη της παραμονής της κοντά στην Ευρώπη και, ποιός ξέρει, κάποια στιγμή στο μέλλον, μπορεί και να γίνει πλήρες μέλος της ΕΕ.



Πιστεύετε ότι υπάρχει προοπτική ελληνοτουρκικών διαπραγματεύσεων στο ζήτημα των χωρικών υδάτων ή θεωρείτε αδύνατη μια συμφωνία, ξεκινώντας από διαμετρικά αντίθετα θέσεις;



Έχουμε μια μεγάλη απόκλιση με την Τουρκία και αυτή αφορά την υφαλοκρηπίδα και την Αποκλειστική Οικονομική Ζώνη στο Αιγαίο και στην Ανατολική Μεσόγειο. Αυτό είναι και μόνο. Δεν είναι ένα ζήτημα δύσκολο να επιλυθεί. Εμείς ήδη το επιλύσαμε με την Ιταλία, με την Αίγυπτο, θα το επιλύσουμε με την Αλβανία και, σε περίπτωση που δεν φθάσουμε σε συμφωνία για τις τεχνικές ιδιαιτερότητες, θα πορευτούμε στη Χάγη για να τις επιλύσουμε. Θα ήταν εύκολο να επιλυθεί και με την Τουρκία. Θα συζητούσαμε και, εάν δεν φθάναμε σε συμφωνία, θα πορευόμασταν επίσης στη Χάγη για να το επιλύσουμε. Όμως, με την Τουρκία υπάρχει ένα μεγάλο πρόβλημα, δεν αποδέχεται το νομικό πλαίσιο αναφοράς που δεν είναι άλλο από το διεθνές δίκαιο και το δίκαιο της θάλασσας. Και στο σημείο αυτό να μου επιτραπεί να αναφερθώ στη Σύμβαση του ΟΗΕ για το Δίκαιο της Θάλασσας (UNCLOS) που αποτελεί μέρος του ευρωπαϊκού κεκτημένου. Η ΕΕ υπέγραψε τη Σύμβαση ως σύνολο και όχι κάθε Κράτος ξεχωριστά. Συνεπώς, εάν η Τουρκία συμφωνήσει μαζί μας να συνομιλήσουμε και, σε περίπτωση διαφωνίας, να προσφύγουμε στη Χάγη και να χρησιμοποιήσουμε ως όρο αναφοράς το διεθνές δίκαιο, τότε (το πράγμα) θα είναι εύκολο. Είναι σαφές ότι, εάν η Τουρκία προσπαθήσει να το επιλύσει χρησιμοποιώντας όρους, όπως η ευθυδικία, τούτο μας οδηγεί να επισημάνουμε ότι η Τουρκία θέλει να ερμηνεύσει τα πράγματα και, υπό αυτή την ερμηνεία, να χρησιμοποιεί το casus belli, μια απειλή πολέμου εναντίον μας εάν ασκήσουμε το νόμιμο δικαίωμά μας για επέκταση των χωρικών υδάτων. Στην περίπτωση αυτή το ζήτημα είναι αδύνατον να λυθεί.



Όντας η Ελλάδα και η Τουρκία μέλη του ΝΑΤΟ και εν όψει της νέας αμερικανικής κυβέρνησης, πιστεύετε ότι οι δύο χώρες μπορεί να ευνοηθούν από μια νέα προσέγγιση που προωθούν οι ΗΠΑ ή το ΝΑΤΟ βρίσκεται αρκετά αποστασιοποιημένο από το ζήτημα;



Το ΝΑΤΟ είναι μια στρατιωτική συμμαχία και, μάλιστα, επιτυχημένη. Όμως στο ΝΑΤΟ υπάρχει πρόβλημα όταν υπάρχει διχογνωμία μεταξύ των κρατών-μελών του, αυτό είναι μια τεράστια δυσκολία. Η στάση του ΝΑΤΟ είναι η γραμμή των ίσων αποστάσεων, κάτι που, στην προκειμένη περίπτωση, είναι άδικο για εμάς. Εμείς δεν είμαστε υπαίτιοι, κάποιος άλλος παραβιάζει το διεθνές δίκαιο και υπάρχει ένα θύμα αυτής της παραβίασης. Η τήρηση των ίσων αποστάσεων ισοδυναμεί, στην πράξη, με αδικία που διαπράττεται εις βάρος του θύματος της παραβίασης του δικαίου. Τούτων λεχθέντων, οφείλω κατά πρώτο λόγο να πω δυο θετικά λόγια για τον Αμερικανό ΥΠΕΞ, Mike Pompeo, ο οποίος αντελήφθη πολύ καλά το τι συνέβαινε και προσπάθησε πολύ να βελτιώσει την κατάσταση στην Ανατολική Μεσόγειο. Δεν μπορώ να ξεχάσω την τελευταία του ομιλία στο Συμβούλιο του ΝΑΤΟ για το πώς η Τουρκία χρησιμοποιούσε με εσφαλμένο τρόπο την συμμετοχή της στη Συμμαχία. Ελπίζω η νέα κυβέρνηση Biden, που διαθέτει στελέχη με μακρά πείρα σε ζητήματα-κλειδιά, να επιτύχει ότι η απερχόμενη κυβέρνηση δεν κατάφερε, παρά τις προσπάθειες του Pompeo. Για μια ακόμη φορά, θέλω να τονίσω ότι απομένουν πολλά ακόμη να γίνουν σε ότι αφορά τις ενέργειες της Τουρκίας και τον τρόπο που αυτή χρησιμοποιεί τη Συμμαχία και την συμμετοχή της σε αυτήν. Για εμάς, την Ελλάδα, μια Τουρκία που θα τηρεί τους κανόνες, θα σέβεται το διεθνές δίκαιο και θα προσεγγίσει την Ευρώπη, είναι καλοδεχούμενη.

