Stories for February 24th 2021

Wednesday, February 24th 2021 - 09:34 UTC
The Falkland Islands receives second batch of Covid-19 vaccines

The Falkland Islands Government has received its second batch of Covid-19 vaccines, supplied by the UK government. These 2,200 doses arrived today via the South Atlantic Airbridge and are of the same Oxford/AstraZeneca type as the first batch received at the beginning of the month.
Wednesday, February 24th 2021 - 09:33 UTC
Covid-19 vaccines: “where's the universal brotherhood” ask Mexican and Argentine presidents

REUTERS – The presidents of Mexico and Argentina on Tuesday pressed the UN and the world's richest countries to improve poorer nations' access to Covid-19 vaccines, arguing efforts are grossly inadequate so far.
Wednesday, February 24th 2021 - 08:58 UTC
At least 62 dead in gang violence in Ecuador prison mutinies

The Ecuadorian police on Tuesday said at least 62 people had been killed in prison mutinies in three separate facilities. News of the violence comes as Ecuador struggles to deal with prison overcrowding and frequent violence between gangs.
Wednesday, February 24th 2021 - 08:58 UTC
Major Spanish renewable energy group Abengoa files for insolvency

Spain's renewable energy group Abengoa SA filed for insolvency late on Monday, after its latest attempt to restructure its debts fell apart. The parent company of the renewable-energy producer, which is the entity that filed for insolvency, had around 1 billion Euros of liabilities in 2019.
Wednesday, February 24th 2021 - 08:58 UTC
Bolsonaro poised to ensure the removal of Petrobras CEO

Brazilian president seems poised to win his controversial struggle over the removal of the country's giant oil and gas company Petrobras CEO, and replacement by a former Army general. In effect, Petrobras on Tuesday called an extraordinary shareholders' meeting, a move that all but guarantees the exit of CEO Roberto Castello Branco.
Wednesday, February 24th 2021 - 08:55 UTC
UN criticizes Colombian government over the murder of former guerrilla activists

United Nations' human rights body called on the Colombian government to improve protection of human rights activists and civilians, be more present in remote, poor areas, and fully implement a peace deal with FARC rebels to curb violence.
Wednesday, February 24th 2021 - 08:49 UTC
Statue of Franco removed from the African enclave of Melilla

Spanish dictator Francisco Franco no longer “guards” the city gates of Melilla, a Spanish enclave and autonomous city on the northwest African coast. Without much fanfare, a group of workmen operated a mechanical digger and heavy drills to chip away at the brick platform on which the statue stood, lifted it off by a chain around its neck, and carted it away in bubble wrap on a pickup truck.
Wednesday, February 24th 2021 - 08:43 UTC
Ecuadorean indigenous protest presidential election results in Quito

Ecuadorean indigenous protesters arrived in Quito on Tuesday to demand a recount of the Feb. 7 presidential election after official results showed indigenous activist Yaku Perez did not advance to the runoff vote.
Wednesday, February 24th 2021 - 08:33 UTC
US bishops call on Biden to sponsor a boost of IMF resources to support poor countries

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and an alliance of faith groups urged President Joe Biden on Tuesday to back a big boost in the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) emergency reserve funds to help poor countries devastated by the coronavirus pandemic.
Wednesday, February 24th 2021 - 08:33 UTC
UK planning to spend billions to prop the economy over the next four months

The United Kingdom is set to spend billions of pounds in extra support for the economy over the next four months, as pandemic curbs pushed unemployment to its highest level of almost five years. The chancellor of the exchequer Rishi Sunak will set out the details in his Mar 3 budget.