Politics

Wednesday, December 9th 2020 - 08:52 UTC
International Contact Group reject Venezuelan election, but Argentina did not sign the statement

The International Contact Group issued a statement on Tuesday to reject the parliamentary elections organized by the dictatorship of Nicolás Maduro last Sunday in Venezuela. The block indicated that the electoral process did not comply “with the conditions accepted internationally, nor with the Venezuelan laws.”
Wednesday, December 9th 2020 - 08:47 UTC
EU/UK reach post-Brexit deal on Northern Ireland; Johnson meets EC head in Brussels

The European Union and UK have reached an unofficial agreement on post-Brexit trade with Northern Ireland and its land border to the EU. The deal is not tied to last-gasp trade talks, but could help grease the wheels. The co-chairs of the EU-UK joint committee on Tuesday announced an “agreement in principle” pertaining in large part to the Irish border issue.
Wednesday, December 9th 2020 - 08:05 UTC
Panda diplomacy survives current US/China confrontation

Giant pandas will remain at the Smithsonian's National Zoo in Washington for another three years under an agreement reached with Chinese wildlife officials, the zoo said on Monday.
Wednesday, December 9th 2020 - 08:00 UTC
Biden plans to nominate ex Iowa governor Vilsack as next agriculture secretary

United States president-elect Joe Biden plans to nominate former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack for agriculture secretary, Axios reported on Tuesday. Vilsack, who led the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) under former President Barack Obama, could not immediately be reached. His spokeswoman, Regina Black, declined to comment “as an official announcement hasn't been made.”
Wednesday, December 9th 2020 - 08:00 UTC
India buys 1,6 billion doses of Covid-19 vaccines, Novavax, Oxford and Sputnik

India has bought 1.6 billion doses of Covid-19 vaccines, which is more than any other country, according to a global analysis. Using its massive manufacturing clout, the country purchased 500 million doses of the Oxford University-AstraZeneca vaccine candidate, one billion from the American company Novavax and 100 million doses of the Sputnik V candidate from Russia's Gamaleya Research Institute, said the USA-based Duke University Global Health Innovation Centre.
Tuesday, December 8th 2020 - 14:44 UTC
British granny 90, first person to receive the Pfizer Covid 19 vaccine: “Go for it”

Ms Margaret Keenan, the 90-year-old grandmother who became the first person in the world to receive the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine outside of a trial in Britain on Tuesday, has a message for others: “Go for it” to beat the devastating disease.
Tuesday, December 8th 2020 - 09:41 UTC
Curbing Amazon deforestation conditions EU/Mercosur trade deal

Until Brazil makes a political commitment to curb deforestation in the Amazon rainforest, the trade deal between the European Union and South America’s Mercosur trade bloc will not advance toward ratification in Europe, the EU’s envoy in Brasilia said.
Tuesday, December 8th 2020 - 08:54 UTC
Argentina passes new tax on the rich; opposition claims it will further deter foreign investment

Argentina has passed a new wealth tax to help the government pay for health supplies and economic relief measures amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Lawmakers in the Senate passed the bill, dubbed the “millionaire’s tax,” by 42 votes to 26 late on Friday.
Tuesday, December 8th 2020 - 08:44 UTC
Proposal to have Maradona and his “Hand of God” goal on the 1,000 Peso bill

An Argentine senator wants to put Diego Maradona on the country’s banknotes and presented a project to Congress on Monday to get the late soccer star and possibly even his ‘Hand of God’ image on a 1,000-peso note.
Tuesday, December 8th 2020 - 08:02 UTC
Biden expected to announce first Afro-American General as Secretary of Defense

President-elect Joe Biden has chosen retired General Lloyd Austin, who oversaw U.S. forces in the Middle East under President Barack Obama, to be his defense secretary. Austin, who would be the first Black U.S. secretary of defense, was a surprise pick over Michele Flournoy, a former top Defense Department official who was considered the leading contender for the job. Flournoy would have been the first woman defense secretary. The news was first reported by Politico.