Politics

• 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.

• Monday, December 7th 2020 - 13:19 UTC

  Falklands's FIGAS expands fleet with the delivery of Islander VP-FMC

  

  The Falkland Islands Government Air Service has taken delivery of a brand new BN2B-26 Islander – registration VP-FMC – to add to its existing fleet. This the first new aircraft that the government has purchased in 30 years and represents a significant investment in FIGAS’ expanding operations, the islands' government informed in this statement.

• Monday, December 7th 2020 - 09:43 UTC

  The Pacific Alliance will hold its virtual presidential summit in Chile, next week

  

  The 15th Presidential Summit of the Pacific Alliance, a bloc made up of Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru, will be held on December 11th in Santiago de Chile, albeit via videoconference due to Covid-19.

• Monday, December 7th 2020 - 09:08 UTC

  Falklands Covid-19 immunization most probably with the AstraZeneca Oxford vaccine

  

  Two more positive Covid-19 test results have been confirmed, it was announced at the Falkland Islands Government’s press conference, held last Wednesday afternoon. The total number of positive test results since April 3, 2020 is now 17.

• Monday, December 7th 2020 - 09:06 UTC

  Argentina launches the 2020/21 limited Antarctica campaign, with special care o no possible coronavirus contagion

  

  The official Argentine 2020/21 Antarctic season was launched last Friday with a ceremony at the Buenos Aires Navy pier where the icebreaker “ARA Almirante Irizar” was docked, but with no authorities boarding the vessel to avoid any possible coronavirus contagion.