Stories for December 2020

Wednesday, December 16th 2020 - 09:08 UTC
Food companies and grocers urge commodity suppliers to refuse soybeans from deforested areas in Brazil

Some of the world’s largest food companies and grocers urged commodity suppliers including Archer-Daniels-Midland Co, Bunge Ltd, Cargill Inc and Louis Dreyfus Co. to stop trading soybeans associated with deforestation in Brazil’s Cerrado region, a savanna that is a hive of biodiversity and one of the country’s most important carbon sinks.
Wednesday, December 16th 2020 - 09:00 UTC
Moderna vaccine is safe and effective for preventing Covid-19, US regulators

Moderna's vaccine is safe and effective for preventing Covid-19, US regulators said, clearing the way for a second shot to quickly gain emergency authorization and add to the country's sprawling immunization effort.
Wednesday, December 16th 2020 - 08:57 UTC
New Chilean constitution will reserve 17 of 155 congressional seats for indigenous communities

Chilean lawmakers late on Tuesday approved a bill to reserve 17 of 155 seats for representatives of indigenous communities in its upcoming constitutional convention, a measure lauded as “historic” by the government of center-right President Sebastian Piñera.
Wednesday, December 16th 2020 - 08:55 UTC
Bolsonaro administration says Brazil has guaranteed access to 300 million Covid-19 vaccines

The government of President Jair Bolsonaro said that Brazil has guaranteed access to 300 million vaccines, mainly those developed by Oxford University along with AstraZeneca pharmaceutical and Brazil's Fiocruz foundation, as well as vaccines from the Covax Facility international initiative.
Wednesday, December 16th 2020 - 08:51 UTC
Brazil's health regulator ANVISA considers Chinese Covid-19 vaccine process non transparent

Brazil’s health regulator Anvisa said China’s health authorities are not transparent in their authorization of COVID-19 vaccines for emergency use, a statement that may further inflame political tension in the country.
Wednesday, December 16th 2020 - 08:40 UTC
UK and Mexico sign trade deal: savings of £59 million worth of duties

The UK signed on Tuesday 15 December a trade deal with Mexico, locking in tariff-free trade and other benefits for British businesses and consumers. The UK-Mexico Trade Continuity Agreement will particularly benefit the automotive, pharmaceutical, textiles, agriculture, food and drink industries and other manufacturing industries, the sectors where the UK has the highest amount of trade with Mexico.
Wednesday, December 16th 2020 - 08:32 UTC
British scientists trying to determine if Covid-19 mutation is linked to other strains

British scientists are trying to establish whether the rapid spread in southern England of a new variant of the virus that causes COVID-19 is linked to key mutations they have detected in the strain, they said on Tuesday.
Wednesday, December 16th 2020 - 08:30 UTC
China pledges more trade and development cooperation with Chile on the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations

China is willing to provide a broader market and more development opportunities for Chile and other countries as it seeks reform and opening-up at a higher level, President Xi Jinping said on Tuesday in a phone conversation with his Chilean counterpart, Sebastian Piñera.
Wednesday, December 16th 2020 - 08:20 UTC
Ex wife of Jeff Bezos has given away US$ 4bn in four months

MacKenzie Scott, the ex-wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, is giving away her fortune at an unprecedented pace, donating more than US$4 billion in four months after announcing US$ 1,7bn in gifts in July.
Wednesday, December 16th 2020 - 08:20 UTC
Rio do Janeiro cancels its annual New Year's Eve beach bash

Rio de Janeiro's annual New Year's Eve beach bash, already reduced in scope and format, has been canceled due to the raging coronavirus pandemic, the mayor's office said Tuesday.