Stories for March 12th 2024

Tuesday, March 12th 2024 - 21:42 UTC
Venezuela blocks Argentine aircraft from its airspace in retaliation for cargo plane seizure

Venezuela has announced the closure of its airspace to aircraft originating from or bound for Argentina, following the seizure of a cargo plane that was subsequently handed over to U.S. authorities. Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yván Gil declared, “Venezuela exercises full sovereignty in its airspace,” vowing that “no aircraft” from Argentina will be permitted to fly over Venezuelan territory until compensation is provided for damages caused by the seizure.
Tuesday, March 12th 2024 - 20:14 UTC
Henry's resignation as Haiti's PM announced

Ariel Henry has tendered his resignation as Haiti's prime minister, clearing the way for a transitional government to lead the country to new elections, which have not been held since 2016.
Tuesday, March 12th 2024 - 19:03 UTC
Heavy storm leaves one dead, downs trees, and disrupts flights in Buenos Aires

The Autonomous City of Buenos Aires (CABA) and parts of the metropolitan areas around it which together make up the so-called AMBA were hit by heavy rains on Tuesday morning- One person was found dead in the Lanús area, five blocks from the CABA limits as residents coped with an orange alert from the National Meteorological Service (SMN) warning of possible thunderstorms and occasional hail.
Tuesday, March 12th 2024 - 18:35 UTC
FTA negotiations between Japan and Mercosur to start next month, Paraguayan FM says

The South American Common Market (Mercosur) will start negotiating a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Japan next month, Paraguay's Foreign Minister Rubén Ramírez Lezcano acknowledged in an interview with the Nikkei economic newspaper. Paraguay currently holds the rotating presidency of the regional bloc.
Tuesday, March 12th 2024 - 11:15 UTC
Argentine Foreign Ministry summons British Ambassador over South Atlantic moves

The Argentine Foreign Ministry summoned British Ambassador Kirsty Hayes to express the “concern” of the government of President Javier Milei over recent unilateral actions taken by the United Kingdom in the South Atlantic, including Foreign Secretary David Cameron's recent visit to the Falkland/Malvinas Islands and London's announcement to expand the Marine Protected Area.
Tuesday, March 12th 2024 - 11:15 UTC
Falklands sends more firefighters and FIDF to combat fire at Sea Lion Island

Falkland Islands firefighters continued to fight the fire at Sea Lion island over the weekend. On Monday 11 March additional firefighters have been sent to Sea Lion Island to provide further support. Members of the FIDF, Falkland Islands Defense Force, are also being sent out to provide logistic support for the firefighters.
Tuesday, March 12th 2024 - 11:05 UTC
Milei sacks official responsible for outrageous pay hike

Argentine President Javier Milei Monday sacked Labor Secretary Omar Yasín following the scandal whereby a 48% pay hike decreed for Casa Rosada staffers ended up impacting the salaries of the head of state and all cabinet members. “He made a mistake he should not have made,” Milei argued about the lawyer stemming from the ranks of former President Mauricio Macri's PRO.
Tuesday, March 12th 2024 - 10:46 UTC
Bolivian Senate stalling World Bank loan could make it go away

Bolivian authorities need to have the Senate approve a US$ 125 million loan from the World Bank at the earliest or else the credit agency might backtrack on granting it, Hydrocarbons Ministry Spokeswoman Rocío Molina warned Monday. Other five credits might follow suit given the Upper House's tardiness, Molina explained.
Tuesday, March 12th 2024 - 10:38 UTC
Brazil to build memorial site for Covid-19 victims

Brazilian authorities will build a memorial in Rio de Janeiro to honor the some 710,000 people who died of COVID-19 during the international crisis, Agencia Brasil reported.
Tuesday, March 12th 2024 - 10:34 UTC
Charges filed against former Paraguayan President for misuse of confidential data

Paraguayan prosecutors agreed Monday to press charges against former President Mario Abdo Benítez following complaints filed by fellow former head of state Horacio Cartes, it was reported in Asunción. Although both leaders belong to the Colorado Party -also known as the National Republican Alliance or ANR- Cartes currently chairs the grouping.