Stories for February 2025

Tuesday, February 25th 2025 - 19:03 UTC
Uruguay's INE reports unemployment on the rise

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.
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Tuesday, February 25th 2025 - 15:20 UTC
Petrobras orders four homebuilt tankers

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.
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Tuesday, February 25th 2025 - 10:52 UTC
Falkland Islands Express Solidarity with Ukraine on War Anniversary

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.
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Tuesday, February 25th 2025 - 10:42 UTC
Fossil fuels will finance Brazil's energy transformation, Lula says

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.
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Tuesday, February 25th 2025 - 10:29 UTC
Uruguayan gov't under scrutiny over company chosen to print passports

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.
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Tuesday, February 25th 2025 - 10:13 UTC
Peru and Bolivia sign key bilateral agreements

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.
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Tuesday, February 25th 2025 - 10:03 UTC
Argentine gov't steps in as Telefónica's buy-over results in possible monopoly

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.
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Tuesday, February 25th 2025 - 09:44 UTC
Starbucks announces large-scale staff downsizing

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.
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Tuesday, February 25th 2025 - 09:15 UTC
STF extends domestic violence protection to same-sex couples and trans women

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.
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Monday, February 24th 2025 - 19:25 UTC
Buenos Aires Mayor highlights introduction of Guarani as a language taught at schools

Buenos Aires Mayor Jorge Macri stirred spirits among porteños on Monday as he announced that guaraní would be taught at primary schools. He made those remarks during his opening speech of the 2025 school year and as a result of a meeting last week with Paraguayan President Santiago Peña.
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