U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Christopher Sontchi may not be ready for a bathrobe in pandemic work-from-home style yet, but his black judge’s robe is gone. When he and his colleagues in one of the nation’s three busiest corporate bankruptcy venues switched to video hearings, they adopted a more informal approach that doesn’t include their tradition-bound courtroom attire. Source Bloomberg
The German finance minister has kicked off days of debate over the 2021 budget, arguing for more debt to support the economy during the coronavirus pandemic. “It’s a really, really” large sum, admitted Scholz. Source Deutsche Welle
The world’s largest group of shipping insurers will not insure vessels involved in the Russian-led Nord Stream 2 and TurkStream gas pipeline projects because of the threat of U.S. sanctions. Source Reuters
Italy expects debt to rise to about 160% of gross domestic product by the end of this year despite a smaller-than-forecast contraction of the economy, officials familiar with ongoing budget talks said. The new figures, which are provisional and still subject to change, see the economy expanding 6% in 2021, the officials said, asking not to be named discussing confidential deliberations. Source Bloomberg Quint
