Stories for January 13th 2022

Thursday, January 13th 2022 - 21:09 UTC
Quebec announces health penalty for those unvaccinated: it worked

The Canadian province of Quebec has come up with the idea of imposing an extra tax on people who willingly chose not to take a vaccine against COVID-19. The measure has reportedly led to a collapse in vaccination centers with people rushing for appointments.
Thursday, January 13th 2022 - 21:07 UTC
Paraguay: Congresswoman says drug money runs in all political parties

Congresswoman Celeste Amarilla from the Authentic Radical Liberal Party said “money from drug trafficking exists in all parties, although this criminal influence is more prevalent in the Colorado Party.”
Thursday, January 13th 2022 - 21:05 UTC
Argentine Government decrees two days of teleworking for public employees

Argentine President Alberto Fernández has decided that all civil servants go back to teleworking for two days -Jan. 13 and 14- as a result of the heat wave and the numeous problems with electricity supply.
Thursday, January 13th 2022 - 19:10 UTC
Argentina: Milei's salary as a lawmaker goes to Kirchnerite construction worker

Newly-elected Argentine Deputy Javier Milei hast kept his word and put out his salary on a raffle to prove he was not into politics for the money. The 40-year-old Federico Nacarado, who is far from being a Milei voter, entered the competition due to pressure from his spouse and will now be able to make some payments on his debts.
Thursday, January 13th 2022 - 10:02 UTC
Record 2021 trade surplus in Brazil, but complaints about the economy becoming commodities dependent

Brazil managed a US$ 61,01 billion surplus in its trade balance in 2021, which is 21% higher than the US$ 50 billion of 2020 and the best performance since current stats were officially recorded beginning 1989.
Thursday, January 13th 2022 - 09:59 UTC
Meat consumption in Argentina fell despite cap on exports

Argentina has recorded a 4.8% decline in meat consumption per inhabitant despite caps on exports imposed by the administration of President Alberto Fernández, which allegedly sought to prioritize the domestic market.
Thursday, January 13th 2022 - 09:59 UTC
Latin America forecasted to grow a soft 2,6% in 2022 and 2,7% in 2023, World Bank

Growth in Latin America and the Caribbean region (LAC) rebounded to an estimated 6.7% in 2021, driven by favorable external conditions and pandemic-related developments, according to the World Bank's Global Economic Prospects. Region-wide new COVID-19 cases dropped sharply in the second half of the year, before surging in late December, even as the vaccination rollout progressed. Strong demand in key export destinations (the United States and China), high commodity prices, and continued high remittances to Central American and Caribbean countries were also supportive of growth in 2021.
Thursday, January 13th 2022 - 09:50 UTC
Fifty years since the air link between Falkland Islands and Comodoro Rivadavia

Half a century ago, on 12 January 1972, a seaplane from the Argentine Air Force landed in Stanley harbor establishing the first regular flight between Comodoro Rivadavia and the Falkland Islands. From then onwards, ”sanitary, passenger and general cargo (mail, fresh food, and medicines) became regular flights”.
Thursday, January 13th 2022 - 09:49 UTC
Bolsonaro “welcomes” Omicron – angers WHO

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro Wednesday said the Omicron variant of the SARS-CoV-2 was “welcome” in Brazil, because it “may point to the end of the pandemic.”
Thursday, January 13th 2022 - 09:48 UTC
World economy is facing Covid-19, inflation and policy uncertainty, Global Economic Prospects

Following a strong rebound in 2021, the global economy is entering a pronounced slowdown amid fresh threats from COVID-19 variants and a rise in inflation, debt, and income inequality that could endanger the recovery in emerging and developing economies, according to the World Bank’s latest Global Economic Prospects report. Global growth is expected to decelerate markedly from 5.5% in 2021 to 4.1% in 2022 and 3.2% in 2023 as pent-up demand dissipates and as fiscal and monetary support is unwound across the world.