HENRY DEEDES watches Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak trying to reassure nation on coronavirus outbreak
HENRY DEEDES: Hearing each drastic measure one by one, Boris Johnson must have felt like a Premiership footballer having the cost of his floozy's latest splurge read out to him in person.
HENRY DEEDES: Boris Johnson's difficult coronavirus briefing
HENRY DEEDES: The PM's prognosis was: no pubs, no clubs, and no more trips to the theatre. In fact, no heading outdoors unless extremely necessary.
HENRY DEEDES watches as the PM sticks resolutely to his guns
HENRY DEEDES Shortly after 5pm yesterday an eerie silence fell over the No 10 briefing room. Out of nowhere the Prime Minister had just lobbed a sobering thought for the nation to digest.
HENRY DEEDES on Boris beaming at Rishi Sunak's budget
The Prime Minister beamed like a doggie handler whose prized pup had just won best in show watching Rishi Sunak deliver his first budget, writes HENRY DEEDES.
Growth in India's LNG imports will depend on completion of connecting pipelines
India has been the world's fourth-largest importer of liquefied natural gas (LNG) since 2011, gradually increasing LNG imports as the country's domestic natural gas production declined and domestic consumption increased. India's LNG import capacity more than doubled during the past 10 years, and the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) expects it to increase by a third in the next 3 years as regasification facilities currently under construction come online. However, the construction of domestic pipelines to move LNG from the coastal import facilities to major demand centers further inland has experienced delays. Future growth in India's LNG imports will depend on the timely completion of natural gas pipeline networks.
Daily electricity demand impacts from COVID-19 mitigation efforts differ by region
Recent business shutdowns and changes to normal routines related to mitigation efforts for the 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) have caused daily weekday electricity demand in the central region of the United States to decrease by 9%�13% in March and April compared with expected demand, after accounting for seasonal temperature changes. This decrease is similar to declines seen in New York. In contrast, other areas of the country, such as Florida, have not experienced significant changes, which may partly be caused by regional differences in how much electricity each end-use sector consumes and the varying effects of COVID-19 mitigation efforts on the sectors.
Daily electricity demand in New York falls about 13% after COVID-19 mitigation efforts
Recent business shutdowns and changes to normal routines related to mitigation efforts for the 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) have caused daily, weekday electricity demand in New York state to decrease by 11%â14% in March and April compared with expected demand, after accounting for seasonal temperature changes. Electricity demand changes in New York state and in New York City, in particular, have been more pronounced than in other parts of the country, which may partly be caused by differences in electricity consumption across regions and the varying effects of COVID-19 mitigation efforts on these sectors.
U.S. energy-related carbon dioxide fell by 2.8% in 2019, slightly below 2017 levels
U.S. energy-related carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions declined by 2.8% in 2019 to 5,130 million metric tons (MMmt), according to data in the U.S. Energy Information Administration's (EIA) Monthly Energy Review. CO2 emissions had increased by 2.9% in 2018, the only annual increase in the past five years. Because of continuing trends in how much energy the U.S economy uses and how much CO2 that energy use generates, energy-related CO2 emissions in 2019 fell more than energy consumption, which declined by 0.9% in 2019, and gross domestic product, which increased by 2.3% in 2019.
Low transportation fuel demand and low profitability drive refinery run declines
Transportation fuel demand has decreased since early March 2020 as a result of reduced economic activity and stay-at-home orders aimed at slowing the spread of the 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). U.S. refineries have reduced the amount of crude oil and other inputs that they process (also known as refinery runs). U.S. refinery runs fell for four consecutive weeks, reaching 12.8 million barrels per day (b/d) in the week ending April 17, and increased slightly to 13.2 million b/d for the week ending April 24, or nearly 21% lower than the previous five-year average for this time of year.
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Should You Microdose to Treat Depression?
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Unemployment Surged to 14.7 Percent in April
The U.S. lost a record 20.5 million jobs over the past month.
4 Reliable Tips for Quickly Moving Inventory Online
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EIA expects the United States will return to being a net importer of crude oil and petroleum products
In the April Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO), EIA forecasts that the United States will again become a net importer of crude oil and petroleum products in the third quarter of 2020 and remain a net importer in most months through the end of 2021. Fewer barrels are available for export as U.S. crude oil production continues to decline. In addition, net exports of petroleum products will be lowest in the third quarter of 2020, when U.S. refinery runs decline in response to lower demand for refined products.
Media Advisory: EIA presents alternative policy scenarios to the AEO2020
EIA will present results from four alternative policy scenarios to the Annual Energy Outlook 2020 (AEO2020) published in an Issue in Focus article. The article and the presentation will examine the potential effects of a range of alternative energy policies on the future U.S. electric power sector through 2050.
EIA's Annual Energy Outlook 2020 explores the changing U.S. energy mix through 2050 as consumption grows more slowly than production, particularly of oil, natural gas, and renewables, resulting in increasing exports and relatively stable CO2 emissions
The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) released updated projections of future U.S. energy production and use in its Annual Energy Outlook 2020 (AEO2020) today.
