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Video: BCB ‘Stay Home Cricket Challenge’

The Bermuda Cricket Board [BCB] is challenging players and fans across the island to record themselves doing drills and share the resulting videos on social media. A BCB spokesperson said, “Our 2020 season may be on hold due to Covid-19, but this is the perfect time to #StayHome and work on your cricket skills.” ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ […]

(Click to read the full article)




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ACBDA To Hold Press Conference On Thursday

The America Cup Bermuda will be holding a press conference tomorrow afternoon [Nov 9] where they are expected to discuss the Economic, Environmental and Social Impact of the 35th America’s Cup on Bermuda. According to the Potential Economic Impact [PEI] assessment released by the ACBDA back in 2015 before the event took place, the direct spending […]

(Click to read the full article)




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ACBDA: Event Cost $64.1M, Generated $336.4M

The cost of hosting the America’s Cup was $64.1 million, and it generated economic activity of $336.4 million, the America’s Cup Bermuda [ACBDA] said this afternoon [Nov 9], adding that the event came in “under budget” and the revenues “exceeded forecasts.” The 45-minute live video replay is below The ACBDA said, “The price tag for […]

(Click to read the full article)




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CBS All Access To Expand

Later this year, CBS All Access will expand and the changes might even include a different name. During an earnings call earlier...




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CBS Orders New Dramas "Clarice," "The Equalizer" and New Comedy "B Positive" to Series for the 2020-2021 Broadcast Season

Additional new series for the 2020-2021 season will be announced at a later date.




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Apple owes us big time for bungled display-killing cable design in MacBook Pro kit, lawsuit claims

iGiant not only screwed up the wiring, it knew it was shipping dodgy gear, it is claimed

Apple is potentially facing a class-action lawsuit over the failure of displays on its MacBook Pro line.…




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Новые 13-дюймовые MacBook Pro поддерживают мощную зарядку 87 Вт, но в ней нет смысла

Она вам ничего не даст.




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Появились обзоры нового MacBook Pro 13. Почти всем нравится

Всем нравится новая клавиатура и процессоры Intel 10-го поколения.




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Новый 13-дюймовый MacBook Pro на 16,5% быстрее старого

Всё благодаря процессору Intel 10-го поколения.




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На Apple подали в суд из-за поломок дисплеев MacBook Pro

Истцы требуют компенсации за ремонт.




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У меня никогда не было MacBook. Как живется с игровым Windows-ноутбуком

Этот вопрос показался мне странным, потому что ответить на него я могу легко и одним словом: ЗАШИБИСЬ! Сразу хочу отметить – для сайта с таким названием это несколько необычно, но я никогда не отличался каким-либо особым пиететом по отношению к технике Apple и никогда не понимал квазирелигиозного культа, сложившегося вокруг нее. У меня в свое...




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16-дюймовый MacBook Pro поступил в продажу

В подтверждение ранее появлявшихся слухов компания Apple выпустила обновленную модель MacBook Pro. Ноутбук получил 16-дюймовый дисплей, сохранив при этом форм-фактор модели с диагональю 15 дюймов. Но...




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Новые iPad и MacBook получат революционные дисплеи

Согласно свежему сообщению от достоверных источников, в конце следующего года компания Apple выпустит новые поколения iPad Pro и MacBook Pro. Главная особенность новинок будет состоять в том, что они ...




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Deals: Refurbished 15-Inch MacBook Pro Notebooks on Sale at Woot From $1,580 ($800+ Off)

Woot is ending the week with a refurbished sale on the 15-inch MacBook Pro, available in multiple storage sizes and colors. The sale starts with the 256GB SSD model (16GB RAM, Intel Core i7) for $1,579.99.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Woot. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

For more storage, the 512GB SSD model (16GB RAM, Intel Core i9) is on sale for $1,849.99. Woot's refurbished sales are offering more than $800 in savings when compared to the original prices of these notebooks, which began at $2,399.00 when they launched in May 2019.

