In the worst-case scenario, as a result of some Russian banks disconnecting from the SWIFT international interbank payment system, Japan's GDP may drop by 0.3 percent. In the worst-case scenario, as a result of some Russian banks disconnecting from the SWIFT international interbank payment system, Japan's GDP may drop by 0.3 percent.фOne of Japan's major securities and financial businesses,...

According to Reuters, the US trade imbalance for 2021 increased by 27% to $859.1 billion, a new high. The previous high was $676.7 billion, reached in 2020. The balance sheet deficit was $80.7 billion at the end of December, up 1.8 percent from November. Experts attribute the surge to increased consumer goods imports. At the same time, November's figures were downgraded from $80.2 billion to...

UK Prime Minister insisted on disconnecting Russia from SWIFT, but the German Chancellor opposed it, the FT learned. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz argued over the issue of disconnecting Russia from the international banking system SWIFT, the Financial Times learned. During the talks, Johnson firmly insisted on disconnecting Russia from SWIFT, but Scholz...

Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky has declared defense emergency throughout the country. He stated this in an address to Ukrainians. He also decided to urgently convene the National Security and Defense Council. The president said that Russia had carried out a strike on Ukraine's military infrastructure. In an address to Ukrainians, he said that the entire security and defense sector of...

According to a survey by IPSOS, 75% of people around the world want single-use plastics to be banned completely. And 85% of respondents want manufacturers and retailers to be responsible for reducing, reusing and recycling plastic packaging. 75% of people around the world want single-use plastics banned as soon as possible, according to a survey by IPSOS research firm. The survey was conducted as...

Germany may lift most COVID-19 restrictions by early spring, according to a plan prepared by Chancellor Scholz's office. Germany could cancel most of the country's COVID-19 restrictions, Bloomberg reported, citing a plan prepared by Chancellor Olaf Scholz's office. The initiative is expected to be approved at a meeting between Scholz and regional leaders on Wednesday, the agency noted....

The capital of Thailand, Bangkok, has been renamed Krung Thep Maha Nakhon. This is a short form of the city's full name in Thai, which is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the longest name for a capital city. The Royal Thai Academic Council announced the change of the official foreign name of the capital from Bangkok to Krung Thep Maha Nakhon. A statement to this effect is published on...

WHO conducted a study on medical waste during the pandemic. Nearly 87,000 tons of personal protective equipment (PPE) that the UN turned over to various agencies became unrecycled trash. According to a new report from the World Health Organization (WHO), nearly 87,000 tons of personal protective equipment that the UN handed over to various medical facilities during the pandemic was not recycled...

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a lawsuit in Marshall County Circuit Court against Meta Platforms (formerly Facebook). He accused the company of violating the state's personal biometric data protection law when using facial recognition technology. The suit involves hundreds of billions of dollars in fines, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing a knowledgeable interlocutor.  ...