OF News in Brief

Covid-19: Risk of a new wave in Europe, Africa and Asia in danger

THE WHO warned Thursday of a risk of a new wave of the pandemic carried by the Delta variant in Europe, at the same time as it launches its health pass in the hope of reviving tourism, while the number of cases is increasing at "an alarming rate" in Africa. Asia is not spared either: Bangladesh has been under lockdown since Thursday and restrictions are announced for Saturday in Indonesia, facing a sharp rise in contamination. While several countries in Europe seemed to see the end of the tunnel and gradually lifted their health measures, the European branch of the World Health Organization (WHO) reported that the number of Covid-19 cases increased by 10% last week in this region that has 53 territories. And this "due to the increase in brewing, travel, gatherings and the easing of social restrictions". WHO Europe expects the particularly contagious Delta variant to become "dominant" by August.

A new system of taxation of multinationals

"A colossal step", "historic day": less than a month after the G7, and after years of negotiations, 130 countries, but not Ireland, agreed on Thursday to better tax multinationals, including a minimum corporate tax rate of "at least 15%". quot; After years of intense work and negotiations, this historic package of measures will ensure that large multinational companies pay their fair share of taxes around the world," said Mathias Cormann, Secretary-General of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), which is leading the campaign. negotiations, quoted in a statement. A small group of countries, including Ireland and Hungary, which were very reluctant to the proposed agreement that was being negotiated, including on a minimum rate of 15%, did not sign the declaration concluded today, according to the list provided by the Organization.

IN BRIEF

The heat record on the Antarctic continent was broken on February 6, 2020 with a temperature of 18.3 degrees Celsius, according to the World Meteorological Organization.

The French economy should rebound significantly this year, estimates INSEE which forecasts GDP growth of 6%, well above the government's estimate (5%), thanks in particular to a strong recovery in household consumption after a year of restrictions.

Lukaku vs. Immobile, De Bruyne vs. Verratti: Belgium-Italy is not only the top of the euro quarter-finals on Friday (21:00) in Munich, but also a clash of generations between an uninhibited "Nazionale" and "Red Devils" cut for the trophy despite significant injuries.