Stories for December 14th 2020

Monday, December 14th 2020 - 09:39 UTC
Tax reform in Brazil stalled in the midst of political dispute and “fiscal abyss”

Brazil is heading into a “fiscal abyss” and a serious crisis next year, following the decision to postpone parliamentary debate on a bill extending emergency aid spending, lower house speaker Rodrigo Maia said on Friday
Monday, December 14th 2020 - 09:37 UTC
Bolsonaro remains with a 37% approval, shows Datafolha public opinion poll

Brazilian right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro’s approval rating remains at its highest level since he took office in 2019, despite the country experiencing the world’s second-deadliest coronavirus outbreak, a poll showed on Sunday.
Monday, December 14th 2020 - 09:31 UTC
London and Brussels agree on an “extra mile” after an elusive post-Brexit deal

London and Brussels agreed to “go the extra mile” in coming days to try to reach an elusive trade agreement despite missing their latest deadline to avert a turbulent ‘no deal’ exit for Britain from the European Union’s orbit at the end of the month.
Monday, December 14th 2020 - 09:30 UTC
Bolsonaro's vaccination plan “a murderous stupidity” and a display of “lethal incompetence”

President Jair Bolsonaro faced scathing criticism on Sunday over his government's plan – or lack thereof, opponents said – to vaccinate the population against Covid-19 in Brazil, the country with the second-highest death toll worldwide.
Monday, December 14th 2020 - 09:30 UTC
Four Royal Navy patrol ships ready as of January to protect UK's fishing waters

The British Ministry of Defense said four Royal Navy patrol ships will be ready on Jan 1 to help protect Britain’s fishing waters in the event of a post Brexit no deal.
Monday, December 14th 2020 - 09:14 UTC
Brazilian church plays a nativity scene in a burnt deforested Amazon and with a black baby Jesus

Instead of a manger in Bethlehem, Jesus will arrive this Christmas in a badly burned clearing in the Amazon rainforest as a black baby born to a black virgin with indigenous cherubs looking on.
Monday, December 14th 2020 - 08:59 UTC
Peru suspends trials with China's Covid-19 vaccine due to a “serious adverse event”

Peru suspended trials for China's Sinopharm Covid-19 vaccine due to a “serious adverse event” that occurred with one of the volunteers for the study, the Peruvian government said in a statement on Saturday.
Monday, December 14th 2020 - 08:42 UTC
British Airways Buenos Aires/London flight will have a stopover in Sao Paulo

British Airways as of next April will cease its direct flight Buenos Aires/London, according to the schedules published on the company’s web. In effect following 28 March 2021, BA will make a stopover in Sao Paulo, Brazil, before continuing to London and likewise when flying to Buenos Aires.
Monday, December 14th 2020 - 08:00 UTC
Espionage writer and literary giant, John le Carré dies aged 89

British espionage writer John le Carré has died aged 89, following a short illness, his literary agent has said. The Spy Who Came In From The Cold, and Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy author died from pneumonia on Saturday night.
Monday, December 14th 2020 - 07:50 UTC
NASA to Provide Spanish-Language Coverage, Livestream of Solar Eclipse

NASA will provide live coverage this Monday, Dec. 14, of a solar eclipse that will pass over South America, treating parts of Chile, Argentina and Uruguay to views of a total eclipse of the Sun. A Spanish-language program will air on NASA Television and the public channel on the agency’s website. A separate livestream of the eclipse without narration will air on the media channel.