Stories for January 2025

Monday, January 20th 2025 - 01:10 UTC
QR codes and video games: Enhancing player experiences with technology

QR codes have made a significant impact in industries ranging from marketing to education, but their role in video gaming is equally transformative. These versatile tools enable developers, publishers, and players to connect digital and physical gaming elements in innovative ways.
Sunday, January 19th 2025 - 19:45 UTC
One Briton among three Israeli hostages released by Hamas

Three Israeli women who had been held hostage by the pro-Palestine terrorist group Hamas were set free Sunday in exchange for dozens of convicted organization operatives as the ceasefire brokered together with Qatar, Egypt, and the United States became effective.
Saturday, January 18th 2025 - 10:55 UTC
Arrest warrant issued against Evo Morales for not showing up in court

An arrest warrant has been issued against former Bolivian President Evo Morales after the latter failed to turn up when summoned by the Judiciary citing health problems. He is under investigation for the alleged trafficking of a minor with her parents' consent. He is also believed to have fathered a child as a result of that intercourse.
Saturday, January 18th 2025 - 10:38 UTC
Nigeria becomes new BRICS full member

The Brazilian Government of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, in charge of the rotating presidency of the BRICS bloc, announced Friday that Nigeria, Africa's fourth-largest economy, was joining the alliance as a full member. “The Brazilian government announces today, January 17, 2025, the official accession of Nigeria as a partner country of the group,” a statement from Itamaraty read.
Saturday, January 18th 2025 - 10:28 UTC
Uruguay: Mrs. Heber's murder suspect granted house arrest

Uruguay's Judiciary Friday granted house arrest to Deputy Commissioner Ricardo Zabala, who has been indicted for the 1978 murder of Cecilia Fontana, mother of former Interior Minister Luis Alberto Heber. As per Judge Verónica Ester Pena Molina's decision, Zabala was moved to a seaside resort residence citing health problems. He is the only person prosecuted for that crime. The case has resurfaced in recent years.
Saturday, January 18th 2025 - 10:15 UTC
Villarruel in charge of Argentina's Executive due to Milei's trip

Argentina Presidential Spokesman Manuel Adorni posted on X Friday that Vice President Victoria Villarruel was to be briefed shortly that she was to take over the Executive Branch given President Javier Milei's trip to Washington to attend Donald Trump's inauguration and to Davos for a World Economic Forum (WEF) convention, among other engagements.
Friday, January 17th 2025 - 21:42 UTC
Power cuts hit Buenos Aires Metropolitan Area and other parts of Argentina

Several areas in the Buenos Aires Metropolitan Area (AMBA) and Rosario in the province of Santa Fe have been suffering prolonged power cuts which enraged residents who, in addition, were deprived of state subsidies on their electricity bills and are therefore paying full fare in exchange for... literally nothing.
Friday, January 17th 2025 - 21:02 UTC
Uruguay makes payment to Spanish shipyard for construction of two OPVs

The Uruguayan Government this week made a US$ 8.4 million payment to the Spanish shipyard Cardama as the first installment for the construction of two new ocean patrol vessels (OPVs) agreed upon in July last year. The process has since been questioned and one Uruguayan Navy Admiral even retired from active duty amid the controversy.
Friday, January 17th 2025 - 09:44 UTC
Floods hit southern Brazil's State of Santa Catarina

The beach resort of Camboriú in the southern Brazilian State of Santa Catarina has been declared under emergency Thursday following heavy rains that flooded that place and others such as Florianópolis.
Friday, January 17th 2025 - 09:31 UTC
Former Latin American foreign ministers stand up for international law

A total of 38 former Latin American foreign ministers published Thursday a Manifesto warning about “the collapse of the international order” established after World War ii and insisted on the region's need to recover a leading role in global affairs.