Stories for February 2024

Saturday, February 10th 2024 - 10:37 UTC
Piñera laid to rest with full honors

Former two-time Chilean President Sebastián Piñera, who died earlier this week aged 74 in a helicopter crash, was laid to rest Friday at the Parque del Recuerdo Cemetery with full State honors, it was reported from Santiago. Also bidding farewell to Piñera were some of the 33 miners rescued during his first term in office.
Saturday, February 10th 2024 - 10:24 UTC
Argentina's Coast Guard allowed to use long-range weaponry

Argentina's Security Ministry issued a new resolution published Friday in the Official Gazette whereby Coast Guard (PNA) units are allowed to use “all types of firearms” to stop being in a “disadvantageous situation in the patrolling of rivers,” as a first step for the re-establishment of the general regulations that will soon apply to all members of the federal security forces.
Friday, February 9th 2024 - 11:05 UTC
Uruguay anticipates a record cruise season with an 11% compared to 2022/23

The port of Montevideo is looking forward to a record season of cruise vessel visits with some 166 calls, out of a total of 241 which are expected to be completed by the end of April, which should represent an 11% compared to the previous situation 2022/2023.
Friday, February 9th 2024 - 10:52 UTC
Ecuadorean councilwoman shot dead

Ecuador's so-called “internal armed conflict” added a victim to its list of fatalities late Wednesday when 29-year-old Councilwoman Diana Carnero from the coastal municipality of Naranjal was shot dead in what is believed to be a murder-for-hire case.
Friday, February 9th 2024 - 10:47 UTC
Brazil's CPI 0.42% up last month

According to Brazil's IBGE statistics bureau, inflation last month in South America's largest country reached 0.42% for an accumulated 4.51% year-on-year. These results were driven mainly by increases in the prices of food, Agencia Brasil explained. January's figures were lower than the 0.56% recorded by the Broad National Consumer Price Index (IPCA) in December.
Friday, February 9th 2024 - 10:45 UTC
Paraguay chooses new Supreme Court Chief Justice

Luis María Benítez Riera has been unanimously chosen as the new Chief Justice of Paraguay's Supreme Court, it was announced in Asunción Wednesday. Justice Gustavo Santander Dans was elected as Deputy Chief Justice by a majority vote and Alberto Martínez Simón will be third in line also after a unanimous decision.
Friday, February 9th 2024 - 10:43 UTC
Bolsonaro's Party Chairman arrested

Brazilian Liberal Party (PL) Chairman Valdemar Costa Neto was arrested Thursday and former President Jair Bolsonaro was ordered to surrender his passport as the investigation into the Jan. 8, 2023, coup attempt moved forward.
Friday, February 9th 2024 - 10:33 UTC
Lula plants tree of “hope” at Palestinian Embassy

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva Thursday planted a tree at the Palestinian Embassy in Brasilia where a group of Arab and Islamic diplomatic missions gathered to pay him a tribute. “You are planting hope for the Palestinian people,” Palestinian Ambassador Ibrahim Alzeben told the South American leader before all the guests shared dinner.
Friday, February 9th 2024 - 10:28 UTC
Milei rounds up a three-day tour of Israel

Argentine President Javier Milei rounded up his tour of Israel Thursday with a visit to the Old City in Jerusalem, where he stopped by the Church of the Holy Sepulcher and then met with relatives of people kidnapped during Hamas' Oct. raids before heading for Rome to meet with Pope Francis.
Thursday, February 8th 2024 - 15:42 UTC
India releases detained pigeon after 8 months amid espionage allegations

In a bizarre turn of events reminiscent of a Hollywood (or Bollywood) plotline, India has released a pigeon that was detained by authorities for eight months on suspicion of espionage. The peculiar case unfolded when the bird was intercepted in May 2023 in the port of Bombay, drawing attention due to two rings tied to its legs containing messages in Chinese.