In 2020, net electricity production in the Netherlands was 1.3 billion kWh higher than in 2019, reaching the highest level ever measured. Renewable electricity production rose by 9.2 billion kWh, while electricity generation from coal declined by 9.7 billion kWh. Statistics Netherlands (CBS) reports this based on newly released figures.

In 2020, the average monthly gross wages and salaries in Estonia were 1,448 euros, which is 2.9% higher than the year before. It has been ten years since the annual growth in wages and salaries was so modest. Since 2011, the annual growth rate has steadily been over 5% and has even risen above 7% in several years.

In January–December 2020 compared to a year earlier, the volume of exports of Hungary was down by 1.3% and that of imports by 1.0%. The surplus on the balance of external trade in goods went up by EUR 1.5 billion and amounted to EUR 5.8 billion.

EU governments must immediately begin technical work to ensure a COVID-19 vaccination certificate system can be introduced across the 27-member bloc in time for summer, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Friday.

Nearly half of all U.S. adults who took pay cuts during the Covid-19 pandemic still have not returned to their previous incomes, according to a Pew Research Center report released Friday, indicating the pandemic’s lasting impact on many Americans’ finances.

Swiss bank UBS will on Monday begin its appeal against a record 4.5 billion-euro ($5.37 billion) penalty levied by a French court for allegedly helping wealthy clients stash undeclared assets offshore.

TikTok owner ByteDance is working on a Clubhouse-like app for China, sources familiar with the matter said, as the global success of the U.S.-based audio chat service inspires a rush of copycats in the country.

China is increasing its defense spending by 6.8% in 2021 as it works to maintain a robust upgrading of the armed forces despite high government debt and the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

EY Georgia announces appointment of a new Tax & Law service line leader in Georgia effective from 1 March 2021. Tato Chantladze will lead EY Georgia’s Tax and Law services. Zurab Nikvashvili, who has established and led this service line in Georgia for many years, accepted a role of a senior advisor to EY Georgia.

"I thank Zviad for his great work and achievements. Zviad is an outstanding person with a strong vision. He has helped EY deliver consecutive years of strong growth through a focus on providing high-quality services, harnessing the vast expertise of EY’s global infrastructure and developing exceptional EY people. His departure has been felt emotionally by many, but life has its course and whenever you join, however long you stay, the exceptional EY experience lasts a lifetime,” Ruslan Khoroshvili, EY Georgia’s Country Managing Partner declared.

The U.S. Senate voted on Thursday to take up President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion coronavirus aid bill, but put off the start of a contentious debate until the full text of the 628-page bill was read aloud.

The new target highlights the Chinese economy's strong rebound after the pandemic shutdowns led to a sharp 6.8% contraction in the first quarter of 2020.

Pope Francis has arrived in Iraq for the first ever papal visit there, and his first international trip since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.

The decision affects 250,000 doses of the vaccine produced at an AstraZeneca facility in Italy.

China's top law-making body has unveiled plans to ensure only "patriots" can govern Hong Kong, as Beijing tightens its grip on the city with changes to the electoral system.

Effissimo Capital Management has gained further backing in its push for a probe into Toshiba Corp, but big stakes built up by investors like BlackRock have raised questions over how much influence it and other activist shareholders will ultimately wield.

The San Diego Zoo announced on Thursday it was in the process of inoculating many of its great apes after several of its gorillas became sick with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, in January.

"This is an unpopular approach in the economy, but I think that state’s spending is the only solution that should boost domestic consumption for the next year. Domestic consumption is a huge problem today, it has a significant share in GDP and it is dropped due to objective reasons," - said Revishvili.

"The subsidy program will be implemented by the central government, for which the budget will allocate over 2 million GEL and as of our estimation about 400 restaurants will receive this assistance, "- said Andria Basilaia.

"The country is not ready systematically. Therefore, I think that this process will be prolonged, but I hope that in parallel we will start working to eliminate the problems, which will lead to the completion of this important project,"- said Vasil Revishvili.