Stories for February 2021

Friday, February 5th 2021 - 08:50 UTC
UK in Covid-19 rare success: it has vaccinated 15% of the population (10 million)

The UK reached the milestone of vaccinating 10 million people, about 15% of the population, according to the latest official reports. “We are on a downward slope of cases, hospitalizations and deaths,” Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty said at a televised press conference. “This peak, at least, we are past.”
Friday, February 5th 2021 - 08:42 UTC
Uruguay, one the very few “full democracies” in the world, The Economist

Uruguay leads as one of four full democracies in the Americas, according to the Democracy Index 2020, published by The Economist. Uruguay scored 8,61 points out of a possible 10 and ranked fifteenth at world level, while the other “full” democracies in the region are Costa Rica, 8,16; Chile, 8,28 and Canada with 9,24 points.
Friday, February 5th 2021 - 08:21 UTC
Bank of England tells banks to prepare for negative interest rates

The Bank of England (BOE) told banks to start getting ready for negative interest rates but added that the message shouldn’t be taken as a signal that the policy is imminent. The BOE made the announcement as it held its key rate at a record low of 0.1%.
Thursday, February 4th 2021 - 23:59 UTC
Chile launches vaccination campaign and inoculates 140,000 on the first day

Chile on Wednesday launched its mass vaccination campaign against COVID-19, inoculating people over 90 years old at over 1,400 vaccination centers across the country.
Thursday, February 4th 2021 - 23:23 UTC
Northern Ireland Protocol controversy forces new round of UK/EU talks

The government and the EU have vowed to “work intensively” to quell tensions over post-Brexit checks at Northern Ireland ports. In a joint statement, both sides said talks on Wednesday with Northern Ireland leaders were “constructive”.
Thursday, February 4th 2021 - 23:06 UTC
Russia has offered Argentina fighter aircraft and training jets, defense website reports

Russia has again approached the Argentine government to offer defense equipment, including military planes for the air force.
Thursday, February 4th 2021 - 09:58 UTC
Lacalle Pou agreed with Bolsonaro in Brasilia to make Mercosur more flexible

The President of Uruguay, Luis Lacalle Pou, traveled overseas for the first time to meet with Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, in a meeting in which they discussed the idea of “making Mercosur more flexible” and the possibility of a face-to-face summit with the leaders of Argentina and Paraguay at the end of March.
Thursday, February 4th 2021 - 09:46 UTC
Argentine president asks Putin to guarantee supply of the Sputnik V vaccine

Supply of the Sputnik V Covid-19 vaccine and the possible elaboration of the shots in Argentina were among the issues addressed by Argentine president Alberto Fernandez and Russia's Vladimir Putin during a Tuesday phone conference.
Thursday, February 4th 2021 - 09:45 UTC
Falklands announces Covid-19 vaccination program beginning 8 February and for everybody over 50

As the first batch of Oxford/AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccines have arrived in the Falkland Islands, the Falkland Islands Government (FIG) announced it will start the Covid-19 vaccination programme on 8 February. “We plan to administer the first dose for eligible people in a mass vaccination program at the FIDF Hall, with visits out to West Falkland and the Outer Islands. If you live in Camp on East Falkland it would be very helpful if you could travel into Stanley as we will happily vaccinate you whenever you arrive and when the vaccination centre is open,” FIG said on Wednesday in a Press Release.
Thursday, February 4th 2021 - 09:32 UTC
Brazil ends the Car Wash anti corruption unit, which sent top politicians and business leaders to jail

Brazil’s Car Wash anti-corruption unit has officially been disbanded putting an end for a team of prosecutors that sent dozens of Brazilian and regional political and business leaders to jail, including several former presidents.