Stories for December 31st 2021

Friday, December 31st 2021 - 18:34 UTC
Biden congratulates Chilean president elect and both leaders agree on an agenda of issues to discuss

United States president Joe Biden on Thursday contacted Chilean president-elect Gabriel Boric to congratulate him on his electoral victory on 21 December and to talk about future collaboration and cooperation between the two countries.
Friday, December 31st 2021 - 18:24 UTC
Falkland Islands in 2022, “looking forward at 40”

In 2022, the Falkland Islands will be marking the 40th anniversary of liberation with a year-long program of commemoration and celebration.
Friday, December 31st 2021 - 18:15 UTC
Boris Johnson celebrates success of vaccine program in New Year's message

British Prime Minister will deliver his New Year’s message today (Friday 31 December) where he will celebrate the achievements of the vaccination program over the last year with over 7 in 10 eligible adults in England boosted so far - an increase of 8 million top-up jabs (45%) since the target was brought forward on 12 December.
Friday, December 31st 2021 - 09:45 UTC
Argentine Health Ministry eyes shortening isolation for those fully vaccinated

The Government of Argentina is monitoring the Uruguayan case closely to determine whether it is still useful to isolate COVID-19 close contacts who are already vaccinated against the disease, Health Minister Carla Vizzotti said the day after she announced a reduction in the number of quarantine days.
Friday, December 31st 2021 - 09:42 UTC
Ships prefer Paraguayan flag to evade Argentine taxes

Argentine sailor unions are warning against the trend whereby Argentine-flagged ships are turning to Paraguayan registration to both circumvent Argentina's blood-thirsty taxation plus benefitting from Paraguay's own scheme, a process which seems likely to go on in the near future.
Friday, December 31st 2021 - 09:39 UTC
Nicaragua hands over Taiwanese Embassy to Chinese authorities

Nicaragua's Government has seized former Taiwan's Embassy in Managua and handed it over to China, which maintains the Asian island is nothing but a rogue province.
Friday, December 31st 2021 - 09:34 UTC
France now tolerant to Britons willing to return to their EU countries of residence

The Government of France Thursday announced it had decided to show some “tolerance” for Britons wishing to return to their homes elsewhere in the European Union, thus reversing a surprise ban that affected thousands of travelers on the grounds that they were no longer citizens of the EU and deserved no special treatment.
Friday, December 31st 2021 - 09:26 UTC
Bolsonaro under criticism for turning down Argentine aid

Brazilian opposition leaders Thursday criticized President Jair Bolsonao's decision to reject humanitarian aid offered by Argentina to assist the victims of the floods in the state of Bahia, where 24 people have died and over 91,000 other have been displaced from their homes.
Friday, December 31st 2021 - 09:22 UTC
Brazil's Industry Confederation expects 1,2% to 1,8% GDP growth in 2022

Brazil's GDP is forecasted to expand by 1,2% in 2022, according to the Brazilian National Industry Confederation (CNI). However since 2022 is an election year and public opinion is strongly divided, the estimate is simply that, an estimate, following on a reasonably dynamic 4,7% growth this year with record exports.
Friday, December 31st 2021 - 09:00 UTC
South Africa loosens up COVID-19 restrictions

South African health authorities have agreed to lift a midnight curfew after the number of omicron cases of COVID-19 was beginning to slow down, it was reported Thursday. South Africa is the country hardest hit by the coronavirus in Africa, with more than 3.4 million cases recorded and 91,000 deaths.