Similar to previous Woot sales, each MacBook Pro comes with a One Year Limited Woot Warranty. Each device has been refurbished and is ensured to be in full working condition. When shipped, they are packaged in a generic white box.

You can find even more discounts on new MacBooks by visiting our Best Deals guide for MacBook Pro and MacBook Air. In this guide we track the steepest discounts for the newest MacBook models every week, so be sure to bookmark it and check back often if you're shopping for a new Apple notebook.

Related Roundup: Apple Deals

This article, "Deals: Refurbished 15-Inch MacBook Pro Notebooks on Sale at Woot From $1,580 ($800+ Off)" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple Faces Class Action Lawsuit Over 'Flexgate' Issue With MacBook Pro Displays

A nationwide class action lawsuit filed against Apple in Northern California court this week accuses the company of knowingly concealing a defect with a display-related flex cable on recent 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Pro models.


As discovered by repair website iFixit last year, some MacBook Pro models released in 2016 and 2017 have experienced issues with uneven backlighting caused by a delicate flex cable that can wear out and break after repeated opening and closing of the display. Impacted notebooks can exhibit uneven lighting at the bottom of the screen, which has been described as a "stage light" effect, and the backlighting system can eventually fail entirely.

Since the issue often takes time to manifest, the affected ‌MacBook Pro‌ units can be outside of Apple's one-year warranty period when they start exhibiting symptoms, resulting in an out-of-warranty repair fee of up to $850.

"Imagine spending more than $2,500 on a laptop only for it to fail shortly after the manufacturer's warranty expires," said PARRIS Law Firm attorney R. Rex Parris. "What's even more appalling is Apple requiring customers to spend an additional $600 to $850 to replace the screen."

Apple seemingly fixed the issue by extending the length of the flex cable by 2mm in the 2018 MacBook Pro. It also launched a free repair program in May 2019, but the program only applies to 13-inch MacBook Pro models released in 2016.

iFixit found the 2018 MacBook Pro flex cable on the left to be 2mm longer

The class action lawsuit seeks restitution for all costs attributable to replacing or replacing the affected MacBook Pro units, and calls for Apple to expand its repair program to cover the 15-inch MacBook Pro. The proposed class is defined as all persons within the United States who purchased a 2016 or newer MacBook Pro.

Related Guide: "Flexgate" Display Issues Affecting 2016 MacBook Pro and Later
Related Roundup: MacBook Pro
Buyer's Guide: MacBook Pro (Caution)

This article, "Apple Faces Class Action Lawsuit Over 'Flexgate' Issue With MacBook Pro Displays" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Top Stories: New 13" MacBook Pro, WWDC Starts June 22, AirPods Pro Firmware Update, and More

This week saw a couple of big announcements, led by the launch of an update for the 13-inch MacBook Pro line. Most notably, the update brought the improved Magic Keyboard previously introduced on its 16-inch sibling and the MacBook Air, with high-end models also receiving updated processors.

Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos.

The second significant announcement this week was that Apple's first all-digital Worldwide Developers Conference will kick off on June 22. Other news this week included a firmware update for the AirPods Pro, an update on Apple's Mini-LED efforts, and more.

Read on below and check out our video above for recaps of all of this week's most important stories!

New 13-Inch MacBook Pro Announced With Magic Keyboard, 10th-Gen Processors, Up to 32GB RAM and 4TB SSD, and More


Apple this week refreshed its 13-inch MacBook Pro lineup, with key features including the same Magic Keyboard as the 16-inch MacBook Pro, up to 80 percent faster Intel graphics than the previous generation, up to 32GB of RAM, up to 4TB of SSD storage, and 6K display support.


First introduced on the 16-inch MacBook Pro last year, the Magic Keyboard features a far more reliable scissor mechanism with 1mm of key travel. After five years, Apple has finally transitioned its entire notebook lineup away from its issue-prone butterfly keyboard.

