Stories for March 2021

Saturday, March 13th 2021 - 08:59 UTC
Foreign investment in China in Jan-Feb up 31,5% year on year

China, which achieved a V-shaped economic recovery last year, attracted 176.76 billion yuan (US$ 27.18 billion) in foreign investments in January-February, up 31.5% year-on-year, the commerce ministry in Beijing said on Friday.
Saturday, March 13th 2021 - 08:47 UTC
WHO extends emergency approval for Jansen's on shot vaccine, reiterates support for AstraZeneca

The UN World Health Organization (WHO) said on Friday that it was aware of blood clot concerns linked to “a specific batch” of AstraZeneca/Oxford COVID-19 vaccine, but maintained that to date, no-one has died from any coronavirus vaccine. The development comes after several European countries suspended the rollout of the jab as a precaution.
Saturday, March 13th 2021 - 08:28 UTC
Minneapolis City agrees to pay US$ 27 million to George Floyd family

The city of Minneapolis on Friday agreed to pay US$27 million to settle a lawsuit by the family of George Floyd over his death in police custody, a case that stirred national protests over racial injustice and police brutality. Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, died in May as Derek Chauvin, a white Minneapolis police officer, knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes
Saturday, March 13th 2021 - 08:05 UTC
China represented 17% of the global economy in pandemic plagued 2020

China's economic output is forecast to account for more than 17% of the world's economy in the coronavirus-plagued 2020. As the sole economy recording positive GDP growth last year, China will ramp up efforts and strive to achieve higher quality, more efficient, sustainable and safer development in 2021, a senior government official revealed in Beijing.
Saturday, March 13th 2021 - 08:00 UTC
German ruling coalition lawmakers resign for brokering face mask procurement deal

Lawmakers from Chancellor Angela Merkel's ruling party and coalition had to declare by writing that they hadn't received money for consulting or procurement related to the Covid 19 situation, following claims several of them were involved in face mask purchases. Party officials said that all 240 conservative lawmakers had sent back their declaration as requested.
Friday, March 12th 2021 - 18:06 UTC
Argentina: Terrorized pregnant indigenous women hide in forest fearful of police raids that snatch their babies

Some eighty pregnant women from the Argentine indigenous Wichi people in the northern province of Formosa, ruled by Kirchnerite governor, Gines Insfran, hide in the forest fearful of having their babies snatched or forcefully taken to provincial hospitals where they are submitted to cesarean surgery.
Friday, March 12th 2021 - 17:58 UTC
ECB keeps interest rates at historic low and pledges to step up bond buying

The European Central Bank (ECB) on Thursday kept interest rates at historic lows and said it was stepping up its bond-buying stimulus in the coming months. The steps are aimed at halting what is regarded as a premature rise in borrowing costs in the 19 countries that use the Euro currency.
Friday, March 12th 2021 - 13:43 UTC
April 30, a critical date for when Falklands first squid catches are landed in Spain

April 30 is a critical date for when the South Atlantic squid catches reach Vigo in Spain. It will also be a Brexit test since tariffs involving third countries such as the UK do not apply to catches from British waters, except for increased customs paperwork, but do apply for fish produce from British territories overseas.
Friday, March 12th 2021 - 13:24 UTC
Falklands tighten up vessel entry policy

The Falkland Islands’ Executive Council this week agreed to tighten the policy governing the entry of vessels into the islands’ territorial waters and ports. Under the new policy, any vessel which has suspected or reported cases of Covid-19 “should not seek to enter Falkland Islands territorial waters and ports,” the Falklands government has confirmed.
Friday, March 12th 2021 - 13:20 UTC
Brazilian record pork exports in first two months; China the main market

Brazilian pork exports (fresh and processed) recorded a 20.3% increase in February, totaling 81,100 tons compared to 67,400 tons registered in the same period in 2020. Revenues from sales in February totaled US$ 185.7 million, 19.9% higher than the second month of 2020 when sales reached US$ 154.9 million.