Timeframe: 19th March-26th March 2021
Contributors:
Sabyasachi Karmaker, Musarrat Sarwar Chowdhury and Mahin Abrar Rahman.
1. Economics & Business
Goldman Sachs’ promises junior bankers Saturdays off
After complaints of ‘100-Hour’ workweeks by junior analysts, CEO David Solomon of Goldman Sachs is allowing bankers to take off on Saturdays in what has deemed the ‘Saturday rule.’ The CEO has praised the group of disgruntled junior investment banking analysts who complained to management about their workload last month, and promised to relieve the pressure on employees.
Source: Forbes
2. Politics
Pompeo rejected U.S. effort to declare ‘genocide’ in Myanmar on eve of the coup, officials say
In the last days of the Trump administration, some U.S. officials urged outgoing Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to formally declare that the Myanmar military’s campaign against the Rohingya minority was a genocide. Such a determination, a culmination of years of State Department investigation and legal analysis, would send a signal that the generals would not enjoy impunity for their persecution of the Muslim group since 2017, the officials hoped.
Source: Reuters
3. Significant Corona Update
India temporarily halts the export of Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine
India has decided to temprorarily stop vaccine exports as rising cases meant domestic demand was expected to pick up in the coming weeks, and so the doses were needed for India’s own rollout. In fact, on Wednesday India recorded its sharpest daily rise this year, with more than 47,000 new cases and 275 deaths.
Source: BBC
4. Science & Technology
Microsoft eyes $10 Billion acquisition of Discord
According to a report by Bloomberg News, Microsoft is in talks to buy messaging platform Discord for more than $10 billion. Discord has held talks with Microsoft and other potential buyers, but no deal is imminent, people familiar with the situation told the publication.
Source: Bloomberg
5. RMG/ Agriculture
Two women are using traditional knowledge to save South Africa’s grasslands
Animal farming is drying up areas around the Drakensberg mountains in South Africa, and impacting the local water supply. Nicky McLeod and Sissie Matela are now on a mission to revive traditional grazing methods through their social enterprise “Environmental and Rural Solutions”.
Source: DW
6. Social and Education
The US is sanctioning Chinese officials over alleged abuse of Uyghurs in Xinjiang
The United States and its allies are stepping up pressure on China in a unified show of force against Beijing’s alleged repression of Uyghurs. However, China is still vehemently denying allegations of human rights abuse, insisting that the camps are “voactional training centers”.
Source: CNN
7. Environment
Massive earthquake of 7.2 magnitude shakes Japan; tsunami warning issued
On Saturday (20th March, 2021), an earthquake shook northeastern Japan, causing a tsunami of 1 metre and shaking buildings, also hitting areas devastated by the 2011 disaster. The 7.2-magnitude quake triggered a tsunami warning for the country’s northeast coast.
Source: Business Standard
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.