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MercoPress, en Español

Montevideo, March 28th 2025 - 03:03 UTC

Stories for February 25th 2025

  • Tuesday, February 25th 2025 - 19:38 UTC

    Argentina unveils non-airworthy F-16 for training purposes

    The first airworthy F-16s are to be flown straight from Denmark later this year

    The so-called 25th F-16 unit of a batch of 24 second-hand US-built fighter jets purchased from Denmark was unveiled this week at the Tail Argentine Air Force Base. This particular F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft is not airworthy and will only serve training purposes at the Ground Instruction Center, it was explained during the ceremony presided over by Defense Minister Luis Petri, who insisted that this acquisition represented “sovereignty” and “peace.”

  • Tuesday, February 25th 2025 - 19:03 UTC

    Uruguay's INE reports unemployment on the rise

    Unemployment grew year-on-year despite the creation of 27,000 new jobs, the INE report found

    Uruguay's National Institute of Statistics (INE) released a report Tuesday showing that last month's unemployment rose from 7.4% to 8.1% from the previous month. However, this figure represented an interannual improvement against last year's 8.6%. Joblessness was not as harsh in Montevideo (7.1%) but it was indeed noticeable elsewhere in the South American country (8.7%). In addition, 21.3% of workers were detected not to be registered with social security authorities, which was tantamount to an increase in informality.

  • Tuesday, February 25th 2025 - 15:20 UTC

    Petrobras orders four homebuilt tankers

    Brazil's shipbuilding industry hopes to bounce back with this agreement

    Brazil's State-run oil company Petrobras and its subsidiary Transpetro Monday signed a contract for the building of four Handy-class tankers, each costing US$ 69.5 million, with a total investment of US$ 278 million. The new ships will become a part of Petrobras' Fleet Renewal and Expansion Program. The ceremony in Rio Grande do Sul was attended by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Vice-President Geraldo Alckmin, and other officials.

  • Tuesday, February 25th 2025 - 10:52 UTC

    Falkland Islands Express Solidarity with Ukraine on War Anniversary

    Photo: Falkland Islands Legislative Assembly

    The Falkland Islands Legislative Assembly marked the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine by reaffirming its support for the country’s sovereignty and democratic freedoms.

  • Tuesday, February 25th 2025 - 10:42 UTC

    Fossil fuels will finance Brazil's energy transformation, Lula says

    As long as people cannot do without fossil fuels they shall remain necessary, Lula argued

    Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva pointed out that his country would rely on fossil fuels to finance the transition to clean energy. He made those remarks during a contract signing ceremony with Transpetro and oil companies Rio Grande and Mac Laren.

  • Tuesday, February 25th 2025 - 10:29 UTC

    Uruguayan gov't under scrutiny over company chosen to print passports

    Garsų Pasaulis has been declared by Lithuanian authorities as “unreliable” and banned from future government contracts

    Less than a week before its end, the Uruguayan Government of President Luis Lacalle Pou took heavy flak for awarding the printing of passports to a Lithuanian company Garsu Pasaulis, given its association with Belarusian businessman Viktor Shevtsov, who has been sanctioned by the European Union. The measure has raised concerns about the security and integrity of the country's identity system.

  • Tuesday, February 25th 2025 - 10:13 UTC

    Peru and Bolivia sign key bilateral agreements

    We are neighboring countries united by several elements, Sosa said during the ceremony in Lima

    Foreign Ministers Elmer Schialer of Peru and Celinda Sosa of Bolivia signed a series of agreements in Lima on Monday to strengthen ties between the two countries with a focus on cooperation and integration to promote the bilateral agenda. The understandings include a Temporary Border Module at the San Lorenzo (Peru)-Extrema (Bolivia) border crossing and the financing and Biennial Operating Plan 2025-2026 for the Binational Autonomous Authority of Lake Titicaca.

  • Tuesday, February 25th 2025 - 10:03 UTC

    Argentine gov't steps in as Telefónica's buy-over results in possible monopoly

    The acquisition leaves around 70% of the communications business in the hands of one group, the Libertarian Government warned

    The Argentine Administration of President Javier Milei announced Monday that the buy-over of Telefónica de Argentine by Telecom has been handed over to the National Communications Board (Ente Nacional de Comunicaciones - ENACOM) and the National Competition Defense Commission (Commission Comisión Nacional de Defensa de la Competencia - CNCD) to determine if the move constitutes a monopoly.

  • Tuesday, February 25th 2025 - 09:44 UTC

    Starbucks announces large-scale staff downsizing

    The job cuts will not affect people working in the cafes or warehousing, manufacturing, distribution, and roasting operations, the company explained

    Arguably the world's most important coffee store chain, Starbucks announced Monday the termination of 1,100 corporate jobs, which are not the ones customers usually see in stores. CEO Brian Niccol said the measure was necessary to remove duplicate positions.

  • Tuesday, February 25th 2025 - 09:15 UTC

    STF extends domestic violence protection to same-sex couples and trans women

    “External physical traits are one factor, but not the sole determinant of gender,” De Moraes argued

    In a virtual plenary decision last week, Brazil's Supreme Federal Court (STF) ruled in favor of extending the protection against domestic violence provided for in the so-called Maria da Penha Law to same-sex couples and trans women, thus acquiescing to a request from the Brazilian Association of HomoTransAffective Families, which argued that the National Congress has failed to legislate on the matter.