
Third of staff may work from home permanently post-virus
The survey of more than 2,000 managers and public-sector business leaders worldwide highlights how investments that allow home-working will be increasingly important.
Bloomberg
PUBLISHED ON JAN 25, 2021 05:07 PM IST
The pandemic has probably boosted remote working permanently, according to Deloitte’s annual Readiness Report, which suggests a third of employees will work from home even after restrictions end.
The survey of more than 2,000 managers and public-sector business leaders worldwide highlights how investments that allow home-working will be increasingly important.
Just 22% of respondents said their organizations had the technologies they needed before the pandemic, 42% said they developed them out of necessity during the crisis.
Topics

Coronavirus infections rise for first time in 7 weeks, says WHO
Reuters, Zurich
PUBLISHED ON MAR 01, 2021 10:38 PM IST
Tedros said the rise was "disappointing but not surprising" and urged countries not to relax measures to fight the spread of the disease.

Italy PM Draghi fires Covid-19 commissioner, with vaccination drive in spotlight
Reuters
PUBLISHED ON MAR 01, 2021 10:31 PM IST
Domenico Arcuri, who was replaced with an army logistics expert, was sacked following complaints about hi's handling of the crisis and concern that the anti-Covid vaccine campaign was moving forward too slowly.

329 candidates nominated for 2021 Nobel Peace Prize by Feb 1 deadline
AP
PUBLISHED ON MAR 01, 2021 10:21 PM IST
The Norwegian Nobel Committee said that it was the third highest number of candidates ever, with 376 candidates in 2016 being the highest number of nominations ever.

China sets aim to vaccinate 40% of population by June
AP
PUBLISHED ON MAR 01, 2021 09:58 PM IST
Developers of China’s four currently approved vaccines have said they could manufacture up to 2.6 billion doses by the end of this year. Still, vaccinating China’s massive population will be a daunting task.

Stocks climb more than 2% as investors get back to buying
AP
PUBLISHED ON MAR 01, 2021 09:40 PM IST
The S&P 500 added 2.1% as of 10:40 a.m. Eastern. More than 95% of the stocks in the index were higher, led by energy companies and airlines. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 2.2% and the Nasdaq Composite rose 2.1%.

Chinese hackers target SII, Bharat Biotech, says security firm
Reuters, New Delhi
PUBLISHED ON MAR 01, 2021 09:35 PM IST
Rivals China and India have both sold or gifted Covid-19 shots to many countries. India produces more than 60% of all vaccines sold in the world.

Police investigate possible role of foreigners in Barcelona protests
Reuters
PUBLISHED ON MAR 01, 2021 09:12 PM IST
Police have arrested more than 100 people since the protests over the jailing of rapper Pablo Hasel erupted on February 16. The exact role of the foreigners was unclear.

Mexico hopes for US answer on Covid-19 vaccines in Biden talks
Reuters, Mexico City
PUBLISHED ON MAR 01, 2021 09:08 PM IST
Mexico has been frustrated by bottlenecks in vaccine supply and raised concerns that wealthy countries are hoarding them.

First UAE ambassador arrives in Israel, eyes Tel Aviv embassy
Reuters
PUBLISHED ON MAR 01, 2021 08:46 PM IST
Meeting Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi in Jerusalem, Al Khaja, 40, said he was "very proud and honoured to be the first Emirati ambassador" to Israel, where, he said, he and his hosts were discussing "the model of how we operate".

Experts urge independent probe into Kremlin critic Navalny's poisoning
AP
PUBLISHED ON MAR 01, 2021 08:41 PM IST
Navalny, the most prominent critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, fell sick on Aug. 20 during a domestic flight in Russia and was flown while still in a coma to Berlin for treatment two days later.

Nepal President summons lower house session on March 7, after top court's order
PTI
PUBLISHED ON MAR 01, 2021 08:34 PM IST
President Bhandari called for the commencement of House on recommendation of Government of Nepal, in accordance with Article 93 (1) of the Constitution of Nepal, according to a notice issued by the President’s Office on Monday.

What we know about the new Brazilian Covid-19 variant P.1
By hindustantimes.com | Written by Deepali Sharma, Hindustan Times, New Delhi
UPDATED ON MAR 01, 2021 08:31 PM IST
The cause of concern in the P.1 variant is the three key mutations out of 17 mutations in its spike protein receptor domain-K417T, E484K, and N501Y says CDC.

Ukraine throws away unused Covid-19 shots as doctors skip their own vaccinations
Reuters
PUBLISHED ON MAR 01, 2021 08:24 PM IST
The government has prioritised giving shots to frontline medical workers but cited statistics showing that 47% of Ukrainians do not want the vaccine.

Mexican president Obrador to discuss vaccines, migration with Biden
Reuters
PUBLISHED ON MAR 01, 2021 08:23 PM IST
"The issues: Covid, this is important to us. Above all, vaccines. What other issues? Migration," Lopez Obrador told reporters at a regular news conference when asked what he would address with Biden during their virtual meeting.

Elizabeth Warren, other progressives propose ‘ultra-millionaire’ tax
Bloomberg
PUBLISHED ON MAR 01, 2021 08:21 PM IST
The lawmakers said Monday the new tax, dubbed the Ultra-Millionaire Tax Act, would create a “fairer” economy with a 2% annual tax on households and trusts valued at between $50 million and $1 billion. All net worth over $1 billion would be taxed at 3%.