Federal Reserve Board Governor Lael Brainard testifies before the US Senate banking committee hearing on her nomination to be vice chair of the Federal Reserve, on Capitol Hill In Washington. Reuters
Federal Reserve Board Governor Lael Brainard testifies before the US Senate banking committee hearing on her nomination to be vice chair of the Federal Reserve, on Capitol Hill In Washington. Reuters
Federal Reserve Board Governor Lael Brainard testifies before the US Senate banking committee hearing on her nomination to be vice chair of the Federal Reserve, on Capitol Hill In Washington. Reuters
Federal Reserve Board Governor Lael Brainard testifies before the US Senate banking committee hearing on her nomination to be vice chair of the Federal Reserve, on Capitol Hill In Washington. Reuters

US Fed's Brainard vows to battle inflation and deflects climate criticism


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Federal Reserve Governor Lael Brainard, in a hearing for her nomination to become the US central bank's vice chair, pledged on Thursday to help bring inflation under control.

Ms Brainard also deflected Republican senators' concerns that she would use the position to sway national climate change policies.

In a hint that her nomination may be part of a larger partisan debate about the Fed's direction, she was questioned by Republican Senator Pat Toomey on whether her support for more climate research and analysis at the central bank was "a precursor to direct capital away from" carbon-intensive industries.

"I have not suggested we do stress tests for climate," Ms Brainard said. "We would not tell banks which sectors to lend to or not lend to.

"But we do want to make sure they are measuring, monitoring, their material risks."

Her comments on climate were similar to those delivered by Fed Chair Jerome Powell at his own nomination hearing before the Senate banking committee on Tuesday.

But the questioning by Mr Toomey and other Republicans reflected deeper concern that appointments by the administration of US President Joe Biden may steer the Fed in a more aggressive direction that makes credit more expensive for legacy oil and gas companies or carbon resource exploration.

On monetary policy, Ms Brainard stuck to what is now a unanimous Fed consensus that interest rates will need to move higher this year, which she said could be done as soon as the Fed stopped a separate asset purchase programme in March.

Legislators from both parties are concerned about the fast pace of price increases, and some Fed officials have pointed to March as the possible time for "lift-off" from the near-zero policy interest rate in place since the start of the pandemic in March 2020.

In her opening remarks to the Senate panel, Ms Brainard said controlling inflation that has surged to a nearly 40-year high is the "most important task" facing the Fed, in comments echoing those of Mr Powell earlier in the week.

But unlike the session with Mr Powell, which included statements of support from both sides of politics, no Republican senators pledged to vote for Ms Brainard, a Democrat who was first appointed to the Fed in 2014 by president Barack Obama.

To become vice chair she would need confirmation by a majority of the Senate.

While Democrats hold narrow control of the chamber, some of Mr Biden's top priorities have been stalled by Democratic opposition, perhaps most notably from Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia, a coal-producing state where climate change policies are also controversial.

Ms Brainard could remain a Fed governor regardless of whether she becomes vice chair.

As a governor, she has been a frequent dissenting vote against steps taken during former president Donald Trump's administration and under Mr Powell to loosen oversight of the largest banks.

Ms Brainard also called for the Fed to require financial companies to set aside more capital, and worried that Fed officials were behind European central bankers in understanding how climate change might affect the macroeconomy and financial system.

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Company%20profile
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Wicked: For Good

Director: Jon M Chu

Starring: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater

Rating: 4/5

The Bio

Favourite place in UAE: Al Rams pearling village

What one book should everyone read: Any book written before electricity was invented. When a writer willingly worked under candlelight, you know he/she had a real passion for their craft

Your favourite type of pearl: All of them. No pearl looks the same and each carries its own unique characteristics, like humans

Best time to swim in the sea: When there is enough light to see beneath the surface

Profile

Co-founders of the company: Vilhelm Hedberg and Ravi Bhusari

Launch year: In 2016 ekar launched and signed an agreement with Etihad Airways in Abu Dhabi. In January 2017 ekar launched in Dubai in a partnership with the RTA.

Number of employees: Over 50

Financing stage: Series B currently being finalised

Investors: Series A - Audacia Capital 

Sector of operation: Transport

MATCH INFO

Uefa Champions League semi-final, second leg
Real Madrid (2) v Bayern Munich (1)

Where: Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
When: 10.45pm, Tuesday
Watch Live: beIN Sports HD

What is the definition of an SME?

SMEs in the UAE are defined by the number of employees, annual turnover and sector. For example, a “small company” in the services industry has six to 50 employees with a turnover of more than Dh2 million up to Dh20m, while in the manufacturing industry the requirements are 10 to 100 employees with a turnover of more than Dh3m up to Dh50m, according to Dubai SME, an agency of the Department of Economic Development.

