Stories for December 21st 2021

Tuesday, December 21st 2021 - 20:55 UTC
First death of Omicron COVID-19 reported in US

The first death in the United States from the Omicron variant of COVID-19 has been reported Tuesday in Harris County, in the state of Texas.
Tuesday, December 21st 2021 - 20:50 UTC
Bolivian lorry drivers stranded in the middle of the Andes with Covid-19 and snow

Scores of Bolivian lorry drivers and their vehicles were reported Monday to be stranded on the Chilean border at Tambo Quemado after at least 200 of them tested positive for COVID-19. They claim they had departed with negative PCR tests from 72 hours before the beginning of their journeys. The border crossing now is closed and snow is falling.
Tuesday, December 21st 2021 - 20:34 UTC
British PM says no lockdown before Christmas, but maybe later

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson Tuesday admitted there will be no lockdown before Christmas in the United Kingdom, but at the same time, he admitted no course of action could be ruled out post-Dec. 25 in the fight against COVID-19.
Tuesday, December 21st 2021 - 20:23 UTC
Peru's Congress passes motion of censorship against Education Minister

Peru's Congress Tuesday passed a motion of censure against Education Minister Carlos Gallardo who must now turn in his resignation. President Pedro Castillo has 72 hours to accept it.
Tuesday, December 21st 2021 - 09:58 UTC
Lula-Alckmin ticket more likely after dinner with anti-Bolsonarists

Former political rivals Luiz Inácio Lula Da Silva and Geraldo Alckmin Sunda had dinner and agreed to join forces to drive incumbent President Jair Bolsonaro out of the Planalto Palace in next year's elections.
Tuesday, December 21st 2021 - 09:49 UTC
Chubut Governor backtracks on mining law following large scale protests

The Governor of the Argentine Province of Chubut Mariano Arcioni Monday announced he would repeal the mining zoning law passed last week after riots throughout the district's capital turned out to be too clear a sign of disapproval among the population.
Tuesday, December 21st 2021 - 09:17 UTC
BAS 2021/22 Antarctic summer field season underway; Rothera/Falklands air link twice a week

Science and support teams from British Antarctic Survey (BAS) are gearing up for the start of the Antarctic summer field season. All five BAS research stations will be open and undertaking essential science research after a year’s break caused by Covid-19 last season. This will be another challenging season with ongoing Covid-19 protocols to maintain safety for our staff and collaborators.
Tuesday, December 21st 2021 - 09:14 UTC
China approves Brazil meats' sanitary system; Beijing increases tariffs on pork imports

The reopening of the Chinese market for Brazilian beef did not stem from technical or communications issues, and the good relationship between the two countries will continue to prosper, reach the pre-pandemic level and advance further, according to Brazil's Agriculture minister Tereza Cristina.
Tuesday, December 21st 2021 - 09:12 UTC
Omicron affects vaccinated and survivors alike, WHO says

The World Health Organization (WHO) Monday warned that the Omicron strain of SARS-CoV-2 “infects those vaccinated and those recovered from coronavirus” alike, according to statements from Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Tuesday, December 21st 2021 - 09:06 UTC
Novavax added to COVID-19 immunizers approved for European use

The US-developed NOVAVAX vaccine against COVID-19 has been approved Monday by the European Medicines Agency (EMA), thus becoming the fifth drug of its kind to become available at a continental level.