Media Advisory: EIA presents updated long-term energy projections
EIA releases the findings of the Annual Energy Outlook 2020 with long-term projections of U.S. energy supply, demand, and prices, including cases with different assumptions about macroeconomic growth, world oil prices, and technological progress. The event will feature a presentation by EIA Administrator Dr. Linda Capuano followed by a panel discussion on the challenges and market trends facing the electricity sector.
WTO issues report on trade impacts for WTO members graduating from LDC status
A new report issued by the WTO on 8 May seeks to help least developed countries (LDCs) better understand the trade-related implications of graduation from LDC status. The product of a joint effort between the WTO and the Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF), “Trade Impacts of LDC Graduation” looks at how graduation may affect LDCs’ participation in world trade, including their access to export markets, and implications for their WTO commitments.
DDG Wolff: “The time now is for action rather than reflection”
In remarks delivered to a virtual meeting on 7 May hosted by the Foreign Trade Authority of Saudi Arabia, Deputy Director-General Alan Wolff said governments must step up international cooperation to respond to the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. For the multilateral trading system, this includes addressing measures to deal with the global health emergency, cooperation to support the needed economic recovery, and assuring the system is more resilient and effective in underwriting future global economic growth. DDG Wolff’s remarks are below
DDG Wolff: COVID-19 crisis underlines need for more multilateralism, not less
The COVID-19 pandemic crisis has underlined the need for greater multilateral cooperation, including the need to improve the global trading system, Deputy Director-General Alan Wolff said on 7 May. Speaking at a webinar hosted by the African Institute for Economic Development and Planning, DDG Wolff said trade will play an important role in Africa’s economic recovery from the crisis, particularly through increased intra-African trade.
WTO report looks at role of e-commerce during the COVID-19 pandemic
The WTO Secretariat has published a new information note looking at how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected e-commerce, including the implications for cross-border trade. It notes the increased use of e-commerce as consumers adapt to lockdowns and social distancing measures and draws attention to several challenges, such as the need to bridge the digital divide within and across countries.
Canada donates CAD 90,000 to help developing countries participate in international trade
Canada has contributed over CAD 90,000 (approximately CHF 60,000) in 2020 to enhance the trading capacities of developing countries and least-developed countries (LDCs). This donation to the WTO’s DDA Global Trust Fund will finance training workshops and seminars for government officials, with the aim of deepening their understanding of current trade issues and challenges and improving their negotiating skill-set.
DDG Wolff: Reliance on international trade for food security likely to grow
Food security is increasingly dependent on international trade, making it critical to keep trade in food flowing, WTO Deputy Director-General Alan Wolff noted on 30 April. In remarks delivered on his behalf by WTO Agriculture Division Director Edwini Kessie at the “Trade Dialogues on Food” webinar, he said that, on balance, governments have been quick to recognize the value of international trade for global food security during the COVID-19 crisis and are taking concrete action to protect the global food supply chain from disruption. His remarks are below:
Canada gives CAD 450,000 to help developing countries take part in farm trade
The government of Canada contributed CAD 450,000 (just over CHF 300,000) in 2020 to help developing countries and least-developed countries (LDCs) comply with international food safety, animal and plant health standards, with the aim of increasing their access to agricultural markets.
WTO issues new report on treatment of medical products in regional trade agreements
The WTO Secretariat has published a new report on the treatment of medical products in regional trade agreements (RTAs) amid current supply shortages caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The report examines the extent medical products are traded among preferential partners and the difference in liberalization rates within and outside these trade agreements.
EIF sets up web page, hosts webinars to examine trade impacts of COVID-19 on LDCs
The Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF) has set up a dedicated webpage and will be organizing webinars to examine the trade impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on least developed countries (LDCs).
IMF and WTO heads call for lifting trade restrictions on medical supplies and food
International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva and WTO Director-General Roberto Azevêdo issued a joint call on 24 April for governments to refrain from imposing export and other trade restrictions on key medical supplies and food and to quickly lift those put in place since the start of the year.
How Britain fell back in love with the railways
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The battle for the Brexit-backing north
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The foreign states that own Britain’s railways
Train travel in the UK now combines the worst features of capitalism and socialism
England face Ashes test after World Cup glory
Amity between old adversaries almost certain to crumble once first ball is bowled
Child prodigy Tiger Woods becomes the ultimate comeback kid
The holder of this title until now would, for me, have been Muhammad Ali
Cricket has started to eat itself
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The Last Wolf by Robert Winder — island stories
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Summer books of 2017: new titles by FT writers
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Henry Blofeld, voice of English summer, to retire
Doyen of radio cricket commentary will hang up his microphone in September
That’s the Way it Crumbles by Matthew Engel — the conquest of English
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Why is Britain so disenchanted with its politicians?
Matthew Engel tours Middle England in search of the root of voter disillusionment