Stories for December 2021

Wednesday, December 15th 2021 - 09:50 UTC
Chilean central bank increases interest rate reference to 4%, highest since 2014

The Chilean Central Bank's Monetary Policy meeting on Tuesday raised the reference interest rate 125 base points to 4%, the highest since June 2014. The decision came as no surprise for markets since the bank is determined to contain inflation, (6,7% in the twelve months to November) and anticipated it will continue on the path for as long as necessary.
Wednesday, December 15th 2021 - 09:48 UTC
Argentina's Petrel Base in Antarctica to be reopened permanently

Argentina's Defense Minister Jorge Taiana has announced the Petrel Base will be reopened following repairs as he oversaw the commencement of this season's Summer Antarctic Campaign.
Wednesday, December 15th 2021 - 09:40 UTC
Flybondi fleet to grow, new jobs created

Argentine budget airline Flybondi has announced plans to expand its fleet to 10 aircraft. The increase in operations would result in 400 new direct jobs, CEO Maurio Sana, announced Tuesday
Wednesday, December 15th 2021 - 09:39 UTC
HMS Protector pays tribute to explorer Shackleton at South Georgia on her trip to Antarctica

Sailors from Ice Patrol HMS Protector paid tribute to legendary Antarctic explorer Ernest Shackleton – a century after he died pushing the boundaries of polar research. The crew of the icebreaker held a memorial service at his graveside on the island of South Georgia – the latest stop for the survey ship as she heads to the frozen continent for a summer of scientific research.
Wednesday, December 15th 2021 - 09:38 UTC
Putin eyes ruble-peso scheme with Argentina to drop US dollar in bilateral trade

Russian officials who met last week with Argentine economy authorities have reportedly conveyed a proposal from President Vladimir Putin's Government to drop the US dollar and hold bilateral trade operations through a conversion scheme between rubles and pesos.
Wednesday, December 15th 2021 - 09:30 UTC
Macron wish list: dialogue with China and Russia, digital economy, and a “good faith” UK government

France will be holding the rotating six-month European Council presidency in the first half of 2022 and president Emmanuel Macron announced the priorities for the block during its tenure: rethinking the EU budget, dialogue with Russia and Vladimir Putin, and the ongoing dispute with the post-Brexit British government.
Wednesday, December 15th 2021 - 09:18 UTC
Alarming population declination of the rare Antarctic South Georgia shag

Data collected from a long-term study by British Antarctic Survey (BAS) scientists shows declining populations of an already relatively rare Antarctic seabird, the South Georgia shag. Published in the journal Polar Biology, a 40-year census from Signy Island in the remote South Orkney Islands and a 30-year census from Bird Island, close to the sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia, have shown significant population declines at both locations.
Wednesday, December 15th 2021 - 09:11 UTC
WMO registers new Arctic temperature record, 38°C, in Verkhoyansk on 20 June 2020

A temperature of 38°C (100.4°F) in the Russian town of Verkhoyansk on 20 June 2020 has been recognized as a new Arctic temperature record by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).
Wednesday, December 15th 2021 - 09:07 UTC
UK gets COVID-19 measures passed thanks to Labour and despite Tory rebellion

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson got his new batch of restrictive measures against COVID-19 approved but to achieve that he had to overcome fierce resistance from almost 100 MPs from his Tory ranks.
Wednesday, December 15th 2021 - 08:42 UTC
Argentina: Pipeline oil spill in Río Negro exceeded 3 million liters

Environment authorities in the Argentine province of Río Negro Tuesday confirmed the oil spill from the Oldelval pipeline in the past few days exceeded 3 million liters, while the company's remediation plan is still to be approved.