10th-generation Intel processor options are only available on higher-end models, with the $1,799 configuration proving to be up to 16.5% faster than the $1,299 base model with an older 8th-generation processor.

Apple's Virtual WWDC Event to Kick Off on June 22


Apple has announced that its first-ever online-only WWDC will begin Monday, June 22 via the Apple Developer app and website. The weeklong event will include a virtual keynote, sessions, and labs, with more details to be shared in June. And it's free!


Apple is expected to introduce iOS 14, iPadOS 14, macOS 10.16, tvOS 14, and watchOS 7 at WWDC 2020, with beta testing to take place over the summer.

Student developers from all over the world can enter Apple's Swift Student Challenge by creating an interactive scene in Swift Playgrounds that can be experienced in three minutes. Winners will receive an exclusive WWDC20 jacket and pin set. Submissions are open through May 17.

Apple Updates AirPods Pro Firmware to Version 2D15


Apple this week released a new firmware version 2D15 for the AirPods Pro, replacing version 2C54.


In recent months, some AirPods Pro owners have been complaining about reduced noise cancellation and crackling or static sounds, so users have listened for any improvements following the update.

Perhaps proving how subjective sound quality can be, feedback has been decidedly mixed, with some users noticing an improvement, some noticing no change, and some noticing further degradation to noise cancellation.

Apple has offered some help in the form of two new support documents for users to troubleshoot noise cancellation or crackling sound issues.

10 Tips and Tricks for the iPad Pro Magic Keyboard


Have you recently picked up a new Magic Keyboard for the iPad Pro? Here's a list of our favorite tips and tricks that you need to know.


The tips and tricks relate to adjusting the backlight brightness, customizing the cursor's behavior, enabling tap-to-click on the trackpad, other trackpad gestures, accessing the Emoji keyboard, and more.

Apple's Mini-LED Product Roadmap May Have Been Pushed Back to 2021


Disappointed that the new 13-inch MacBook Pro was not the rumored 14-inch model? That may be due to a slight delay in Apple's plans to release a range of new products with Mini-LED backlit displays.

Kuo believes Apple's first Mini-LED products might not launch until 2021. The analyst has previously said these products would include a new 14.1-inch MacBook Pro, 16-inch MacBook Pro, 12.9-inch iPad Pro, and more.


Kuo has previously said that Mini-LED displays will allow for thinner and lighter product designs, while offering many of the same benefits of OLED displays used on the latest iPhones, including good wide color gamut performance, high contrast and dynamic range, and local dimming for truer blacks.

NFC-Based Digital Key Specification Released Ahead of Apple's Rumored CarKey Feature on iPhone


Amid rumors that Apple is working on a digital "CarKey" feature for iPhone, the Car Connectivity Consortium has announced that its NFC-based Digital Key Release 2.0 specification has been finalized and made available to its members, which includes Apple.


"CarKey" will allow an iPhone or Apple Watch to unlock, lock, and start an NFC-compatible vehicle. Just like credit cards and boarding passes, users will be able to add a digital car key to the Wallet app, eliminating the need to use a physical car key or key fob.

MacRumors Newsletter


Each week, we publish an email newsletter like this highlighting the top Apple stories, making it a great way to get a bite-sized recap of the week hitting all of the major topics we've covered and tying together related stories for a big-picture view.

So if you want to have top stories like the above recap delivered to your email inbox each week, subscribe to our newsletter!
This article, "Top Stories: New 13" MacBook Pro, WWDC Starts June 22, AirPods Pro Firmware Update, and More" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Base 13-Inch MacBook Pro vs. MacBook Air

Apple recently updated the 13-inch MacBook Pro, and the $1,299 base model remains a popular alternative to the $999 MacBook Air. To help with your buying decision, read our comparison of the notebooks below.


The differences between the base 13-inch MacBook Pro and the MacBook Air are quite nuanced, with each notebook possessing some unique features.

