2021年8月12日星期四

Thursday Briefing: Democratic divisions emerge on U.S. Senate's $3.5 trillion spending plan

Thursday, August 12, 2021

by Linda Noakes

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Here's what you need to know.

U.S. employers get religion with vaccine mandates, Kabul could fall to the Taliban within 90 days, and Lionel Messi joins the crypto craze

Today's biggest stories

A woman attends a COVID-19 vaccination clinic in Los Angeles, August 11, 2021. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson

U.S.

As coronavirus infections rise again, U.S. companies mandating vaccinations are confronting an uncomfortable question rarely asked by an employer - what is an employee's religious belief?

Google's parent Alphabet, Walmart and Tyson Foods are among the growing list of employees requiring some or all staff to get the COVID-19 vaccine. But employers have to make reasonable accommodations for staff who cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons or refuse vaccination because of "sincerely held religious beliefs," according to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

Hours after the U.S. Senate approved a $3.5 trillion budget blueprint chock-full of investments in new domestic programs, fissures emerged between the moderate and liberal wings of the Democratic Party over the size and scope of the spending. Senator Joe Manchin, who often acts as a bridge between his party and Republicans, voiced concerns about potentially "grave consequences" for the nation's debt as well as Washington's ability to respond to other potential crises.

The U.S. Census Bureau will release data today from the 2020 census that states will use to draw congressional and state legislative districts for the next decade, marking the start of what will be a fierce partisan battle over redistricting.

New York Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul distanced herself from Governor Andrew Cuomo who resigned after sexual harassment accusations, saying when she takes over no official who had behaved unethically would keep their job. Meanwhile, Cuomo's legal woes are far from over.

Taliban fighters stand guard at a check point in Farah, Afghanistan August 11, 2021

WORLD


Taliban fighters captured the city of Ghazni, the ninth provincial capital they have seized in a week, as U.S. intelligence said Afghanistan's capital, Kabul, a few hours drive away, could fall to the insurgents within 90 days. Here's a timeline of the Taliban's rapid advance across Afghanistan.

Russia has detained the head of a research facility that specializes in hypersonic technology in Moscow on suspicion of state treason, the TASS news agency cited a source as saying.

Extra Australian military personnel may be called in to ensure compliance with lockdown rules in Sydney, the New South Wales state government said, as the highly infectious Delta coronavirus variant spreads into regional areas. Meanwhile, COVID success story New Zealand said it plans to allow quarantine-free entry to vaccinated travelers from low-risk countries from early 2022 after nearly 18 months of isolation.

Polish lawmakers advanced a bill that the opposition says aims to silence a U.S.-owned news channel critical of the government, leading to a swift denunciation from the United States, one of Warsaw's most important allies.

BUSINESS

Hackers behind one of the biggest ever digital coin heists have now returned over half of the $610 million-plus they stole, the cryptocurrency platform targeted by the hack said. We explain how the hackers pulled off the theft.

Soccer star Lionel Messi's signing on fee at Paris St Germain includes some of the French club's cryptocurrency fan tokens, in the latest big-name endorsement for new digital assets.

Investors in China are turning to semiconductors, renewable energy and consumer-focused firms in the belief they offer safe-harbour from a blizzard of regulatory action that has battered confidence and forced funds to overhaul their portfolios.

Toshiba swung back to profit in the first quarter, as sales of automotive chips and hard disk drives recover from a pandemic-driven slump in demand. The scandal-hit Japanese conglomerate also said it has been working on the selection of candidates for a permanent CEO and board chairman.

Cineworld is considering a Wall Street listing for all or part of its business in an effort to bolster its finances which are under heavy pressure from the pandemic. A U.S. listing would give the heavily indebted cinema group access to the largest capital market in the world, where rival AMC this year became one of the so-called 'meme stocks', sending its shares skyrocketing.

Quote of the day

"Your avatar represents you. Basically what you're wearing is what makes you who you are"

Imani McEwan

Fashion model and NFT enthusiast

Crypto fashion: why people pay real money for virtual clothes

Video of the day

Wildfires rage across Algeria, Greece and Italy

Exhausted Greek firefighters are still battling blazes amid sweltering temperatures that have also helped stoke wildfires in Algeria, where at least 65 people have died, and in southern Italy.

And finally…

Japanese athlete to get nibbled gold medal replaced

A member of Japan's gold medal-winning softball team will have her medal replaced with a fresh one after the mayor of her hometown chomped down on the original, following an outcry on social media.

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