Stories for April 2022

Tuesday, April 19th 2022 - 09:40 UTC
Venezuelan woman and her son arrested for mocking gov't officials

Venezuelan authorities Monday arrested a 72-year-old woman and her son for mocking President Nicolás Maduro in a Tik Tok video that went viral. They were charged with “incitement to hatred.”
Tuesday, April 19th 2022 - 09:39 UTC
Brazilian VP says torturers of military regime cannot stand trial: they're dead

Brazilian Vice President Hamilton Mourao Monday said crimes committed during the country's military regime (1964-1985) cannot be investigated because “all those people are dead.”
Tuesday, April 19th 2022 - 09:36 UTC
French runoff, a choice between Macron’s unexciting centrism and Le Pen’s unsullied Trumpism

By Gwynne Dyer – French President Emmanuel Macron won the first round of the presidential election on Sunday, but he’s still in trouble. He knew he would be. Here’s what he said on Saturday.
Tuesday, April 19th 2022 - 09:33 UTC
Argentine Gov't proposes new tax to alleviate burden on the neediest

The Argentine Government of President Alberto Fernández Monday announced it planned a new tax which was called “the windfall income,” to be levied on companies that last year had profits over AR$ 1 billion (around US$ 5 million at the unofficial exchange rate).
Tuesday, April 19th 2022 - 09:20 UTC
Royal Navy upgrading Type 23 frigates in support of expanding fleet

HMS Iron Duke is afloat again after two years of refitting and upgrading. The Royal Navy Type 23 frigate has had a longer-than-usual period of life extension work due to the COVID pandemic and her age.
Tuesday, April 19th 2022 - 03:38 UTC
Brazil again top global beef exporter, followed by India, USA and Australia

Brazil during March exported 203,490 tons of beef, up 28% year on year, and the UN Department of Agriculture anticipated that the country is projected to become once again the largest beef exporter in 2022., with shipments 12,1% higher than in 2021.
Monday, April 18th 2022 - 22:55 UTC
Pepe Mujica against blanket VAT reduction

Former Uruguayan President José “Pepe” Mujica said the Government's blanket cut to the VAT should apply only to the needy people; otherwise, it becomes a benefit to those who can actually afford to pay full tax.
Monday, April 18th 2022 - 22:47 UTC
Bolsonaro questioned over freedom of press by UN

Amid growing concerns on the part of the United Nations regarding attacks on the press, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro announced he had requested a meeting with representatives of the WhatsApp application to have it increase the number of participants in messaging groups.
Monday, April 18th 2022 - 22:45 UTC
Foreign powers hacked 10 Downing St smartphones, including the PM's

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's private cell phone as well as other digital equipment used at 10 Downing Street has allegedly been hacked by the United Arab Emirates intelligence services using Israeli-developed technology, it was reported Monday.
Monday, April 18th 2022 - 22:00 UTC
Paraguay drops mandatory wearing of facemasks

Paraguayan Health authorities have lifted the mandatory wearing of facemasks nationwide in light of improving results in the fight against COVID-19.