Politics

• Friday, December 18th 2020 - 08:30 UTC

  Macron tests positive for Covid-19; track-and-trace among EU leaders

  

  President Emmanuel Macron tested positive for the coronavirus on Thursday, prompting a track-and-trace effort across Europe following numerous meetings between the French leader and EU heads of government in recent days. Macron, 42, was running France remotely after going into quarantine in the Elysee Palace, the presidency said.

• Friday, December 18th 2020 - 08:25 UTC

  US experts recommend emergency approval of Moderna's Covid-19 vaccine

  

  US panel of experts on Thursday voted to recommend emergency approval of Moderna's Covid-19 vaccine, paving the way for six million doses to start shipping as soon as this weekend.

• Friday, December 18th 2020 - 08:20 UTC

  Amnesty International presents 250,000 signatures in support of legalizing abortion in Argentina

  

  Amnesty International on Thursday presented 250,000 signatures it has collected from around the world in support of legalizing abortion in Argentina ahead of a crucial Senate vote. Argentina's lower house of Congress voted last week to legalize abortion, sparking jubilant scenes amongst activists.

• Friday, December 18th 2020 - 08:14 UTC

  CBI calls on the EU for a customs grace period after Brexit: UK firms “still on the dark”

  

  Britain's biggest business lobby group called on the European Union to delay introducing new customs checks after Brexit because firms haven't had enough time to prepare amid the coronavirus pandemic.

• Friday, December 18th 2020 - 08:05 UTC

  Ireland expects a “serious increase” in Covid-19 cases following relaxation of restrictions

  

  Ireland, which has the second-lowest COVID-19 infection rate in Western Europe, is set for a “serious increase” in cases following the relaxation of restrictions, its health minister said on Thursday, as officials called for new curbs.

• Friday, December 18th 2020 - 06:33 UTC

  UNICEF support to feed UK children, first time since end of WW2

  

  UNICEF has launched a domestic emergency response in the UK for the first time in its more than 70-year history to help feed children amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Thursday, December 17th 2020 - 10:55 UTC

  Uruguay closes borders from 21 December to 10 January to help contain its Covid-19 first wave

  

  Uruguay announced it will regulate the constitutional right to assembly when a sanitary emergency, lockdown access to the country from 21 December to 10 January, limit the number of passengers in long range transport, and have government staff take their annual vacation and those remaining, unless essential personnel, will work from their homes.

• Thursday, December 17th 2020 - 10:50 UTC

  IMF working constructively with Argentina until the country “has clarity about its medium term objectives”

  

  The managing director of International Monetary Fund (IMF), Kristalina Georgieva, highlighted that “they are working constructively with Argentina” and ratified the commitment so that the country ”has clarity about its medium-term objectives.”

• Thursday, December 17th 2020 - 10:18 UTC

  Argentina and UK hosted seminar on access to Covid-19 vaccines in Latin America and the Caribbean

  

  Argentina and the UK hosted a virtual seminar on access to vaccines in Latin America and the Caribbean addressing the portfolio of emerging vaccines against COVID-19, the challenge of equitable distribution and how best to tackle vaccine disinformation.

• Thursday, December 17th 2020 - 10:16 UTC

  Fed urges more fiscal stimulus and confirmed monthly purchase of US$ 120 billion in bonds

  

  The Federal Reserve concluded its final meeting of a tumultuous year on Wednesday, as policymakers weigh a mixed bag of economic signals in setting the central bank’s course for the new year and beyond.