AHEPA Commends U.S. Embassy’s Campaign to Commemorate Greece’s Bicentennial

 

American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association

January 15, 2021

AHEPA Commends U.S. Embassy’s Campaign to Commemorate Greece’s Bicentennial

The American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (Order of AHEPA) commends the U.S. Embassy in Athens on the launch of its year-long campaign to commemorate Greece’s Bicentennial entitled “USA & Greece: Celebrating 200 Years of Friendship,” announced Supreme President George G. Horiates. “We are pleased to see a campaign that highlights stories of friendship and the historical connection between our people of Greece and the United States; educates and celebrates the role American Philhellenes played in Greece’s fight for independence; champions entrepreneurship; and overall, displays pride and commitment to the strategic partnership between two allied countries, Greece and the United States. “AHEPA looks forward to a year full of commemorative events that includes, with great anticipation, hosting our annual Supreme Convention in Athens in July 2021. We are pleased to be working in cooperation with the Greek government and the U.S. Embassy in Athens to join in the celebration of the bicentennial of Greece’s independence,” Supreme President Horiates said. AHEPA previewed the U.S. Embassy’s campaign in the newly-released issue of The Ahepan magazine.  To learn more about the embassy's campaign, please click here. # # #

The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today issued the following statement..

 Prime Minister releases supplementary mandate letters for ministers

January 15, 2021
Ottawa, Ontario

The global COVID-19 pandemic is the most serious public health crisis Canada has ever faced. It has had devastating impacts on the lives and livelihoods of Canadians, and has exposed fundamental gaps in our society. The Government of Canada will keep doing whatever it takes, for as long as it takes, to have people’s backs during this difficult time. We will continue to support families and protect Canadians’ health and jobs as we work to build a stronger, more resilient country.

To continue to support Canadians through the pandemic and build a healthier, cleaner, and fairer Canada, the Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today released supplementary mandate letters for Cabinet ministers.

The supplementary mandate letters outline the government’s continued plan to address the challenges of today and prepare for the opportunities of the future. They reaffirm our top priorities, to keep Canadians safe and healthy and help people and businesses pay their bills through this continued crisis. They also outline our bold approach to build back better, which includes creating over one million new jobs, taking action to fight climate change, and ensuring everyone has an equal and fair chance at success.

Since 2015, the Prime Minister has publicly released ministerial mandate letters to remain open, transparent, and accountable to Canadians. As we continue to battle this crisis, the government will deliver real results for all Canadians and take action to ensure everyone has the support they need.

Quote

“The COVID-19 crisis has been difficult for all Canadians. As a team, we are committed to doing whatever it takes, for as long as it takes, to keep Canadians safe and supported. These mandate letters outline the actions that our government will continue to take to fight this pandemic, keep people safe, and build a Canada that is stronger, more resilient, and fairer for everyone.”

The Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada

Quick Facts

• The mandate letters released today add to the commitments laid out in the mandate letters released in December 2019. They outline further responsibilities and prioritize key areas of focus for the government to fight COVID-19 and ensure a strong economic recovery in Canada.
• Mandate letters outline the policy objectives that each minister will work to accomplish, as well as the pressing challenges they will address in their role. Mandate letters are not an exhaustive list of all files a minister will work on.
• Publicly available mandate letters help Canadians hold the government to account. They outline the Prime Minister’s expectations for each minister, and give Canadians a clear idea of how the government will deliver its agenda.

Associated Link

• Mandate letters

Le premier ministre rend publiques les lettres de mandat supplémentaires des

WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION,updates

Latest on COVID-19





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Why is it important for scientists to look for the origins of the virus? How do scientists investigate the claim that the virus originated in a laboratory? Dr Peter Ben Embarek who leads this work explains in Science in 5.




