The World Health Organization (WHO) is calling for continued mask-wearing and social distancing to avoid COVID-19 infection, these recommendations are linked to an upward trend in many countries where coronavirus cases have been observed, WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said.
“Many countries have seen an increase in respiratory illnesses caused by COVID-19, influenza and other pathogens for several weeks and this trend is expected to continue after the recent holidays,” he wrote on social media X.
Gebreyesus called for mandatory testing and seeking medical attention if necessary, as treatment for COVID-19 can prevent severe illness and death.
He also mentioned the need to use masks, ventilation and social distancing to reduce the risk of infection. In addition, recalled COVID-19 and influenza vaccinations.
In turn, governments need to ensure access to reliable tests, treatment and vaccines, especially for those most at risk of severe infection.
“Continue surveillance, sequencing and reporting to track the evolution of the COVID-19 virus, and clearly communicate risks and risk reduction measures to your population,” the WHO chief emphasized.
According to him, these recommendations provide more information on what governments need to do to combat the ongoing global COVID-19 threats.
A new sub-variant of the Omicron coronavirus strain, JN.1, has reportedly been discovered in many countries around the world, including China, India, the UK and the US, and the World Health Organization (WHO) has classified it as a “variant of interest” because of “its rapid spread,” the BBC reported Wednesday.
India’s solar space observatory Aditya-L1 was successfully placed into a halo-orbit near Lagrange point L1 – 1.5 million km from Earth – on Saturday, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) said.
“The Aditya-L1 solar observatory was put into halo-orbit at around 16:00 Indian time (12:30 Q) on January 6, 2024,” the organization said in a statement.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the halo-orbit launch “a testament to the relentless dedication of Indian scientists in conducting the most challenging space missions” and said India will continue to push the boundaries of scientific knowledge for the benefit of humanity.
According to the organization, this halo orbit was chosen to minimize the number of maneuvers to correct it and thereby reduce fuel consumption to keep the observatory operational for a period of 5 years.
The Aditya-L1 observatory is equipped with various payloads for scientific research. It will study the Sun’s photosphere and chromosphere, as well as its upper layer, the solar corona, using instruments to detect magnetic fields and electromagnetic particles, spectrometers and coronagraphs.
Scientists expect to obtain new data that will help understand the causes of coronal mass ejections (ejections of matter from the solar corona) and solar flares, as well as study the space weather and magnetic field near the L1 point.
The “Own Business” program as part of the government’s eRobota project was launched in July 2022. It is designed for Ukrainians who want to receive funds to start or develop their business.
A microgrant to start or develop your own business gives a person a real chance to realize their business idea. Under this program, you can get a microgrant for starting or developing a business from UAH 50 to 250 thousand, depending on the number of jobs created. This is a non-refundable financial assistance provided by the state to individual entrepreneurs, individuals and legal entities – in return, the microgrant recipient undertakes to create new jobs, employ workers and pay salaries and taxes for three years.
The Kyiv City Employment Center invites residents of the capital to participate in the state grant program “Own Business”.
The algorithm for receiving a microgrant:
1) Create a business plan;
2) Submit an application and a business plan through the Diia portal;
3) Defend the online business plan at the employment center;
4) Obtain a decision of the State Employment Center and open an account in an authorized bank (Oschadbank);
5) Receive funds to the account, create new jobs, hire employees and start working.
Both entrepreneurs and citizens with no business experience can receive a microgrant.
Over the course of the program, 1357 participants have been approved for financial support from the state to implement business projects in Kyiv.
The average microgrant amount was UAH 240 thousand. The total amount of microgrants amounted to UAH 326 million. Most projects are being implemented in the areas of wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (30% of the total); temporary accommodation and catering (16%); and the processing industry (14%).
84% of grant recipients have a university degree, 6% have specialized secondary education, 4% have incomplete higher education, 5% have secondary education, and 1% have a scientific degree. The majority of grant program winners (60%) are individual entrepreneurs, 25% are individuals, and 15% are legal entities.
The microgrants will be used to create 2623 new jobs in Kyiv.
At the same time, since the launch of the Grant for Veterans and Their Spouses program on April 10, 2023, 35 participants’ business projects have been approved. The total amount of grants amounted to almost UAH 15 million. The program participants whose projects were given preference chose the following types of activities: production and supply of demining tools and humanitarian demining equipment; provision of medical services; wholesale and retail trade.
The program participants will create at least 62 new jobs with the grants.
Do you dream of starting or expanding a business but lack funds? There is a chance to get them by participating in grant programs. You can apply for the program right now through the Diia portal. Consultations on grants are available at the Kyiv City Employment Center. Telegram support of the Kyiv City Employment Center: https://t.me/DCZKyiv.
JSB “UKRGASBANK” sold the building of the Institute in Kyiv on Kurenivskyi Lane via OpenMarket electronic auction (SE “SETAM” of the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine). The sale price amounted to UAH 64,944,207.
