Stories for December 8th 2020

Tuesday, December 8th 2020 - 14:44 UTC
British granny 90, first person to receive the Pfizer Covid 19 vaccine: “Go for it”

Ms Margaret Keenan, the 90-year-old grandmother who became the first person in the world to receive the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine outside of a trial in Britain on Tuesday, has a message for others: “Go for it” to beat the devastating disease.
Tuesday, December 8th 2020 - 14:26 UTC
Nepal and China agree that Mount Everest is 86cm higher: 8,848.86m

The highest point on Earth got a bit higher on Tuesday as China and Nepal finally agreed on a precise elevation for Mount Everest after decades of debate. The agreed height unveiled at a joint news conference in Kathmandu of 8,848.86m is 86cm higher than the measurement previously recognized by Nepal, and more than 4m above China's official figure.
Tuesday, December 8th 2020 - 09:41 UTC
Curbing Amazon deforestation conditions EU/Mercosur trade deal

Until Brazil makes a political commitment to curb deforestation in the Amazon rainforest, the trade deal between the European Union and South America’s Mercosur trade bloc will not advance toward ratification in Europe, the EU’s envoy in Brasilia said.
Tuesday, December 8th 2020 - 08:54 UTC
Argentina passes new tax on the rich; opposition claims it will further deter foreign investment

Argentina has passed a new wealth tax to help the government pay for health supplies and economic relief measures amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Lawmakers in the Senate passed the bill, dubbed the “millionaire’s tax,” by 42 votes to 26 late on Friday.
Tuesday, December 8th 2020 - 08:44 UTC
Proposal to have Maradona and his “Hand of God” goal on the 1,000 Peso bill

An Argentine senator wants to put Diego Maradona on the country’s banknotes and presented a project to Congress on Monday to get the late soccer star and possibly even his ‘Hand of God’ image on a 1,000-peso note.
Tuesday, December 8th 2020 - 08:31 UTC
China's November exports jumped 21,1% as the economy is back on solid recovery

China's exports jumped to record levels in November, offering fresh evidence of the world's second-largest economy's solid recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic that continues to ravage many major economies, while slower growth in imports also underscored persistent pressure on domestic demand from the virus.
Tuesday, December 8th 2020 - 08:02 UTC
Biden expected to announce first Afro-American General as Secretary of Defense

President-elect Joe Biden has chosen retired General Lloyd Austin, who oversaw U.S. forces in the Middle East under President Barack Obama, to be his defense secretary. Austin, who would be the first Black U.S. secretary of defense, was a surprise pick over Michele Flournoy, a former top Defense Department official who was considered the leading contender for the job. Flournoy would have been the first woman defense secretary. The news was first reported by Politico.
Tuesday, December 8th 2020 - 08:00 UTC
Bob Dylan sells the rights of his entire catalogue to Universal Music Group

US singer-songwriter Bob Dylan has sold the rights to his entire back catalogue to Universal Music Group (UMG). The deal is one of the biggest acquisitions in Universal's history and means the company will collect all future income from the songs.
Tuesday, December 8th 2020 - 07:10 UTC
Unidentified infection spreads in the south of India: 400 hospitalized mostly children

One person has died and more than 400 have been hospitalised in southern India due to an unidentified infection that caused many to fall unconscious following seizures and nausea, a senior health department official said on Monday.