The wave of "omicron" can cover Russia in three weeks, the Russian authorities expect. In the worst scenario (and it is quite possible at the current level of vaccination), the incidence in the country could reach 100,000 cases per day.

Omicron sets records in the United States and threatens Russia with six -digit figures for the incidence of a daily The wave of Omicron can cover Russia after three weeks, the Russian authorities expect. With the worst scenario (and it is quite possible at the current level of vaccination), the incidence of coronavirus in the country can reach 100 thousand cases every day.

Italian bank UniCredit is considering a takeover of the rehabilitated Russian bank Otkritie, Bloomberg learned. If the deal goes through, it will go against the trend of recent years, when foreign creditors only reduced their presence in the domestic market. UniCredit is interested in a potential takeover of FC Otkritie - the bank is going to start a comprehensive review of the Russian lender this week, Bloomberg sources say.

In Moscow, a sharp increase in cases of coronavirus is expected over the next 7-10 days, said the mayor of the capital, Sergei Sobyanin. This is due to the spread of a new covid omicron strain. Sobyanin said that a large number of cases of omicron infection are already being recorded in the capital. At the same time, the mayor did not specify the exact number of cases of the new strain.

The acute phase of the political crisis in Kazakhstan has been completed-the protests are suppressed, the associates of Nursultan Nazarbayev were removed from the authorities, and President Kasim-Zhomart Tokaev announced the completion of the CSTO mission. But the questions remained to the situation - we asked them to experts. Eastnews @ What was it?

Among the large Russian companies was one, as if specially built for the needs of the pandemic. This is the AFC System Holding Vladimir Yevtushenkov, who owns large stock packages in various companies.

The fight for the European market for Uber is getting tougher - following the results of a new investment round, its competitor, the Estonian taxi aggregator Bolt, raised 628 million euros ($711 million) at a valuation of $8.4 billion, which jumped almost twice. The round was led by one of the largest asset management companies Fidelity Investments and venture capital fund Sequoia Capital, with the participation of some former investors, as well as Whale Rock and Owl Rock funds.

Inflation in the OECD countries rose in November to a 25-year high, strengthening market expectations about the increase in interest rates by global central banks, writes the Financial Times. . today OECD annual consumer price growth jumped to 5.8% in November 2021 from 1.2% in the same month last year, according to data released The current growth rate is the highest since May 1996.

Last year, Volkswagen sold 10,000 electric vehicles in China less than planned, and in general, its deliveries to this country decreased by 14%, according to the Financial Times, citing the company. One of the reasons was the global shortage of chips. Instead of the planned 80,000-100,000 electric vehicles, Volkswagen was only able to deliver 70,000 to China last year. “Although our order books are full, we have not been able to meet demand due to semiconductor shortages.

The United States does not see signs of a quantitative strengthening of the Russian armed forces grouping near the border with Ukraine, but notes the arrival of army aviation, writes The New York Times. Weather conditions, however, rule out a major military operation before early February.

An increase in the number of people infected with the omicron strain in Russia is expected in late January - early February, said Denis Logunov, deputy director of the Gamaleya Center. Epidemiologists warned of a new outbreak of COVID-19 after the New Year holidays, but a significant increase has so far been recorded only in Moscow. Confidence that there will be more infected with omicrons by February, Logunov expressed on the air of the Soloviev Live YouTube channel.

Two-thirds of UC Rusal shareholders have spoken out against the payment of dividends for the nine months of 2021. Owning a stake in Sual Partners, billionaires Viktor Vekselberg and Leonard Blavatnik, criticized the previous similar decision and pointed out that Rusal has all the “financial opportunities” to pay dividends.

Companies are rapidly borrowing before raising rates by central banks, writes the Financial Times. In the week from the beginning of the year to January 7, the companies of the world issued corporate bonds for $101 billion. The peak of borrowings is usually at the beginning of the year, but this year it will be second only to the indicators of early 2021 ($118 billion) according to Refinitiv statistics covering the last 19 years.

At the Fed, the third high-profile resignation in several months - a couple of weeks before the expiration of his term, the deputy chairman of the board of governors, Richard Clarida, leaves, writes FT. The scandalous reasons for Clarid's dismissal create a "trust deficit" in the Fed, which is dangerous ahead of a key rate increase this year, the newspaper's experts say.

The authorities of Kazakhstan will oblige large businesses to make contributions to the "people's fund", the money from which will be directed, in particular, to healthcare, education and social support. This was announced by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev during a speech in the Mazhilis (lower house of parliament). The broadcast was conducted by the local TV channel Khabar 24. “Today, I am instructing the creation of a public social fund <...>,” Tokayev announced.