Stories for February 2025

Tuesday, February 11th 2025 - 08:32 UTC
Uruguay’s President-elect Orsi appoints key figures for science, technology, and innovation agencies

Uruguay’s incoming president, Yamandú Orsi, has announced the leadership of key agencies overseeing science, technology, and innovation. The move aims to strengthen coordination among institutions such as the National Agency for Research and Innovation (ANII) and the National Meat Institute (INAC).
Monday, February 10th 2025 - 21:40 UTC
Almost half of the migrants welcomed in Brazil were Venezuelan

Brazilian authorities confirmed that a total of 194,331 migrants arrived in South America's largest country last year, according to the 8th edition of the Migration Bulletin, published by the National Justice Secretariat (Senajus) Monday. Venezuelans topped the list with 94,726 people. As for refugees, ”Venezuela remains the main country of origin of recognized refugees (12,726), followed by Afghanistan (283) and Colombia (121),” the bulletin stated.
Monday, February 10th 2025 - 21:20 UTC
Fallen Uruguayan soldier not to arrive before Thursday

Authorities in Montevideo admitted Monday that bringing back the body of 39-year-old Rodolfo Álvarez, the Uruguayan soldier killed in action while serving on the United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (Monusco), will not take place before Thursday. Álvarez had a wife and two daughters aged 4 months and 4 years, respectively.
Monday, February 10th 2025 - 13:31 UTC
Europe prepares retaliatory measures to Trump's tariffs

US President Donald Trump's announcement that he planned to impose tariffs on European products to even up the trade scale “would be illegal and economically counterproductive,” the European Commission (EC) warned in a statement. It would also affect international trade and production chains, it went on.
Monday, February 10th 2025 - 10:40 UTC
Ecuador: Opposition candidate celebrates “victory” after qualifying for runoff

Ecuadorean opposition candidate Luisa Gonzalez, a protégé of former President Rafael Correa (2007-2017), celebrated victory Sunday. She and the incumbent Daniel Noboa were on the brink of being confirmed as having qualified for April 13's runoff after neither clinched a decisive 50% majority.
Monday, February 10th 2025 - 09:45 UTC
Argentine gov't to privatize major cargo railway line

Argentine President Javier Milei has signed the decree ordering the key cargo railway Belgrano Cargas y Logística S.A. line privatized, Presidential Spokesman Manuel Adorni confirmed. “President Javier Milei has just signed the decree that initiates the process of total privatization of the Belgrano Cargas y Logística S.A. company,” he wrote on social media. The Argentine State “will cease to be the operator of the cargo railway services and all its infrastructure: rolling stock, tracks, workshops, and real estate,” Adorni also noted.
Monday, February 10th 2025 - 09:40 UTC
Colombia: Petro undertakes major cabinet reshuffle

Colombian President Gustavo Petro Sunday asked every member of his cabinet to submit their resignation, as he intends major adjustments to fully comply with the National Development Plan. “I have requested protocol resignation to ministers, ministers, and directors of administrative departments,” Petro posted on X.
Monday, February 10th 2025 - 09:10 UTC
Trump slaps 25% tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports

US President Donald Trump announced this weekend that 25% tariffs would be applied to all steel and aluminum imports effective immediately. “Any steel coming into the United States is going to have to have a 25% tariff. Also aluminum. 25% for both,” Trump said aboard Air Force
Monday, February 10th 2025 - 09:03 UTC
Lula warns Trump he was not elected to rule the world

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva was harshly critical of his US colleague Donald Trump's announcement that his country would take over the Gaza Strip and turn it into the Riviera of the Middle East. “Nobody is going to make a beautiful place on top of thousands of dead bodies of women and children,” said Lula during a radio interview in Bahia State.
Monday, February 10th 2025 - 08:51 UTC
Pope halts homily amid shortness of breath

Argentine-born Pope Francis was forced Sunday to interrupt his homily in St. Peter's Square during the Armed Forces Jubilee Sunday due to notorious breathing difficulties. “Now I apologize and ask the master to continue the reading due to difficulty in breathing,” said Jorge Mario Bergoglio before a crowd featuring numerous troops and police officers from various countries.