Stories for January 2021

Monday, January 4th 2021 - 04:06 UTC
People killed in large commercial airline crashes higher in 2020 than 2019

The number of people killed in large commercial airplane crashes rose in 2020 to 299 worldwide, even as the number of crashes fell by more than 50%, a Dutch consulting firm said.
Friday, January 1st 2021 - 22:41 UTC
South Atlantic area of global contention? US Coast Guard off to South America to patrol for IUU fishing

The following piece by Gidget Fuentes in USNI News offers an account of the mission of USCGC (WMSL/758) Stone, fresh from Shipyard and Quarantine, and which departed Mississippi on 22 December for Southern Atlantic Patrol:
Friday, January 1st 2021 - 22:35 UTC
WHO Director General New Year message: COVID-19 one year later

As people around the world celebrated New Year's Eve 12 months ago, a new global threat emerged. Since that moment, the COVID-19 pandemic has taken so many lives and caused massive disruption to families, societies and economies all over the world.
Friday, January 1st 2021 - 22:16 UTC
Falklands' Borders & Southern Petroleum announces board changes and offshore licenses expire 31 Jan 2022

Borders & Southern Petroleum, a company with oil and gas exploration assets offshore the Falkland Islands, announced at the end of the year board changes. The London based independent oil & gas exploration company announced the retirement of Nigel Hurst-Brown from the Board of Directors. His departure will take effect on January 1, 2021.
Friday, January 1st 2021 - 22:14 UTC
WHO issues emergency use validation for the Pfizer vaccines and emphasizes need for equitable global access

The World Health Organization (WHO) listed the Comirnaty COVID-19 mRNA vaccine for emergency use, making the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine the first to receive emergency validation from WHO since the outbreak began a year ago.
Friday, January 1st 2021 - 21:59 UTC
Reflections about very busy times in Chile: “2020, a year like no other”

From the repatriation of British tourists stranded in Chile to the preparations for the UK’s exit from the EU, Ambassador Ian Duddy, speaks about this year's work.
Friday, January 1st 2021 - 21:59 UTC
UK and Spain agree on a separate deal for Gibraltar: it needs EU support

Following the 31 December agreement reached by the United Kingdom and the Kingdom of Spain referred to Gibraltar, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said…
Friday, January 1st 2021 - 21:50 UTC
Boris Johnson's father applies for French citizenship: “I will always be European, that's for sure”

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's father Stanley confirmed plans on Thursday to seek French citizenship as the free movement of Britons in the EU came to an end under the Brexit pact delivered by his son.
Friday, January 1st 2021 - 21:03 UTC
Pope Francis calls for peace and burden sharing in his message from the Vatican library

Pope Francis reappeared on Friday after chronic sciatic pain forced him to miss the Church's New Year services, and made no mention of his ailment as he delivered his traditional appeal for world peace.