International

The 2020-2021 Champions League first round is over

On the second day of the first round of the Champions League, the remaining groups were busy. There were many surprises. Like Bayern’s victory over Atlético. Or Madrid’s loss to Ukraine’s Shakhtar. Meanwhile, Manchester City had a scare.

Group A

The European champion did it again! Bayern left Simeone’s team 4-0; they could not get their hands on the game. Despite the fact that Joao Felix tried to counteract Germany’s outstanding work and Coman’s powerful performance. This result puts them in the lead as Lokomotiv and Salzburg drew 2-2 at the Red Bull Arena.

Group B

Despite the 10 casualties that the Ukrainian team had, they surprised everybody at the Di Stefano Stadium, with a 3-2 victory over Real Madrid. That tried to overcome, in the second half, Shakhtar’s three goals. The Ukrainian team now leads the group, as Inter drew 2-2 with Monchengladbach at the San Siro Stadium, thanks to Lukaku’s goal at the end of the match.

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Group C

The group leader, with the most promising outlook, created doubts on how easy it will be for them to pass to the next round. Despite the doubts and losing at first, the Blues won 3-1 over Porto, who surprised them in the 14th minute with a goal. In addition, Olympiacos won by a single goal against the French team Marseille. Now the Greek team shares the lead with Guardiola’s players, although they are down in terms of goals.

Group D

Atalanta beat Midtjylland 4-0 in Denmark. Now, Atalanta is preparing to fight Liverpool for first place in the group. The team is now set to fight for the top spot in the group, as Klopp’s team has won 1-0 against Ajax and is tied on points, but with a better goal difference in favor of the Italians.

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International

US panel backs Trump-themed coin amid controversy

The United States Department of the Treasury confirmed to AFP that the Commission of Fine Arts approved the design of a new collectible coin featuring Donald Trump, with members of the commission appointed by the current administration.

According to the proposal, the coin will feature an image of Trump standing with clenched fists over a desk on the obverse, while the reverse will display an eagle, a traditional symbol of the United States.

The sale price of the collectible has not yet been disclosed, although the United States Mint typically offers similar items for more than $1,000.

“There is no more iconic portrait for the front of these coins than that of our president Donald Trump,” U.S. Treasurer Brandon Beach said in a statement sent to AFP. He added that two additional coins — a $1 piece and a one-ounce gold coin — are also under consideration.

However, the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC), another body responsible for reviewing new coin proposals, declined to discuss the Trump design in late February.

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“Only nations governed by kings or dictators place the image of a sitting leader on their currency,” said Donald Scarinciat the time. “No country in the world has minted coins featuring a democratically elected leader during their term in office,” he added.

When contacted by AFP, the Treasury Department did not immediately respond to requests for further comment.

International

Fed’s Waller warns of rising inflation risks amid Middle East conflict

Christopher Waller, a governor at the Federal Reserve, said Friday that he is increasingly concerned about the inflationary impact of the ongoing conflict involving United States and Israel against Iran, particularly due to the prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

Waller, who had supported interest rate cuts over the past year amid concerns about the labor market, said he has shifted his stance in recent weeks due to rising inflation risks.

“Since the Strait of Hormuz was closed, it suggests this conflict could be much more prolonged and that oil prices will remain elevated for longer,” Waller said in an interview with CNBC.

“Therefore, this indicates that inflation is a greater concern than I had previously assessed,” he added.

Waller also backed the Federal Reserve’s decision earlier this week to keep interest rates unchanged, signaling a more cautious approach as global geopolitical tensions continue to affect economic outlooks.

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International

Brazil offers to mediate Colombia-Ecuador tensions, calls for restraint

The government of Brazil has offered to mediate in the ongoing tensions between Colombia and Ecuador, while calling on both nations to exercise restraint.

In a statement released Wednesday, Brazil’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs urged the parties involved to act with moderation and seek a peaceful resolution to the dispute.

“Brazil encourages all sides to act with moderation in order to find a peaceful solution to the controversy. It stands ready to support dialogue efforts aimed at preserving peace and security in the region,” the statement said.

Brazil also expressed “serious concern” over reports of deaths in the border area between Colombia and Ecuador, noting that the circumstances surrounding the incidents have not yet been clarified.

The diplomatic move comes amid rising tensions between the neighboring countries, increasing regional concern over stability and security along their shared border.