Stories for December 22nd 2020

Tuesday, December 22nd 2020 - 08:46 UTC
Chilean army base in Antarctica detects 36 positive Covid-19 cases; Navy support vessel blamed

A coronavirus outbreak with 36 positive tests was reported on Monday at a Chilean Army base in Antarctica, the only continent, up to now, free of the virus. The army's Monday release said that at the Bernardo O'Higgins Riquelme base, following suspicions, swabbing testing was practiced in all personnel resulting in 36 positive cases, of which 26 belonging to the Army and ten to members of a contractor, doing maintenance work at the base.
Tuesday, December 22nd 2020 - 08:40 UTC
WHO downplays the latest variant of coronavirus: it's part of the pandemic's evolution

The World Health Organization cautioned against major alarm over a new, highly infectious variant of the coronavirus that has emerged in Britain, saying this was a normal part of a pandemic’s evolution.
Tuesday, December 22nd 2020 - 08:38 UTC
Brazil's trials indicate Chinese vaccine is effective, according to US media

Chinese vaccine maker Sinovac Biotech Ltd's Covid-19 vaccine has shown to be effective in late-stage trials in Brazil, the Wall Street Journal reported on Monday, citing people involved in the vaccine's development.
Tuesday, December 22nd 2020 - 08:18 UTC
Workers strike in Argentine ports disrupting wheat millers' operations in Brazil

The prolongation of a workers' strike in the ports of Argentina may disrupt wheat millers' operations in Brazil, especially if the labor action is not called off before the end of the year, industry representatives were quoted in the Brazilian media.
Tuesday, December 22nd 2020 - 08:15 UTC
Argentine bishops: With Covid-19 taking lives and 50% poverty, it's no time to address abortion

The president of the Argentine bishops’ conference called on lawmakers to “reflect” as they prepare to debate a bill that would legalize abortion in the South American country.
Tuesday, December 22nd 2020 - 08:08 UTC
US Congress passes the US$ 900 billion plan to support families and businesses

The US Congress voted on Monday on a US$900 billion plan to support families and businesses hit by the pandemic. Here are the main provisions included in the bipartisan legislation:
Tuesday, December 22nd 2020 - 08:05 UTC
Joe Biden receives Covid-19 Pfizer shot live on television; First Lady was also vaccinated

United States president-elect Joe Biden received his first injected doses of the Covid-19 vaccine on live on television on Monday in an effort to boost confidence in its safety ahead of its wide distribution next year.
Tuesday, December 22nd 2020 - 07:54 UTC
Johnson tells Scotland's leader Sturgeon he will not extend deadline to reach a post Brexit deal with EU

Responding to calls from the leader of the Scottish Nationalists and the mayor of London, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said he will not make moves to extend the deadline to reach a post-Brexit deal with the European Union.
Tuesday, December 22nd 2020 - 07:49 UTC
Following EU approval of Pfizer vaccine, Germany will begin immunization of the elderly on December 27

Germany will begin its first coronavirus vaccinations in care homes for the elderly on Dec. 27, Health Minister Jens Spahn said on Monday. He welcomed the approval of the vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech by the European Medicines Agency as a milestone in the fight against the pandemic.
Tuesday, December 22nd 2020 - 07:22 UTC
PM Johnson pledges to unblock trade across the Channel, but situation sounds chaotic

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday sought to sound a note of calm saying he was working “as fast as possible” to unblock trade across the Channel after France shut its borders to UK haulers in a bid to contain a new variant of the coronavirus.