A “medium-sized company” can either have staff of 51 to 200 employees or 101 to 250 employees, and a turnover less than or equal to Dh200m or Dh250m, again depending on whether the business is in the trading, manufacturing or services sectors. 

The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm

Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm

Transmission: 9-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh117,059

Specs

Engine: 51.5kW electric motor

Range: 400km

Power: 134bhp

Torque: 175Nm

Price: From Dh98,800

Available: Now

Specs

Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric

Range: Up to 610km

Power: 905hp

Torque: 985Nm

Price: From Dh439,000

Available: Now

White hydrogen: Naturally occurring hydrogenChromite: Hard, metallic mineral containing iron oxide and chromium oxideUltramafic rocks: Dark-coloured rocks rich in magnesium or iron with very low silica contentOphiolite: A section of the earth’s crust, which is oceanic in nature that has since been uplifted and exposed on landOlivine: A commonly occurring magnesium iron silicate mineral that derives its name for its olive-green yellow-green colour

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Long read

Mageed Yahia, director of WFP in UAE: Coronavirus knows no borders, and neither should the response

BlacKkKlansman

Director: Spike Lee

Starring: John David Washington; Adam Driver 

Five stars

ENGLAND TEAM

England (15-1)
George Furbank; Jonny May, Manu Tuilagi, Owen Farrell (capt), Elliot Daly; George Ford, Ben Youngs; Tom Curry, Sam Underhill, Courtney Lawes; Charlie Ewels, Maro Itoje; Kyle Sinckler, Jamie George, Joe Marler
Replacements: Luke Cowan-Dickie, Ellis Genge, Will Stuart, George Kruis, Lewis Ludlam, Willi Heinz, Ollie Devoto, Jonathan Joseph

Liverpool’s fixtures until end of 2019

Saturday, November 30, Brighton (h)

Wednesday, December 4, Everton (h)

Saturday, December 7, Bournemouth (a)

Tuesday, December 10, Salzburg (a) CL

Saturday, December 14, Watford (h)

Tuesday, December 17, Aston Villa (a) League Cup

Wednesday, December 18, Club World Cup in Qatar

Saturday, December 21, Club World Cup in Qatar

Thursday, December 26, Leicester (a)

Sunday, December 29, Wolves (h)

What can victims do?

Always use only regulated platforms

Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion

Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)

Report to local authorities

Warn others to prevent further harm

Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence

The Vile

Starring: Bdoor Mohammad, Jasem Alkharraz, Iman Tarik, Sarah Taibah

Director: Majid Al Ansari

Rating: 4/5

Skoda Superb Specs

Engine: 2-litre TSI petrol

Power: 190hp

Torque: 320Nm

Price: From Dh147,000

Available: Now

Bugatti Chiron Super Sport - the specs:

Engine: 8.0-litre quad-turbo W16 

Transmission: 7-speed DSG auto 

Power: 1,600hp

Torque: 1,600Nm

0-100kph in 2.4seconds

0-200kph in 5.8 seconds

0-300kph in 12.1 seconds

Top speed: 440kph

Price: Dh13,200,000

Bugatti Chiron Pur Sport - the specs:

Engine: 8.0-litre quad-turbo W16 

Transmission: 7-speed DSG auto 

Power: 1,500hp

Torque: 1,600Nm

0-100kph in 2.3 seconds

0-200kph in 5.5 seconds

0-300kph in 11.8 seconds

Top speed: 350kph

Price: Dh13,600,000

How tumultuous protests grew
  • A fuel tax protest by French drivers appealed to wider anti-government sentiment
  • Unlike previous French demonstrations there was no trade union or organised movement involved 
  • Demonstrators responded to online petitions and flooded squares to block traffic
  • At its height there were almost 300,000 on the streets in support
  • Named after the high visibility jackets that drivers must keep in cars 
  • Clashes soon turned violent as thousands fought with police at cordons
  • An estimated two dozen people lost eyes and many others were admitted to hospital 
Women’s T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier

ICC Academy, November 22-28

UAE fixtures
Nov 22, v Malaysia
Nov 23, v Hong Kong
Nov 25, v Bhutan
Nov 26, v Kuwait
Nov 28, v Nepal

ICC T20I rankings
14. Nepal
17. UAE
25. Hong Kong
34. Kuwait
35. Malaysia
44. Bhutan 

UAE squad
Chaya Mughal (captain), Natasha Cherriath, Samaira Dharnidharka, Kavisha Egodage, Mahika Gaur, Priyanjali Jain, Suraksha Kotte, Vaishnave Mahesh, Judit Peter, Esha Rohit, Theertha Satish, Chamani Seneviratne, Khushi Sharma, Subha Venkataraman

Updated: January 13, 2022, 9:07 PM