Stories for December 2021

Friday, December 10th 2021 - 09:56 UTC
Brazil raised the benchmark interest rate to 9,25% to try and contain inflation

Brazil's Central Bank raised its benchmark interest rate 150 basis points for the second time running to 9,25%, the highest since 2017, in an effort to contain growing inflation.
Friday, December 10th 2021 - 09:39 UTC
Falklands' flagged RRS Sir David Attenborough reaches “home”; anchored at Port William

RRS Sir David Attenborough has completed the first leg of its journey to Antarctica, arriving in the Falkland Islands on 9 December. Since the draft of Britain’s new polar ship is too large for it to berth in Stanley harbor, so the ship will anchor north of the Narrows at Port William. However, the ship is visible from vantage points around the coastline.
Friday, December 10th 2021 - 09:34 UTC
Latin America's exports this year to increase 8% in volume and 17% in value, ECLAC report

The United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean estimates a 25% increase in the value of regional goods exports during 2021, following a 10% drop in 2020, driven by a 17% rise in export prices and an 8% expansion in the volume of shipments.
Friday, December 10th 2021 - 09:26 UTC
Bolsonaro insists he is not in favor of mandatory vaccination cards for tourists

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro once again insisted on his stance regarding compulsory COVID-19 vaccination certificates for arriving foreign travelers, which sparked a new controversy with São Paulo State Governor João Doria.
Friday, December 10th 2021 - 09:22 UTC
Omicron variant slowly spreads throughout Chile

Chilean health authorities Thursday confirmed three cases of the Omicron strain had been detected nationwide while four other people were being tested for that particular variant of the coronavirus.
Friday, December 10th 2021 - 09:19 UTC
Getting jailed for being a journalist on the rise, CPJ reports

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) Thursday denounced that the number of journalists jailed for their reporting work has reached a historic Zenit in 2021, with 293 of them imprisoned worldwide, 50 of whom were in China.
Friday, December 10th 2021 - 09:11 UTC
Argentine Senator resigns as ALS takes its toll on his health

Esteban Bullrich, former Argentine Education Minister under President Mauricio Macri Thursday resigned his seat on the Senate due to his deteriorating health in an announcement that touched political friends and foes alike.
Friday, December 10th 2021 - 09:07 UTC
Argentina against boycott on Beijing Winter Games

Argentina's Sports Minister Matías Lammens has announced his country's full support to the Beijing Winter Olympic Games due to start at the Chinese capital on Feb. 4, 2022, after the United States and some of its closes allies said they would boycott them.
Friday, December 10th 2021 - 09:04 UTC
Paraguay decrees tax cut to boost sales to foreign residents in bordering cities

Paraguayan authorities have decided to cut down the Value Added Tax (VAT) by 1% until March 2022 in a move to boost across-the-border trade. The measure applies to goods imported through the so-called Tourism Regime and includes beverages and perfumes.
Friday, December 10th 2021 - 09:01 UTC
Nicaragua severs ties with Taiwan, “rogue Chinese territory”

The Nicaraguan Government of President Daniel Ortega Thursday announced it was cutting all diplomatic ties with Taiwan, citing “that in the world there is only one single China” whose legitimate government is that of the People's Republic.