Politics

Friday, December 4th 2020 - 08:40 UTC
“Make Amazon Pay” campaign supported by 400 lawmakers from 34 countries

More than 400 lawmakers from 34 countries have signed a letter to Amazon.com Inc boss Jeff Bezos backing a campaign that claims the tech giant has “dodged and dismissed … debts to workers, societies, and the planet,” organizers said.
Friday, December 4th 2020 - 07:36 UTC
FAO trims world 2020 cereal output forecast

FAO has further lowered its forecast for global cereal production in 2020, which now stands at 2 742 million tons - still a record high and 1.3% above the previous year's outturn. The new forecasts released today with FAO's Cereal Supply and Demand Brief point to world coarse grains production of 1,470 million tons, wheat production of 761.7 million tons, and rice output of 508.4 million tons.
Thursday, December 3rd 2020 - 09:52 UTC
Brazil's health regulator open to approving Covid-19 vaccines for emergency use

Brazil’s health regulator Anvisa said on Wednesday it was open to approving COVID-19 vaccines for emergency use and outlined the requirements for companies looking to do so.
Thursday, December 3rd 2020 - 09:49 UTC
WHO receives data from the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine

The World Health Organization said on Wednesday it had received data from Pfizer and BioNTech on the Covid-19 vaccine and was reviewing it for “possible listing for emergency use”, a benchmark for countries to authorize national use.
Thursday, December 3rd 2020 - 09:48 UTC
Joe Biden said he would pursue policies targeting China’s “abusive practices”

Joe Biden will not immediately cancel the Phase 1 trade agreement that President Donald Trump struck with China nor take steps to remove tariffs on Chinese exports, the New York Times on Wednesday quoted the U.S. president-elect as saying.
Thursday, December 3rd 2020 - 09:46 UTC
Putin orders to begin mass voluntary vaccination against Covid-19 next week

President Vladimir Putin ordered Russian authorities on Wednesday to begin mass voluntary vaccinations against Covid-19 next week as Russia recorded 589 new daily deaths from the coronavirus.
Thursday, December 3rd 2020 - 09:40 UTC
Ecuador expects the economy to grow 3,1% next year following an 8,9% contraction

Ecuador’s central bank said it expected the country’s economy to expand by 3.1% in 2021, following an 8.9% contraction in 2020 due to a plunge in crude prices and the effects of the coronavirus pandemic.
Thursday, December 3rd 2020 - 09:40 UTC
PM Johnson admits to be vaccinated on television show, “but will not jump the queue”

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson might be persuaded to take a COVID-19 vaccination on television to show it is safe but he would not have one before those in greater need, his press secretary said on Wednesday.
Thursday, December 3rd 2020 - 09:40 UTC
Armed bank robbers storm mid-size city in northern Brazil and loot the local bank; second strike in two days

A large gang of heavily armed bank robbers invaded the Brazilian city of Cameta just one day after a similar force struck another mid-sized city on the opposite side of the country, taking residents hostage as they looted a bank.
Thursday, December 3rd 2020 - 09:32 UTC
US expects to have immunized 100 million people against Covid-19 by March

The United States hopes to have immunized 100 million people against Covid-19 by the end of February, a top official said on Wednesday, which is approximately 40% of the country's adult population.