What's the Same

  • 13-inch Retina display with 227 pixels per inch and True Tone support

  • Magic Keyboard with reliable scissor switch design

  • Force Touch trackpad

  • 2 × Thunderbolt 3 ports

  • 3.5mm headphone jack

  • 256GB of SSD storage standard, configurable up to 2TB

  • Touch ID

  • T2 security chip

  • 720p webcam

  • 802.11ac Wi-Fi, also known as Wi-Fi 5

  • Bluetooth 5.0

  • Three-microphone array with directional beamforming

  • Dolby Atmos surround sound

Advantages of Base 13-Inch MacBook Pro

  • The display supports the P3 wide color gamut for more vibrant and lifelike colors

  • The display is brighter at up to 500 nits vs. 400 nits on MacBook Air

  • Touch Bar

  • Slightly better sounding speakers

Advantages of MacBook Air

  • Up to 11 hours of battery life vs. 10 hours on base 13-inch MacBook Pro

  • Weighs slightly less at 2.8 pounds vs. 3.1 pounds for base 13-inch MacBook Pro

  • Faster RAM: 3733MHz LPDDR4X vs. 2133MHz LPDDR3 for base 13-inch MacBook Pro

  • 6K display support vs. 5K on base 13-inch MacBook Pro
Unlike the MacBook Pro, the MacBook Air also has a gold color option.

Performance


Generally speaking, the MacBook Air remains best suited for lightweight day-to-day tasks like web browsing and creating spreadsheets, while the MacBook Pro is better equipped to handle more intensive tasks like rendering large video files. This is not only because the MacBook Pro has faster processors than the Air, but also because it has a more advanced thermal design for dissipating heat inside the computer.

While the MacBook Air has been updated with Intel's latest 10th-generation processors, the base 13-inch MacBook Pro continues to use older 8th-generation processors. However, the Air uses lower-wattage Y-series chips with lower clock speeds, so the Pro still has faster overall performance, as confirmed by benchmarks.

Geekbench 5 scores for the latest 13-inch MacBook Pro and MacBook Air configurations:
  • MacBook Air / 1.1GHz dual-core Core i3: 1,002 single-core and 1,998 multi-core

  • MacBook Air / 1.1GHz quad-core Core i5: 1,055 single-core and 2,645 multi-core

  • MacBook Air / 1.2GHz quad-core Core i7: 1,102 single-core and 2,843 multi-core

  • MacBook Pro / 1.4GHz quad-core Core i5: 927 single-core and 3,822 multi-core

  • MacBook Pro / 1.7GHz quad-core Core i7: 1,036 single-core and 3,909 multi-core

Takeaways:
  • The base model 13-inch MacBook Pro for $1,299 has up to 91 percent faster multi-core performance than the base model MacBook Air for $999

  • If considering the MacBook Air, upgrading to the quad-core Core i5 option is well worth the extra $100, as it is up to 32 percent faster than the base model and more closely rivals the base 13-inch MacBook Pro



Geekbench 5 scores are calibrated against a baseline score of 1,000, which is the score of an Intel Core i3-8100. Higher scores are better, with double the score indicating double the performance. Compare with other Mac benchmarks here.

Bottom Line


If you value portability and up to an extra hour of battery life, and are willing to sacrifice some performance, the MacBook Air is a relatively good value. Just remember to consider spending an extra $100 on the quad-core Core i5 processor option, as the $999 base model is equipped with a particularly sluggish dual-core processor.

For more intensive tasks, the 13-inch MacBook Pro's faster processors and more advanced thermal design will allow you to push the limits more without the fans running obnoxiously. You'll also get the Touch Bar, a brighter and more vibrant display, and slightly better sounding speakers with high dynamic range.
Related Roundups: MacBook Air, MacBook Pro

This article, "Base 13-Inch MacBook Pro vs. MacBook Air" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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ViacomCBS CEO Doesn’t Rule Out Direct-To-VOD Release For Upcoming ‘Spongebob’ Movie

"The Spongebob Movie: Sponge on the Run" is currently due to hit theaters on August 7 — among the earliest scheduled releases in the calendar.

