ECONOMICS
Gov’t debt amounts to 29.6 billion GEL, 55% of Georgia’s GDP for last one year
As of June 30, 2021, the Georgian government debt amounted to GEL 29.6 billion, which is about 55% of the country’s GDP for the last one year, Transparency International Georgia (TI Georgia) has stated. TI Georgia reports that in the first six mo...
Georgian hotels serve 66.5% less guests in 2020 than in 2019
Georgian hotels and hotel enterprises served 1.34 million guests in 2020 which is 66.5 percent lower than in 2019, the National Statistics Office of Georgia reported earlier today. 30.6 percent of the guests were foreigners. Most of them (16.0 p...
IDFI: gov’t spends only GEL 7.9mln of GEL 67mln from Reserve Fund on fight against Covid
In 2020 and the first six months of 2021, a total of GEL 67 million was allocated from the Georgian Government Reserve Fund, which is for unexpected expenses, of which more than GEL 61 million (GEL 61.8 million) was spent. “Only 13% (GEL 7.9 mil...
Unemployment rate surges to 22.1% in Georgia amid pandemic
The unemployment rate in Georgia has increased by 3.8% compared to the same period of the previous year and equaled 22.1% in the second quarter of 2021, the National Statistics Office of Georgia reported today. In the second quarter of the year ...
U.S. consumer spending rises strongly in June; inflation increases
U.S. consumer spending rose more than expected in June as vaccinations against COVID-19 boosted demand for travel-related services and recreation, but part of the increase reflected higher prices, with annual inflation accelerating further above the ...
Kelly Clarkson to replace Ellen DeGeneres on US TV
Singer and talk show host Kelly Clarkson will take over Ellen DeGeneres’ slot on US TV, network NBC has confirmed. Earlier this month, DeGeneres announced her talk show would come to an end in 2022 after 19 seasons. The presenter said she was leavi...
Melbourne lockdown: Fears over outbreak sparks restrictions
Australia’s second most populous state Victoria will enter a seven-day lockdown to counter a fast-spreading outbreak in its capital, Melbourne. The lockdown will begin at midnight on Thursday (14:00 GMT). Authorities have so far found 26 cases, and...
Belarus jails: Stories of fear and violence
Belarus’s jails and detention centres are holding hundreds of people described as political prisoners, whether they are political opponents, independent journalists or protesters. Some 7,000 Belarusians were rounded up and thrown into crowded prison...
World at risk of hitting temperature limit soon
It’s becoming more likely that a key global temperature limit will be reached in one of the next five years. A major study says by 2025 there’s a 40% chance of at least one year being 1.5C hotter than the pre-industrial level. That’s the lower of t...
Hong Kong electoral reform: LegCo passes ‘patriots’ law
Hong Kong has passed a controversial electoral reform law, aimed at keeping people China deems “unpatriotic” from positions of political power. The reform will allow a pro-China panel to vet and elect candidates, reducing democratic representation. ...
