Stories for December 2024

Thursday, December 26th 2024 - 09:20 UTC
Brazilian authorities close car manufacturing plant due to “forced labor”

Brazilian authorities reported this week that some 163 workers had been rescued from slave-like conditions at the BYD plant in Camaçari, a municipality in the metropolitan area of Salvador, in the state of Bahia.
Thursday, December 26th 2024 - 09:09 UTC
At least 29 survivors reported in Brazilian-built airliner crash

A Brazilian-built Embraer E-190 jet of Azerbaijan Airlines registration 4K-AZ65 carrying 67 people crashed near the Kazakhstani city of Aktau Wednesday, killing 38 people, while 29 others, including three children, were rushed to emergency services for treatment. The passengers included 37 Azerbaijanis, 16 Russians, 6 Kazakhstanis, and 3 Kyrgyzstan nationals.
Thursday, December 26th 2024 - 09:02 UTC
German fascism on the rise, and is admired by Elon Musk

By Gwynne Dyer - Alternativ fur Deutschland (AfD) means ‘The Alternative for Germany’ — and the alternative on offer is fascism. Not actual Nazism, but the AfD uses fascist rhetoric and tactics to attract German voters. It has also attracted some improbable foreign admirers.
Thursday, December 26th 2024 - 08:52 UTC
Falklands, national minimum wage accommodation offset survey results published

The results from the first round of consultation on the national minimum wage accommodation offset have now been published. The survey ran from Tuesday 24th September to Sunday 3rd November 2024, with consultation events held in Stanley, Port Howard, Goose Green and MPC.
Thursday, December 26th 2024 - 08:45 UTC
Brazil aerospace industry receives strong loans to promote manufacturing and exports

Uruguay has received a small transport aircraft, Brasilia, from Embraer, the big neighbor’s aircraft manufacturer, and also has an order for six A29 Super Tucanos fighters. Brasilia is a small communal transport of up to thirty passengers, but that can also be used for ambulance and rescue operations.
Thursday, December 26th 2024 - 08:35 UTC
Argentine meat exports to Philippines approved

Argentina has been cleared to start poultry, pork, beef cuts on the bone, and gibblets to the Philippines through an agreement also contemplating reciprocity between the two countries' control and certification systems, which will speed future approvals, it was announced in Buenos Aires.
Thursday, December 26th 2024 - 08:23 UTC
Falklands expects a season with some 73.000 cruise visitors

The number of visitor numbers during this summer season in the Falkland Islands will not surpass last year’s, some 73.000 cruise passengers, pointed out Stephanie Middleton from the Falklands Tourist Board.
Tuesday, December 24th 2024 - 18:29 UTC
Happy New Year to all our readers!

As 2024 draws to a close, all of us at MercoPress.com extend our warmest wishes to our subscribers and readers around the globe. May this holiday season bring joy, peace, and meaningful moments shared with loved ones.
Tuesday, December 24th 2024 - 10:50 UTC
Colombia and Mexico to be represented at Maduro's new inauguration

Authorities in Bogotá and Mexico City admitted this week that their governments will be represented in Caracas on Jan. 10 when President Nicolás Maduro takes his oath of office for a new six-year term (2025-2031)for which he was chosen in the controversial July 28 elections which the opposition also claims to have won.
Tuesday, December 24th 2024 - 10:31 UTC
Uruguay's BCU ups basic interest rate

Uruguay's Central Bank (BCU) Monetary Policy Committee decided Monday to raise the TPM benchmark interest rate from 8.5% to 8.75% in a move to make inflation and expectations “meet” at 4.5% annually over the last 24 months. It was the first twitch to the TPM since April when it was cut from from 9%.