The post ViacomCBS CEO Doesn’t Rule Out Direct-To-VOD Release For Upcoming ‘Spongebob’ Movie appeared first on Cartoon Brew.




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La EPA y CBP actúan para proteger al público contra el producto “Virus Shut Out” no registrado importado a California

LOS ÁNGELES – Hoy, la Agencia de Protección Ambiental (EPA, por sus siglas en inglés) y la Oficina de Comercio Internacional de Aduanas y Protección Fronteriza (CBP) de los EE. UU.




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U.S. EPA and CBP Act to Protect the Public from Unregistered “Virus Shut Out” Product Imported into Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced they have prevented a significant number of shipments of illegal health products from entering the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).




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U.S. EPA and CBP Act to Protect the Public from Unregistered “Virus Shut Out” Product Imported into San Francisco

SAN FRANCISCO – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced they have prevented a significant number of shipments of illegal health products from entering the San Francisco International Airport (SFO).




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Interview with Former ECB Vice President Vitor Constâncio

Vitor Constâncio spent eight years as the vice president of the European Central Bank. In an interview, he explains why not him or outgoing ECB head Mario Draghi are to blame for negative interest rates in the eurozone.




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EU court hits back at German ruling on ECB support

The European Union's top court has said it alone has the power to decide whether EU bodies are breaching the bloc's rules, in a rebuke to Germany's highest court, which this week rejected its judgment approving the ECB's trillion-euro bond purchases.




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Gil Schwartz, longtime CBS communications executive and author, dies

As Stanley Bing, Gil Schwartz was a popular Fortune columnist; he departed CBS shortly after the firing of Leslie Moonves.




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New CBS Entertainment chief George Cheeks moves on up at the W Hollywood

George Cheeks, the new president and chief executive of CBS Entertainment Group, has paid $6 million for a penthouse in Hollywood.




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ECB announce £61m aid package amid fears cricket summer could be wiped out by coronavirus



The ECB has announced a financial package to help cricket clubs amid the coronavirus crisis.




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CBS 4's Lindsay Riley moves on. Former WISH-TV meteorologist Robb Ellis fills in.

The former WISH-TV meteorologist will soon be back on the air in Indianapolis, if only for a limited time.

      




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Colts cut losses, trade Quincy Wilson for sixth-round pick and take CB Isaiah Rodgers

Wilson flashed promise in Year 2 after being a second-round pick but was benched last season

       




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Women's cricket future in England needs safeguarding, says ECB's Clare Connor

The ECB intends for women to play international and domestic cricket this summer but is "realistic" about the impact of coronavirus, says Clare Connor.




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ECB could have acted faster on England World Cup win in 2017 - Naomi Dattani

The England and Wales Cricket Board could have been faster to act on England's World Cup win in 2017, says Middlesex captain Naomi Dattani.




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BREAKING: CBS News Allegedly Staged Fake COVID19 Testing In MI…Makes Dem Gov Whitmer Look Like She’s Doing More To Help Citizens Than Fed Government [VIDEO]

The following article, BREAKING: CBS News Allegedly Staged Fake COVID19 Testing In MI…Makes Dem Gov Whitmer Look Like She’s Doing More To Help Citizens Than Fed Government [VIDEO], was first published on 100PercentFedUp.com.

Project Veritas founder James O’Keefe has done it again. He’s uncovered yet another deceitful piece of coverage on the Wuhan coronavirus pandemic in America by CBS News. O’Keefe begins his interview with a man whose identity is being hidden, “You’re telling me—you’re 100% certain, that CBS News, CBS News Corporation national—staged a fake event. They […]

Continue reading: BREAKING: CBS News Allegedly Staged Fake COVID19 Testing In MI…Makes Dem Gov Whitmer Look Like She’s Doing More To Help Citizens Than Fed Government [VIDEO] ...




