Stories for January 2023

Tuesday, January 31st 2023 - 19:25 UTC
Denmark least corrupt country in the world; Uruguay in the Americas

Denmark scored 90 points out of 100, to the top Transparency International's Index as the least corrupt country in the world, followed by Finland and New Zealand (87 points each). At the other end of the table were Somalia, Syria, and South Sudan. Uruguay was a Latin American country with better grades.
Tuesday, January 31st 2023 - 18:43 UTC
WHO, US extend Covid-19 emergency

The US Government announced Monday that the Covid-19 emergency is to be extended until May. The decision came after a World Health Organization (WHO) panel issued a recommendation not to change the current sanitary status given that SARS-CoV- 2 remains a “permanently established pathogen” in humans and animals.
Tuesday, January 31st 2023 - 18:41 UTC
IMF slightly more optimistic about 2023

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) Monday adjusted its projections for 2023 with relatively good news since it upgraded its growth forecast for Latin America by 0.1 percentage points from October's figures. The economy in Latin America and the Caribbean is expected to grow by 1.8% this year amid steady inflation and the worldwide consequences of the armed conflict in Ukraine, the IMF heralded.
Tuesday, January 31st 2023 - 10:45 UTC
Argentine FM thanks Chinese colleague for support regarding Malvinas

Argentine Foreign Minister Santiago Cafiero Monday thanked his new Chinese colleague Qin Gang during a telephone conversation for the Asian Giant's support for the South American country's claim over the Malvinas/Falkland Islands. Qin Gang had become China's new Foreign Minister on Dec. 30, 2022. Both top diplomats concurred that a peaceful solution was needed for the South Atlantic dispute.
Tuesday, January 31st 2023 - 10:35 UTC
“Bregret”, the new word to express regret for voting Britain lo leave the EU

Like Brexit a few years ago, popular vocabulary in UK has incorporated “Bregret”, basically meaning “regretting the decision to vote for Britain leaving the European Union”. And one of the latest opinion polls indicates a dramatic shift in the UK as to such a momentous vote. The poll, by Focaldata and taking in 10,000 people across the country, asked respondents whether they agreed or disagreed with the statement, “Britain was wrong to leave the EU”.
Tuesday, January 31st 2023 - 10:22 UTC
Argentine migrants flocking into Uruguay at a slower pace

Uruguay processed a total of 7,209 resident visas for Argentine nationals in 2022, a drop of nearly 42% from the previous year, it was reported in Montevideo on Monday.
Tuesday, January 31st 2023 - 10:18 UTC
Uruguay's Environment Minister resigns after degree scandal

A controversy over using the prefix “Lic.” when he was still to earn a college graduate degree resulted in the resignation of Uruguay's Environment Minister Adrián Peña. President Luis Lacalle Pou has already chosen Robert Bouvier for the position. The Vice President of the state-run telephone company Antel was proposed by Peña himself.
Tuesday, January 31st 2023 - 10:16 UTC
Lula, a tough nut for German Chancellor Scholz

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz bit the dust Monday in Brasilia when President Luiz Inàcio Lula da Silva refused to support Ukraine even verbally and rejected the European leader's invitation to join his Climate Club initiative. Furthermore, Lula also turned down a German request to send ammunition to Kyiv.
Tuesday, January 31st 2023 - 10:15 UTC
Peru's Congress agrees to reconsider moving elections forward

Peru's one-house Congress Monday approved by 66 votes in favor, 49 against, and 6 abstentions to reconsider a previous decision on not moving forward the elections to sometime this year. Lawmakers are now to decide on a possible date.
Tuesday, January 31st 2023 - 09:57 UTC
German Chancellor meets Lula da Silva, pledges €200 million for Amazon forest

Germany has pledged €200 million to help Brazil defend the Amazon forest. German Chanellor Olaf Scholz made the announcement during a visit to Brasilia where he met with president Lula da Silva and congratulated him for the return of Brazil to the world stage.