Week 16 of 2021 – YPF Around the Globe

Timeframe: 24th April – 30th April 2021

Contributors:
Sabyasachi Karmaker, Musarrat Sarwar Chowdhury, and Mahin Abrar Rahman.

1. Economics & Business

Spotify shares fall after muted paid subscriber growth forecast

Spotify Technology SA’s stock dropped 8% in pre-market trading on Wednesday (28th April) after the company’s prediction of lower current-quarter paying subscription numbers overshadowed positive first-quarter growth in countries like the United States and India.

Source: TheStreet

2. Politics

Biden speech pairs Nationalism with Optimism

U.S. President Joe Biden paired nationalism with optimism in his pitch for an ambitious domestic agenda before a joint session of U.S. lawmakers on Wednesday night, as he leaned on the economic competition with China to persuade conservatives in both parties to back his trillion-dollar plans. Biden declared the United States “in competition with China and other countries to win the 21st century.” When he called for wind turbines to be built “in Pittsburgh instead of Beijing,” he received a bipartisan ovation. China, “closing in fast,” was also used as a reason to increase funding for domestic research and development.

Source: Foreign Policy

3. Significant Corona Update

EU demands immediate access to UK-made vaccines in AstraZeneca legal battle

European Union lawyers on Wednesday demanded AstraZeneca immediately deliver COVID-19 vaccines from its factories in Britain, in a move that risks reigniting a spat with London over scarce vaccine supplies. The call came in the opening hearing of the European Commission’s legal case in Brussels against the Anglo-Swedish drugmaker over supply delays.

Source: Reuters

4. Science & Technology

Lotus to launch last pure petrol sports car

British automotive company Lotus has revealed that a new model, to be called the Emira, will be its last conventionally powered car. The company’s managing director said that it will serve as a link between today’s analogue cars and tomorrow’s digital cars.

Source: BBC

5. RMG/ Agriculture

EU calls for rethink of GMO rules for gene-edited crops

The European Commission launched a review of EU rules on genetically modified organisms (GMOs) on Thursday, opening the door to a possible loosening of restrictions for plants resulting from gene-editing technology. Prompted by a 2018 ruling from the European Union’s top court that techniques to alter the genome of an organism should be governed by existing EU rules, the Commission concluded that its 2001 legislation was “not fit for purpose”.

Source: Reuters

6. Social and Education

Uber to sign up 20,000 more UK drivers as COVID rules ease

Uber aims to sign up an additional 20,000 more drivers in Britain as the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions boosts demand, the ride-hailing app said on Thursday (29 April). The Silicon Valley-based firm has already seen a more than 50% increase in trips after restaurants were allowed to reopen for outdoor dining from April 12 in England

Source: Reuters

7. Environment

6.4 magnitude quake, 7 aftershocks jolt Northeast India, tremors felt in Bengal

On Wednesday morning, Assam and other parts of the Northeast were jolted by a strong earthquake measuring 6.4 on the Richter Scale. The earthquake originated in Tezpur of Assam and tremors were felt in North Bengal and other parts of the Northeast.

Source: The Economic Times

Disclaimer: The information provided here is obtained solely from the third parties mentioned above. Youth Policy Forum (YPF) is not responsible for any misinformation or misrepresentation.

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