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Coronavirus: Why The EU Needs to Unleash The ECB

18 March 2020

Pepijn Bergsen

Research Fellow, Europe Programme
COVID-19 presents the eurozone with an unprecedented economic challenge. So far, the response has been necessary, but not enough.

2020-03-18.jpg

EU President of Council Charles Michel chairs the coronavirus meeting with the leaders of EU member countries via teleconference on March 17, 2020. Photo by EU Council / Pool/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images.

The measures taken to limit the spread of the coronavirus - in particular social distancing -  come with significant economic costs, as the drop both in demand for goods and services and in supply due to workers being at home sick will create a short-term economic shock not seen in modern times.

Sectors that are usually less affected by regular economic swings such as transport and tourism are being confronted with an almost total collapse in demand. In the airline sector, companies are warning they might only be able to hold out for a few months more.

Building on the calls to provide income support to all citizens and shore up businesses, European leaders should now be giving explicit permission to the European Central Bank (ECB) to provide whatever financial support is needed.

Although political leaders have responded to the economic threat, the measures announced across the continent have mainly been to support businesses. The crisis is broader and deeper than the current response.

Support for weaker governments

The ECB already reacted to COVID-19 by announcing measures to support the banking system, which is important to guarantee the continuity of the European financial system and to ensure financially weaker European governments do not have to confront a failing banking system as well.

Although government-subsidised reduced working hours and sick pay are a solution for many businesses and workers, crucially they are not for those working on temporary contracts or the self-employed. They need direct income support.

This might come down to instituting something that looks like a universal basic income (UBI), and ensuring money keeps flowing through the economy as much as possible to help avoid a cascade of defaults and significant long-term damage.

But while this is likely to be the most effective remedy to limit the medium-term impact on the economy, it is particularly costly. Just as an indication, total compensation of employees was on average around €470bn per month in the eurozone last year.

Attempting to target payments using existing welfare payment channels would reduce costs, but is difficult to implement and runs the risk of many households and businesses in need missing out.

The increase in spending and lost revenue associated with these support measures dwarf the fiscal response to the 2008-09 financial crisis. The eurozone economy could contract by close to 10% this year and budget deficits are likely be in double digits throughout the bloc.

The European Commission has already stated member states are free to spend whatever is necessary to combat the crisis, which is not surprising given the Stability and Growth Pact - which includes the fiscal rules - allows for such eventualities.

Several eurozone countries do probably have the fiscal space to deal with this. Countries such as Germany and the Netherlands have run several years of balanced budgets recently and significantly decreased their debt levels. For countries such as Italy, and even France, it is a different story and the combination of much higher spending and a collapse in tax revenue is more likely to lead to questions in the market over the sustainability of their debt levels. In order to avoid this, the Covid-19 response must be financed collectively.

The Eurogroup could decide to use the European Stability Mechanism (ESM) to provide states with the funds, while suitably ditching the political conditionality that came with previous bailout. But the ESM currently has €410bn in remaining lending capacity, which is unlikely to be enough and difficult to rapidly increase.

So this leaves the ECB to pick up the tab of national governments’ increase in spending, as the only institution with effectively unlimited monetary firepower. But a collective EU response is complicated by the common currency, and particularly by the role of the ECB.

The ECB can’t just do whatever it likes and is limited more than other major central banks in its room for manoeuvre. It does have a programme to buy government bonds but this relies on countries agreeing to a rescue programme within the context of the ESM, with all the resulting political difficulties.

