Stories for January 28th 2021

Thursday, January 28th 2021 - 09:59 UTC
Uruguay will partially reopen its borders as of February

Uruguayan president Luis Lacalle Pou announced on Wednesday the partial lifting of the borders' total closure which had been established last December 20, but all other measures that had been announced on that date remain in full compliance.
Thursday, January 28th 2021 - 09:51 UTC
Over a million people have died from Covid-19 in the Americas

More than one million people have died from COVID-19 in North and South America, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) reported. Last week two million more cases were reported in the Americas, with the United States the main driver of the outbreak.
Thursday, January 28th 2021 - 09:42 UTC
Brazil on the brink of financial default, points out the Financial Times

Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro has been s skeptical of the coronavirus pandemic and the effectiveness of different vaccines to contain it, arguing that the economy, jobs and activity, were the priority above sanitary recommendations. As a result of this approach, his administration's federal spending jumped almost 40% between January and November, according to the Institute of International Finance. And Bolsonaro had even admitted the country is “broke.”
Thursday, January 28th 2021 - 09:37 UTC
Argentine traders and millers discussing options to avoid a ban on wheat exports

Argentina is worried about domestic food prices and inflation, and as it happened a few weeks ago with an attempt to ban corn exports, a similar situation apparently is happening with wheat, and the different actors involved are working on measures aimed at securing the wheat supply and reasonable bread and pasta prices.
Thursday, January 28th 2021 - 09:23 UTC
Secretary of State Blinken: US-China is “arguably the most important relationship in the world”

The United States-China relationship is “arguably the most important relationship that we have in the world,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken said during his first full day in office.
Thursday, January 28th 2021 - 09:15 UTC
Johnson off to Scotland to confront growing support of independence referendum

Prime Minister Boris Johnson is traveling on Thursday to Scotland to confront growing support for another independence referendum. Ahead of his visit, Johnson said that Scotland, as a part of the UK, gained access to a coronavirus vaccine developed by the University of Oxford and AstraZeneca, and they are being administered by their shared armed forces, who are creating 80 new vaccine centers in Scotland.
Thursday, January 28th 2021 - 09:14 UTC
Putin criticizes “digital giants” that challenge “legitimate democratic institutions”

Russian President Vladimir Putin criticized the growing influence of U.S. social media companies and said their impact on society now puts them in competition with elected governments.
Thursday, January 28th 2021 - 09:11 UTC
Colombian defense minister and respected politician dies of Covid-19

Colombia's defense minister has died in hospital after contracting coronavirus, the government announced. Carlos Holmes Trujillo, 69, was taken to hospital with Covid-19 earlier this month and had developed viral pneumonia.
Thursday, January 28th 2021 - 08:55 UTC
China has begun using anal swabs for high risk population

AFP – Anal swabs are being used in China to test those it considers at high risk of contracting Covid-19, state TV reported. According to doctors, the invasive procedure is said to be more effective in detecting the virus.
Thursday, January 28th 2021 - 08:33 UTC
Climate change becomes a national security issue for the Pentagon

Reuters – The risk of climate change in military theatre simulations and war games was confirmed by the Pentagon following a raft of executive actions signed by US president Joe Biden to tackle the climate issue.