Stories for February 24th 2022

Thursday, February 24th 2022 - 09:45 UTC
Brazil ensuring greater urea supplies from Iran in a fertilizer short world

While Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro was in Moscow visiting his close friend and admired populist 'strong man' Vladimir Putin, in the midst of the escalating situation in Ukraine, and brushing off critics saying Brazil is “nobody's a puppet”, his agriculture minister was in a more strategic mission, --in another outcast country--, but crucial for the booming farming sector.
Thursday, February 24th 2022 - 09:40 UTC
Boris Johnson at business roundtable to discuss limiting Russian access to UK financial services

The Prime Minister on Wednesday met with some of the UK’s leading city firms, regulators and trade associations, to discuss the first package of economic sanctions being implemented against Russia, due to their recognition of Donetsk and Luhansk.
Thursday, February 24th 2022 - 09:35 UTC
Mexico the most lethal country for journalists: six dead in less than two months

Mexico the most lethal country to work as a journalist reported this week the sixth death of one of its members so far this year. According to media protection agencies stats, last year the number was 7 or 9, (depending on if the person was killed while on duty), and 47 in the last five years.
Thursday, February 24th 2022 - 09:32 UTC
Germany confident is can cope without Russian gas: “relief will be provided if necessary”

Germany is confident it can meet its energy needs even without Russian gas, given the current dispute over the self-declared, Moscow-supported independent provinces in Ukraine. The statement is from Germany's Economy minister Robert Habeck when he was asked on public radio on the situation
Thursday, February 24th 2022 - 09:27 UTC
Venezuelan NGOs denounce environmental damages caused by illegal mining

Environmentalist organizations have called on the Venezuelan government to take action in view of the damage caused by illegal mining in an area near the Colombian border.
Thursday, February 24th 2022 - 09:25 UTC
Soybeans above US$ 615 in Chicago but Argentine producers angry

The threat of a full-scale war has increased fears of shortages in the near future, driving prices up. The ton of soybeans rose 2.4% and closed at US$ 615.45, while corn grew 1.3% to close at US$ 269.19 and wheat climbed 3.6% and to reach US$ 321.87, it was reported.
Thursday, February 24th 2022 - 09:22 UTC
Colombia pulls ambassador from Managua following Ortega's berating remarks

The Government of President Iván Duque Wednesday pulled its Ambassador from Managua after Nicaraguan leader Daniel Ortega said Colombia was a “narco-state” where social leaders were murdered daily.
Thursday, February 24th 2022 - 09:20 UTC
UK Foreign Secretary: “Nothing is off the table in our response to Putin’s aggression towards Ukraine”

Foreign Secretary Elizabeth Truss wrote for The Times a column stating the UK stands with Ukraine in defense of its right to decide its future.
Thursday, February 24th 2022 - 09:10 UTC
World Trade Organization back to business in June for the twice suspended Ministerial Conference

World Trade Organization members agreed on Wednesday that the postponed 12th Ministerial Conference (MC12) will now take place during the week of 13 June in Geneva. The decision at a meeting of the organization’s General Council was taken following the easing of COVID-19 pandemic restrictions in the host country Switzerland.
Thursday, February 24th 2022 - 07:47 UTC
Antarctic sea ice set of a new record low minimum, Greenpeace

Greenpeace reports that data from the National Sea Ice Data Center shows that this year Antarctic sea ice will reach the lowest extent on satellite record. Preliminary measurements show the sea ice around the continent has surpassed the previous record minimum set, in March 2017, of 2.1 million square kilometers, dropping to 1.98 million square kilometers on Sunday 20 February.