Emerging Markets Daily - July 8
Global Covid Death Toll Hits 4 Million, Haiti President Assassinated, China Aircraft Co. Joins Battle for Skies, DP World Acquires S. Africa Firm, Cambodian Cuisine
The Top 5 Emerging Markets Stories from Global Media - July 8
Covid Deaths Reach 4 Million as India Eclipses U.S., U.K.
Bloomberg
“The global death toll from Covid-19 has reached 4 million, as a growing disparity in vaccine access leaves poorer nations exposed to outbreaks of more infectious strains.”
“Even as rapid vaccine rollouts allow life to start to return to normal in countries like the U.K. and U.S., it’s taken just 82 days for the latest million deaths, compared to 92 days for the previous million, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. The real toll could be far higher than reported because of inconsistent calculations around the world.”
“The developing world is shouldering a rising death toll. India accounted for 26% of the increase from 3 million to 4 million deaths, and Brazil about 18%. By comparison, the U.S., where more than 332 million shots have been administered, accounted for about 4% of the rise. The U.K. accounted for just 1,000 of the extra deaths, the data showed.” Felix Tam reports
Haiti President Jovenel Moïse Assassinated at Home
The Wall Street Journal
“Haitian President Jovenel Moïse was assassinated in an attack at his residence, the country’s interim prime minister said, plunging the unstable Caribbean nation into fresh political turmoil and posing a challenge to U.S. policy makers.”
“A group of assailants carrying high-caliber weapons stormed the house in an upscale residential neighborhood about 1 a.m. local time on Wednesday, fatally shooting the president and wounding the first lady, Martine Moïse, said interim Prime Minister Claude Joseph. She was in a critical condition and taken to Miami for medical treatment, the Haitian government said.”
“‘This was a highly coordinated attack by a highly trained and heavily armed group,’ Mr. Joseph said, adding that the attackers spoke Spanish and English. Haiti is a French- and Creole-speaking country.” José de Córdoba and Stacy Meichtry report
China’s Rival to Boeing and Airbus Set to Join Battle for the Skies
Financial Times
“After more than a decade in development and tens of billions of dollars of state support, China’s first passenger jet is nearing Beijing’s approval to start commercial flights.”
“With the launch of the single-aisle C919, an industry dominated by Europe’s Airbus and its US rival Boeing faces a new, deep-pocketed and politically connected competitor: state-backed aerospace champion Comac.”
“Spun out of China’s military aviation industry in 2008, Comac has announced close to 1,000 orders and options for the plane, mainly from domestic customers. The first delivery, to China Eastern Airlines, is due to take place by the end of this year.”
“Beijing has made no secret of its desire to break the western giants’ duopoly, helping smooth the C919’s development with up to $72bn in state-related support, according to estimates from US think-tank the Center for Strategic and International Studies.” Sylvia Pfeifer and Primrose Riordan report
Dubai-owned DP World to acquire South Africa's Imperial Logistics
Gulf News
“The Dubai Government owned DP World is adding more to its Africa interests, having made an open offer to acquire all outstanding shares in the South African company Imperial Logistics.”
“…The Imperial acquisition will be DP World’s most strategic one on the African continent to date, which, ‘despite the challenging global and domestic economic environment, demonstrates our long-term confidence in the South African economy and the wider regional market,’ the company said in a statement” Gulf News reports
Prahok: The Pungent Fish Elevating Cambodian Cuisine
BBC
“While the world is familiar with the food from neighbouring Thailand and Vietnam, Cambodian cuisine is still relatively unknown. Can a sharp-smelling fish change that?”
“…Traditionally made from a local mud carp called trey riel, prahokhas played an important role in local livelihoods since the Khmer Empire, the masterminds behind mighty Angkor Wat. In fact, the Cambodian currency, riel, is named after the small, silvery fish.” Marissa Carruthers reports