There are two main ways that the ECB could finance the response to the crisis. First, it could buy up more or all bonds issued by the member states. A first step in this direction would be to scrap the limits on the bonds it can buy. Through self-imposed rules, the ECB can only buy up to a third of every country’s outstanding public debt. There are good reasons for this in normal times, but these are not normal times. With the political blessing of the European Council, the Eurosystem of central banks could then start buying bonds issued by governments to finance whatever expenditure they deem necessary to combat the crisis.

Secondly, essentially give governments an overdraft with the ECB or the national central banks. Although a central bank lending directly to governments is outlawed by the European treaties, the COVID-19 crisis means these rules should be temporarily suspended by the European Council.

Back in 2012, the then president of the ECB, Mario Draghi, proclaimed the ECB would do whatever it takes, within its mandate, to save the euro, which was widely seen as a crucial step towards solving the eurozone crisis. The time is now right for eurozone political leaders to explicitly tell the ECB that together they can do whatever it takes to save the eurozone economy through direct support for businesses and households.




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Coronavirus: Why The EU Needs to Unleash The ECB

18 March 2020

Pepijn Bergsen

Research Fellow, Europe Programme
COVID-19 presents the eurozone with an unprecedented economic challenge. So far, the response has been necessary, but not enough.

2020-03-18.jpg

EU President of Council Charles Michel chairs the coronavirus meeting with the leaders of EU member countries via teleconference on March 17, 2020. Photo by EU Council / Pool/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images.

The measures taken to limit the spread of the coronavirus - in particular social distancing -  come with significant economic costs, as the drop both in demand for goods and services and in supply due to workers being at home sick will create a short-term economic shock not seen in modern times.

Sectors that are usually less affected by regular economic swings such as transport and tourism are being confronted with an almost total collapse in demand. In the airline sector, companies are warning they might only be able to hold out for a few months more.

Building on the calls to provide income support to all citizens and shore up businesses, European leaders should now be giving explicit permission to the European Central Bank (ECB) to provide whatever financial support is needed.

Although political leaders have responded to the economic threat, the measures announced across the continent have mainly been to support businesses. The crisis is broader and deeper than the current response.

Support for weaker governments

The ECB already reacted to COVID-19 by announcing measures to support the banking system, which is important to guarantee the continuity of the European financial system and to ensure financially weaker European governments do not have to confront a failing banking system as well.

Although government-subsidised reduced working hours and sick pay are a solution for many businesses and workers, crucially they are not for those working on temporary contracts or the self-employed. They need direct income support.

This might come down to instituting something that looks like a universal basic income (UBI), and ensuring money keeps flowing through the economy as much as possible to help avoid a cascade of defaults and significant long-term damage.

But while this is likely to be the most effective remedy to limit the medium-term impact on the economy, it is particularly costly. Just as an indication, total compensation of employees was on average around €470bn per month in the eurozone last year.

Attempting to target payments using existing welfare payment channels would reduce costs, but is difficult to implement and runs the risk of many households and businesses in need missing out.

The increase in spending and lost revenue associated with these support measures dwarf the fiscal response to the 2008-09 financial crisis. The eurozone economy could contract by close to 10% this year and budget deficits are likely be in double digits throughout the bloc.

The European Commission has already stated member states are free to spend whatever is necessary to combat the crisis, which is not surprising given the Stability and Growth Pact - which includes the fiscal rules - allows for such eventualities.

Several eurozone countries do probably have the fiscal space to deal with this. Countries such as Germany and the Netherlands have run several years of balanced budgets recently and significantly decreased their debt levels. For countries such as Italy, and even France, it is a different story and the combination of much higher spending and a collapse in tax revenue is more likely to lead to questions in the market over the sustainability of their debt levels. In order to avoid this, the Covid-19 response must be financed collectively.

The Eurogroup could decide to use the European Stability Mechanism (ESM) to provide states with the funds, while suitably ditching the political conditionality that came with previous bailout. But the ESM currently has €410bn in remaining lending capacity, which is unlikely to be enough and difficult to rapidly increase.

