
The next stage of building a scientific support facility in Antarctica has started and to avoid the risk of introducing COVID-19 to the British Antarctic Survey’s (BAS) Rothera Research Station, the construction team spent two weeks in quarantine and had three Covid-19 tests prior to making the 11,000-kilometer voyage by ship.

Argentine vice-president Cristina Fernandez released on Sunday a picture of her being inoculated with the first doses of the Russian Sputnik vaccine against Covid-19. “Not only I am looking after myself, but also looking after all the rest of us”, said the strong woman of Argentina in social networks.

Bolivia will build ecological diesel and biodiesel plants to reduce imports of liquid fuels, Hydrocarbon and Energy Minister Franklin Molina announced over this past weekend.

Uruguayan president Luis Lacalle Pou announced on Saturday that his government will be purchasing vaccines for 2,8 million people, and the first doses are expected in the country in March, with an overall investment of some 120 million dollars.

Pfizer Uruguay and BioNTech SE said in a release that Uruguay will be receiving 2,700,00 doses of the BNT162b2 vaccine, based on ARNm, against the SARS-CoV-2 and delivery will take place “progressively during 2021”

United Kingdom Prime Minister Boris Johnson spoke on Saturday evening to Joe Biden, President of the United States, whom he congratulated on his inauguration. The two leaders looked forward to deepening the close alliance between the two countries.

Uruguayan president Luis Lacalle Pou announced on Friday that a deal for the purchase of Pfizer/BioNTech and China's Sinovac anti Covid-19 vaccines has been reached. No further details were advanced, only that the president will announce details of the operation Saturday midday.

Germany said that its position on the Falkland Islands dispute has not changed, following claims by Argentina that Lufthansa's request for two flights to the Islands, in support of a polar research expedition, implied recognition of the archipelago as Argentine territory.

U.S. Senate leaders agreed to delay ex-president Donald Trump’s contentious impeachment trial by two weeks, and to concentrate on President Joe Biden’s legislative agenda and Cabinet nominees.

By Gwynne Dyer – When defeated armies are retreating, they always lay mines behind them if they have time. The mines' slow pursuit, they may inflict casualties on the victors, and they give the losers something purposeful to do amidst panic and despair. That’s what Mike Pompeo has been doing just before time was called on his ideologically driven term as United States Secretary of State.