Stories for February 2021

Friday, February 26th 2021 - 21:27 UTC
Drones in New Zealand to protect endangered dolphins

The New Zealand's government is supporting a new project using drone technology to understand and protect the endangered Māui dolphins in the country. Maui dolphins live in a small stretch of ocean off the west coast of New Zealand's North Island and current estimates suggest that only 63 dolphins older than one year remain, raising concerns that they may soon become extinct.
Friday, February 26th 2021 - 21:27 UTC
Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine can be stored at -20 degrees pharmaceutical freezers

Frozen vials of Pfizer's Covid-19 vaccine may be stored at temperatures commonly found in pharmaceutical freezers for a period of up to two weeks, the US Food and Drug Administration said on Thursday. The move loosens a previous requirement that the vaccine should be stored at ultra-low temperatures, between -80 to -60 deg C.
Friday, February 26th 2021 - 21:27 UTC
Beijing naval expansion has driven 2020 world military expenditure to a record

Global military spending, driven in part by Chinese naval expansion, reached record levels in 2020 despite the impact of the coronavirus pandemic and ensuing economic contraction, a British think-tank said on Thursday.
Friday, February 26th 2021 - 21:20 UTC
Spectacular pictures from Mars sent by NASA's Perseverance rover

The US space agency NASA has released a spectacular panoramic view of the landing site of the Perseverance rover on Mars. The panorama shows the rim of the Jezero Crater where the rover touched down last week and the cliff face of an ancient river delta in the distance.
Friday, February 26th 2021 - 13:54 UTC
IMF admits discussions with Argentina continue but no meeting planned for May

IMF has no date yet set for its next visit to Argentina to discuss replacement to a failed 2018 program, a spokesman for the Fund advanced on Thursday. The parties could next meet in Washington soon, as Argentine Economy Minister Martin Guzman will visit the U.S. capital next month, according to Buenos Aires sources.
Friday, February 26th 2021 - 13:29 UTC
Argentina receives 904,000 doses of China's Sinopharm vaccine

Argentina has received 904,000 doses of the Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine in its first delivery from the Chinese drugmaker, the government said on Thursday, which should help the country accelerate its inoculation program.
Friday, February 26th 2021 - 13:19 UTC
Brazil purchases 20 million doses of India's Bharat Biotech vaccine

Brazil's health ministry on Thursday signed a deal with India's Bharat Biotech to purchase 20 million doses of Covaxin, a Covid 19 vaccine. The news came a day before Brazil marks one year since the first case of Covid-19 was confirmed in the country after a Sao Paulo businessman returning from a trip to Italy tested positive.
Friday, February 26th 2021 - 12:01 UTC
EU declares Venezuela ambassador persona non grata and expels her

The European Union has declared Venezuela's ambassador in Brussels as a “persona non grata” in a tit-for-tat diplomatic move. A EU statement said member states had agreed that Venezuela's ambassador would no longer be welcome as an envoy to the bloc.
Friday, February 26th 2021 - 11:46 UTC
WTO new chief admits reforming the dispute resolution body “won't be easy”

Reforming the World Trade Organization’s paralyzed dispute-resolution body will be a key priority for the institution, but the process won’t be easy, incoming Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said.
Friday, February 26th 2021 - 09:45 UTC
Kirchnerist businessman Baéz will remain under house arrest; family divided over harsh sentences

Argentine businessman and associate of former president Néstor Kirchner, Lázaro Báez will not return to jail for the moment. He will continue with an electronic anklet under the modality of house arrest in a house located in a gated community in the suburbs of Buenos Aires.