German companies doing business in China are worried the Omicron coronavirus variant will trigger more strict lockdown measures from Beijing that could exacerbate supply chain problems, the DIHK Chamber of Commerce said on Tuesday.

Singapore’s central bank tightened its monetary policy settings on Tuesday in its first out-of-cycle move in seven years, as global supply constraints and brisk economic demand elevate inflation pressures across the region.

The big shifts in thinking and large-scale funding needed to drive a swift global transition to a climate-smart economy are far behind schedule, even if most of the technology required already exists, political officials and analysts have warned.

Millions of people were left without power after a huge blackout hit three Central Asian countries Tuesday following an unspecified accident, officials in the ex-Soviet region said.

Singapore is reviewing its official inflation forecasts, authorities said on Monday, after data showed its key price gauge climbed in December by the fastest pace in nearly eight years, driven by a steep increase in air fares.

Palm oil prices are set for another year of volatility and tight supply as Malaysia makes slow progress in tackling a labour crunch and government policies on green energy and food security spur demand, a Reuters poll showed.

Oil prices rose on Monday on worries about supply disruption amid rising tensions in Eastern Europe and the Middle East, which could make an already tight market even tighter, while OPEC and its allies continued to struggle to raise output.

The economies in the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council will grow at their fastest paces in several years, according to a Reuters poll of economists who cautioned the risk to that outlook was skewed to the downside.

The European Union’s draft plan to label gas and nuclear plants as green investments risks causing confusion and misstated financial disclosures, expert advisers to the bloc said amid criticism of the proposal from some lawmakers and nations.

The euro zone economic recovery weakened further this month as renewed restrictions imposed to contain the Omicron coronavirus variant put another dent in bloc’s dominant services activity and as prices continued to soar, a survey showed on Monday.

The European Union is talking with partners about the potential for increasing gas supplies to the bloc, Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson said after a meeting with European energy ministers in France on Saturday.

Mexico faces risks to economic growth and potential for a credit rating downgrade in the medium term from political developments including the likely passage of a controversial energy bill, JP Morgan said in a report.

The International Monetary Fund has reaffirmed Hong Kong’s position as a major international financial center, commending the city’s strong economic recovery and the government’s efforts to safeguard financial stability.

German airline Lufthansa is set to take a 40 per cent stake in Italian national carrier ITA Airways, Italy’s Il Foglio newspaper reported Saturday, suggesting the deal could be announced next week.

Indian grocery startups are luring tech-savvy customers with the promise of deliveries within 10 minutes, sparking a boom in “quick commerce”, but heating up concerns about road safety as bike riders scramble to meet tight deadlines.

Bitcoin dropped again on Saturday and was last down around 4 per cent for the day, hovering around the $35,000 level.

An eco-friendly transport system is inevitable in the ever-changing world where carbon emission is leading to global warming. It is the responsibility of the world leaders to get united and reach a sustainable agreement to limit carbon emissions and reduce global warming.

The nation’s economy is heading toward uncertain territory due to a variety of factors at home and abroad which could restrict its growth, said Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki on Thursday.

The Federal Reserve has its inflation-fighting weapons ready to fire, and when the US central bank’s policy committee convenes this coming week, the focus will not be on whether they will pull the trigger but rather how many times.

US Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said Friday she had raised the Joe Biden administration’s “real concerns” about Mexico’s planned energy sector reforms, stepping up pressure on the major trading partner.