Terraces reopened

Just in time for light snowfall, bars and restaurants restarted service (from 6am to 6pm) in their outdoor seating areas on Wednesday. While not all tables were full, there were plenty of customers craving a taste of normality. Establishments had been closed since late November as a measure to combat the covid-19 pandemic. Sources: City of Luxembourg, Paperjam and Wort.

EMA finds possible blood clot link

The European Medicines Agency said it found a “possible link” between the Astrazeneca/Oxford covid-19 vaccine and a “very rare” type of blood clot. But the EMA said the benefits of the jab far outweigh the risks of side effects. (The incidence of blood clots was 0.00017%, compared to 0.6% for the contraceptive pill.) Sources: BBC, CNBC, DW and The Guardian.

UK changes vaccine guidance

British health authorities said people under 30 should not be given the Astrazeneca/Oxford jab. Most European countries set the bar at aged 55 or 60. Sources: Financial Times, The Guardian, Politico and Reuters.

Phase 5 begins in Luxembourg

The grand duchy’s government started phase 5 of its national vaccination campaign, reaching those aged 55-64 and with certain health conditions. Sources: Delano and Paperjam.

Latest Luxembourg covid-19 update

Out of 8,457 PCR tests conducted on 6 April, 168 Luxembourg residents were positive. That is a rate of 26.83 new cases per 100,000 inhabitants (compared to 61.81 on 30 March). The reproduction rate was 0.78, below the target threshold of 1.00 (compared to 1.02). There were 139 covid-19 patients in hospital (compared to 143), including 31 in intensive care (compared to 25). One person died due to the coronavirus on Tuesday, bringing the national total to 762. A cumulative 112,764 vaccine doses have been administered, including 26,408 people who have received two jabs. Sources: Delano, health ministry and Paperjam.

Wiseler & Hansen likely to take CSV leadership

It seems probable that Claude Wiseler will be the sole candidate for CSV party president, per L’essentiel and Paperjam, and that Christophe Hansen will be the sole candidate for secretary general, per RTL and Wort, when the party holds its congress on 24 April. Wiseler is currently an MP and a former infrastructure minister. Hansen is an MEP. The CSV is the largest party in parliament and has been in opposition since 2013.

Schiltz heads Council of State

Christophe Schiltz was named president of the Council of State, Luxembourg quasi-upper legislative body, on Wednesday. Schiltz is a senior civil servant in the foreign ministry and has been a member of the council since 2013. At 42, he is the youngest person to lead the body. Sources: RTL and Wort.

IMF proposes solidarity tax

The International Monetary Fund floated a temporary tax on wealthy individuals and highly profitable companies to support those that have been hit hardest by the global pandemic. Sources: Axios, BBC, Financial Times and The Guardian. Background: Last month, Luxembourg’s LSAP deputy prime minister, Dan Kersch, floated introducing a ‘covid winners tax’ which drew pushback from coalition partners and business leaders.

Biden’s corporate tax plan

The White House said it wants to raise the tax rate on corporate profits from 21% to 28% in the US, and agree to an international minimum rate of 21%, although Joe Biden is open to negotiating the actual figures. Sources: BBC, CNBC, Financial Times and Reuters.

US trade deficit hits record high

America imported $71.1bn more in goods and services than it exported in February, up from the $67.8bn trade gap recorded in January. Sources: AFP, Bloomberg, Marketwatch and Reuters.

JP Morgan chief expects US economic boom

Jamie Dimon, chairman and CEO of JP Morgan, America’s largest bank, predicted the US would experience an economic boom that “could easily run into 2023.” Sources: Bloomberg, CNBC, Financial Times and Reuters.

Amazon Alabama union vote turnout

Roughly 3,200 ballots were cast (out of about 5,800 eligible employees) in a vote on joining a retail workers union at an Amazon warehouse in the US state of Alabama. The count is expected to be completed by Friday. Sources: AL.com, Bloomberg, Business Insider and Reuters.

Global air travel still down sharply in February

Figures from the International Air Traffic Association showed international passenger traffic “was down almost 89%” in February 2021 compared to February 2019. Sources: Aviation24.be, DW, Reuters and RTE.

Anti-mine party places first in Greenland election

A leftwing opposition party opposed to a rare Earth mining development, Inuit Ataqatigiit, secured 36.6% of the vote for Greenland’s parliament. Sources: AFP, Courthouse News Service, DW and Financial Times.

Myanmar ambassador to UK locked out

Kyaw Zwar Minn, Myanmar’s envoy to London, has been denied entry to his embassy after speaking out against the military junta that seized control of his government. Sources: BBC, Independent, Reuters and Sky News.

American actor arrested for fraud

Zachary Horwitz, who performs under the stage name Zach Avery, was arrested for allegedly masterminding a Ponzi scheme that raised $690m. He told investors that he had production deals with HBO and Netflix. Avery is best known for the 2020 film Last Moment of Clarity. His lawyer did not respond to press requests for comment. Sources: Bloomberg, Daily Mail, Los Angeles Times and RTE.

Agenda

Thursday 8 April, 10:30am-12noon: Luxembourg for Finance’s “Focus on India” conference. Thursday 8 April, 5pm-6:30pm: University of Luxembourg lecture on the use of big data in humanities research. Thursday 8 April, 5:30pm-7:30pm and Saturday 10 April, 2:30pm-4:30pm: MNHA hosts a “How to draw (beginners)” workshop for adults. Friday 9 April, 8am-11am: Luxembourg winemakers present their new vintages virtually, starting today, during the “Maacher Wäimoart” (Grevenmacher wine market). Wednesday 14 April, 1:30pm-2:30pm: Paperjam Club’s “How can you integrate psychosocial risk prevention into your daily operations?” webinar.

Rare Superman comic in record-breaking sale

One of the few remaining copies of the first Superman comic book, published in 1938, sold for $3.25m in a private deal. Sources: AP, BBC and Los Angeles Times.

Today’s breakfast briefing was written by Aaron Grunwald