So this leaves the ECB to pick up the tab of national governments’ increase in spending, as the only institution with effectively unlimited monetary firepower. But a collective EU response is complicated by the common currency, and particularly by the role of the ECB.

The ECB can’t just do whatever it likes and is limited more than other major central banks in its room for manoeuvre. It does have a programme to buy government bonds but this relies on countries agreeing to a rescue programme within the context of the ESM, with all the resulting political difficulties.

There are two main ways that the ECB could finance the response to the crisis. First, it could buy up more or all bonds issued by the member states. A first step in this direction would be to scrap the limits on the bonds it can buy. Through self-imposed rules, the ECB can only buy up to a third of every country’s outstanding public debt. There are good reasons for this in normal times, but these are not normal times. With the political blessing of the European Council, the Eurosystem of central banks could then start buying bonds issued by governments to finance whatever expenditure they deem necessary to combat the crisis.

Secondly, essentially give governments an overdraft with the ECB or the national central banks. Although a central bank lending directly to governments is outlawed by the European treaties, the COVID-19 crisis means these rules should be temporarily suspended by the European Council.

Back in 2012, the then president of the ECB, Mario Draghi, proclaimed the ECB would do whatever it takes, within its mandate, to save the euro, which was widely seen as a crucial step towards solving the eurozone crisis. The time is now right for eurozone political leaders to explicitly tell the ECB that together they can do whatever it takes to save the eurozone economy through direct support for businesses and households.




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The Report of the Joint Aarhus Convention/CBD round table on access to information, public participation and access to justice regarding LMOs/GMOs is now available.




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A CBD/Aarhus Convention checklist and summary of tools and resources are now available.




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The report of the second joint Aarhus Convention/CBD round table on public awareness, access to information and public participation regarding living modified organisms (LMOs)/genetically modified organisms (GMOs) is available.




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CBD Communiqé: Training Workshop for Government Officials in the Use of the Biosafety Clearing-House Successfully Concluded.




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CBD News: Statement of Ahmed Djoghlaf, Executive Secretary, at the Opening Session of the Ninth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, Bonn, 19 May 2008.<br><br><table width=120> <tr>&




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CBD News: Press release; Governments open meeting in Bonn to take action on declining biodiversity resources.




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CBD News: The Executive Secretary of the Convention, Dr. Ahmed Djoghlaf, is pleased to invite you to the second CBD Linnaeus Lectures series highlighting major issues related to biological diversity - and our collective efforts to protect it worldwide. Sp




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CBD News: Message from the Executive Secretary Ahmed Djoghlaf to the participants of the Conference of the Competence Network Urban Ecology "Urban Biodiversity & Design - Implementing the Convention on Biological Diversity in towns and Cities&quo




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CBD Press release: Germany and the United Nations Biodiversity Secretariat announce a "Green COP".




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CBD Press release: Biodiversity needed to feed the world, the International Day for Biological Diversity 22 May 2008.




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CBD News: UN Biodiversity Convention Secretariat teams up with Europe's Bern Convention to stop the lost of biodiversity in Europe.




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CBD News: The "Green Wave" launched at the UN Bonn Biodiversity Summit.




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CBD News: Urban Biodiversity and the Role of Cities in Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Use discussed at Bonn Biodiversity Conference.




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CBD News: Message from Ahmed Djoghlaf, Executive Secretary, to the G8 Environment Ministers Meeting, Kobe, Japan, 24-26 May 2008.




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CBD News: Biodiversity added to the agenda of Hokkaido Toyako G8 Summit. G8 Environmental Ministers issue the "Kobe Call for Action for Biodiversity".




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CBD News: Statement from the Executive Secretary, Ahmed Djoghlaf, on the occasion of the 2008 CIC Markhor Award Ceremony for Outstanding Conservation Performance, 27 May 2008, Bonn, Germany.




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CBD News: Biodiversity Convention Secretariat Signs Historic Agreement with Brazilian State of Paraná to Offset Emissions.