Stories for January 19th 2021

Tuesday, January 19th 2021 - 09:27 UTC
With Trump leaving, Brazil backtracks in its opposition to Huawei's 5G bid

China's telecommunications sector is celebrating that the Brazilian government became the first in the world to backtrack on its opposition to Huawei's 5G bid. Brazil will not seek to bar the Chinese telecommunication giant from its 2021 5G network auctions in June, according to reports published in the newspaper Estado de S. Paulo.
Tuesday, January 19th 2021 - 09:25 UTC
Independent panel blasts WHO and China on their tepid response to the initial Covid-19 outbreak

An independent panel said on Monday that Chinese officials could have applied public health measures more forcefully in January to curb the initial COVID-19 outbreak, and criticized the World Health Organization (WHO) for not declaring an international emergency until Jan. 30.
Tuesday, January 19th 2021 - 09:16 UTC
Brazil launches vaccination campaign, but many supply problems persist

Brazil launched on Monday the national inoculation program with China's Sinovac Biotech vaccine, but so far it includes five of the country's 26 states. After weeks of setbacks, many Brazilians cheered the first wave of inoculations, from bustling clinics in Sao Paulo to a spectacular shot planned at the foot of the Christ Redeemer statue overlooking Rio de Janeiro.
Tuesday, January 19th 2021 - 09:16 UTC
Bolsonaro allies expected to win control of both houses in Congress

Brazil’s right-wing president Jair Bolsonaro sponsored candidates are expected to win control of Congress next month, politicians and analysts said on Monday, despite controversy of the management of the pandemic.
Tuesday, January 19th 2021 - 09:15 UTC
Biden will re impose travel restrictions despite Trump lifting some of the restrictions

The Joe Biden administration plans to quickly re impose travel restrictions barring travel by most people who have recently been in much of Europe and Brazil soon after President Donald Trump lifted those requirements effective Jan. 26, a spokeswoman for Biden said.
Tuesday, January 19th 2021 - 09:15 UTC
Argentina: Jewish community call for truth and justice on sixth anniversary of the killing of prosecutor Alberto Nisman

The main community center serving Argentina’s Jews on Monday called for “truth” and “justice” to prevail in the case of Alberto Nisman, on the sixth anniversary of the federal prosecutor’s assassination.
Tuesday, January 19th 2021 - 09:10 UTC
Falklands Conservation advises on penguins’ 'catastrophic' moulting period

Unlike all other birds, penguins go through what is called a “catastrophic” moult. For the penguin, it is probably as bad as it sounds. Falklands Conservation recalls that every penguin must moult once a year, normally between December to March, by drastically shedding all their feathers and re-growing new feathers in one go – hence the “catastrophic”.
Tuesday, January 19th 2021 - 09:07 UTC
Icebreaker HMS Protector is back to sea after £14m revamp

The HMS Protector, the only Royal Navy's ice patrol ship, has returned to sea after a £14m revamp to improve her ability to work in Antarctica. Extra weight was added to the vessel during the work has improved her ice-breaking capability, the Navy said.
Tuesday, January 19th 2021 - 08:41 UTC
Guatemalan forces beat back to Honduras a migrant caravan heading for the US

While the Mexican government militarized its borders, Guatemalan security forces on Monday cleared a road of hundreds of people in a mostly Honduran migrant caravan that had camped out overnight when authorities barred it from advancing toward the United States.
Tuesday, January 19th 2021 - 08:29 UTC
Brazilian economy forecasted to grow 3,45% this year with 3,75% inflation

Brazilian financial and market analysts upgraded their economic growth forecast for 2021, from 3.41% to 3.45%, and maintained the projection at 2.5% for 2022, the Central Bank of Brazil announced Monday.