The building of the Institute is located in the Obolon district of Kyiv, close to a park, post offices, public transport stops, the Pochayna metro station, shops, cafes and much more.
This is the 24th lot sold by the bank at the OpenMarket auction since the beginning of martial law, and the total amount of sales for this period was over UAH 142 million.
“Despite the difficult economic situation caused by Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the real estate market is active in the segment of banking assets. Due to JSB “UKRGASBANK” flexible approach to real estate sales, as well as taking into account the “Dutch auctions” system introduced in 2021, the demand for JSB “UKRGASBANK” assets is at a consistently high level. JSB “UKRGASBANK” expresses its gratitude to SE “SETAM” for assistance in organizing sales, active support and effective cooperation, as the success in selling the Bank’s property directly depends on the quality of the auction organizer’s work,” said Daria Musych, Head of the Debt Settlement Department of Ukrgasbank.
“I would like to thank Ukrgasbank for their trust in our electronic auction. The bank is our constant and long-standing partner. Since the beginning of our cooperation, we have already sold the bank’s assets for over UAH 2.1 billion. The bank is one of our three most successful sellers,” said Oleksandr Mamro, CEO of SE SETAM.
The auction is available at the link: setam.net.ua/auction/539330
The OpenMarket auction (SE SETAM of the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine) is a simple and effective means of selling and purchasing property via the Internet. The online auction has been operating throughout Ukraine since 2014. The total amount of sales since its launch is UAH 21.6 billion.
Daria Musych, OPENMARKET, UKRGASBANK, Олександр Мамро, СЕТАМ
The National Bank of Ukraine has updated the requirements for the capital structure of banks in accordance with the norms of the law adopted in June 2021 on improving the organization of corporate governance in banks and other issues of functioning of the banking system (No. 1587-IX), which determine the introduction of a new (three-tier) capital structure for banks from August 5, 2024.
“The new requirements are expected to be introduced in stages: by April 1, banks must develop internal regulations for determining the amount of regulatory capital; from April 1 to July 1 – to conduct test calculations and report their results to the NBU; from August 5, 2024 – to begin the implementation of the calculation of regulatory capital according to the new requirements,” the regulator said in a release on its website.
It is indicated that the regulation on the procedure for determining the amount of regulatory capital by banks of Ukraine determines: the procedure for calculating the basic capital of I level, additional capital of I level, capital of II level, their components and deductions from them; requirements for the components of capital, at the expense of which the capital is formed; procedure and conditions for obtaining by the bank of the permission / approval of the National Bank regarding the inclusion of individual components in the capital, etc.
The National Bank emphasized that the introduction of the new capital structure is another significant step towards the standards of the European Union.
“The introduction of the new capital structure for banks is a significant step to improve the stability of the banking system and its competitiveness. Taking into account the results of the stability assessment, the current state of banks and the phased introduction of new requirements, we are confident that banks will cope with this task,” the release quotes First Deputy Head of the NBU Ekaterina Rozhkova as saying.
It is specified that the regulation on the procedure for determining the size of regulatory capital by banks of Ukraine was approved by the resolution of the Board of the National Bank of December 28, 2023 № 196, which comes into force on December 30, 2023.
In Ukraine on December 31 without precipitation, at night in the northeastern part of the small rain and wet snow, reported Ukrhydrometcenter.
At night and in the morning in the southern part of the fog, weak ice.
The wind is west, southwest, 5-10 m/s.
The temperature at night from 4° warm to 1° frost, in Crimea 1-6° warm; in the daytime 3-8° warm, in the southern part 7-12°.
In the Carpathians, light wet snow at night, no precipitation in the daytime; temperatures at night and in the daytime around 0°C.
In Kiev on Sunday, December 31, without precipitation. The wind is southwest, 5-10 m/s. The temperature at night 2-4° of heat, during the day 4-6° of heat.
According to the Central Geophysical Observatory named after Boris Sreznevsky. Boris Sreznevsky in Kiev on December 31, the highest daytime temperature was 8.2 in 1925, the lowest nighttime temperature was -30.0 in 1895.
On Monday, January 1, in the western, afternoon and northern regions rain, in some places with wet snow; in the rest of Ukraine without precipitation.
In the south-eastern part at night and in the morning in some places fog.
Wind south, southwest, 5-10 m/s.
The temperature in the southern part of the night 1-6° warm, in the afternoon 6-11°; in the rest of the territory from 2° frost to 3° warm at night, in the western regions 3-6° warm; in the afternoon 1-6° warm.
In the Carpathians, wet snow; temperatures at night and in the daytime around 0°C.
In Kiev on Monday, January 1, at night without precipitation, rain in the afternoon. The wind is south, southwest, 5-10 m/s. The temperature at night 0-2° warm, in the afternoon 3-5° warm.