Who can take the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine?

According to WHO's Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization, the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 mRNA vaccine is safe and effective. Nevertheless, there are specific populations for whom vaccination is not recommended.




How will we ensure fair access to COVID-19 vaccines?

Who should get access to vaccines first and how will countries allocate limited supplies?



The race for a COVID-19 vaccine, explained

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Global Ebola vaccine stockpile announced



As Ebola outbreaks are relatively rare and unpredictable, there is no natural market for the vaccine. Vaccines are only secured through the establishment of the stockpile and are available in limited quantities. The Ebola vaccine is reserved for outbreak response to protect people at the highest risk of contracting Ebola.
Find out more

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,update

January 15, 2021
This message includes updates on the COVID-19 response from CDC. The COVID-19 Outbreak is a rapidly evolving situation and information will be updated as it becomes available.



Tips on Celebrating Martin Luther King Day

If you are celebrating this day of service with people outside your household, make sure you follow steps to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Here are some activities that are safer to do.



Drop off a meal to a neighbor.
Make hygiene kits for local homeless shelters.
Send care packages to deployed troops.
Plan an outdoor activity with people who live with you, such as a park cleanup or walk.
Attend a virtual speech or event, such as the annual religious ceremony.
Share CDC prevention messages with your friends and family.



Everyone Can Make Holiday Celebrations Safer
Wear a mask over your nose and mouth, secure it under your chin, and make sure it fits snugly against the sides of your face.
Indoors or outdoors, stay at least 6 feet away from people who don’t live with you.
Avoid crowds and indoor spaces that do not offer fresh air from outside. If indoors, bring in fresh air by opening windows and doors, if possible.
Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after you have been in a public place, after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing and before eating.
If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
Get your flu and COVID-19 shots as soon as possible.



Safer Celebrations

Celebrating virtually or with the people you live with is the safest choice this winter. If you do gather with people who don’t live with you, gatherings and activities held outdoors are safer than indoor gatherings. If hosting or attending a holiday celebration, have conversations with your guests and the host ahead of time to make sure people will be following prevention methods. Bring your own food, drinks, plates, cups, and utensils. Take the steps that everyone can take to make the holidays safer.
Safer Celebrations


Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

1600 Clifton Rd Atlanta, GA 30329 1-800-CDC-INFO (800-232-4636) TTY: 888-232-6348

U.S.A.'s interesting latest news

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SEC Awards Nearly $600,000 to Whistleblower

Securities and Exchange Commission

Publication of Hong Kong-Related Sanctions Regulations

The Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is issuing regulations to implement Executive Order 13936 of July 14, 2020, "The President's Executive Order on Hong Kong Normalization." These regulations were published in the Federal Register, and take effect, today. OFAC intends to supplement this part 585 with a more comprehensive set of regulations, which may include additional interpretive and definitional guidance and additional general licenses and statements of licensing policy.

For more information on this specific action, please visit this page

SEC Awards Nearly $600,000 to Whistleblower 01/14/2021 11:00 AM EST The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced an award of nearly $600,000 to a whistleblower whose tip led to the success of an enforcement action.  The whistleblower substantially contributed to an open investigation by providing detailed… Issuance of Communist Chinese Military Companies General License 2 and Related Frequently Asked Questions; Issuance of Executive Order on Amending Executive Order 13959 The Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has issued General License 2, "Authorizing Securities Exchanges Operated by U.S. Persons to Engage in Transactions Involving Securities of Communist Chinese Military Companies." OFAC has also published new frequently asked questions (871, 872, 873, 874) related to Executive Order (E.O.) 13959, "Addressing the Threat from Securities Investments that Finance Communist Chinese Military Companies." In addition, the President has issued "Executive Order on Amending Executive Order 13959–Addressing the Threat from Securities Investments that Finance Communist Chinese Military Companies." For more information on this specific action, please visit our Recent Actions page.

IRS Guidewire ,update

IRS GuideWire January 15, 2021

Issue Number: N-2021-12
Inside This Issue

Notice 2021-12 extends the temporary relief from certain requirements under § 42 for qualified low-income housing projects and under §§ 142(d) and 147(d) for qualified residential rental projects that was provided in Notice 2020-53, 2020-30 I.R.B. 151 in response to the continuing Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. This notice also provides relief for additional § 42 requirements not previously addressed in Notice 2020-53.

Notice 2021-12 will be in IRB: 2021-6, dated February 8, 2021.

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Issue Number: RR-2021-03
Inside This Issue

Revenue Ruling 2021-03 provides the covered compensation tables effective January 1, 2021.

Revenue Ruling 2021-03 will be in IRB: 2021-5, dated February 1, 2021.


Issue Number: IR-2021-16
Inside This Issue

2021 tax filing season begins Feb. 12; IRS outlines steps to speed refunds during pandemic