Stories for 2025

Saturday, March 15th 2025 - 10:31 UTC
Cuba going through fourth nationwide blackout in six months

Cuba has experienced its fourth nationwide blackout in six months, leaving nearly 10 million people without electricity following a failure at a key substation in Havana, which caused a chain reaction that led to the shutdown of multiple power generation units, resulting in a total collapse of the National Electric System (SEN). The new crisis is said to be the consequence of persistent underfunding, outdated infrastructure, and fuel shortages.
Saturday, March 15th 2025 - 09:50 UTC
Brazil's STF upholds ban on Rumble

The Supreme Federal Court (STF) of Brazil unanimously upheld the suspension of the Rumble social network, citing its lack of a legal representative in the country. Minister Alexandre de Moraes highlighted Rumble's use for spreading hate speech and attacks on democracy. Separately, the Attorney General's Office (PGR) opposed former President Jair Bolsonaro's appeal to remove ministers Flávio Dino and Cristiano Zanin from his coup plot trial, stating there were no legal grounds for their dismissal. Bolsonaro's trial, involving seven others, is set for March 25.
Saturday, March 15th 2025 - 09:44 UTC
Bolivian President admits inability to cope with imported fuel demand

Bolivian President Luis Arce Catacora admitted Friday that his country imported 90% of the fuel it consumed at a cost of around US$ 3 billion annually, a significant adjustment from US$ 1.5 billion in 2019. Given the rise in smuggling and the scarcity of hard foreign currency, the crisis seems to have entered some loop. Reducing public sector vehicle use and prioritizing fuel for essential services may not be enough to meet national fuel demand. “What country is going to put up with this?” he wondered.
Friday, March 14th 2025 - 19:42 UTC
FAO: Coffee production down brings prices up to all-time high

The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) released a report on Friday stating that global coffee prices hit a 13-year high in December last year, driven by reduced production in major exporting countries due to adverse weather.
Friday, March 14th 2025 - 19:03 UTC
Putin invites Maduro over to Moscow for WWII Victory Day celebrations

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday invited his Venezuelan counterpart Nicolás Maduro during a videoconference over to Moscow for the celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the Allies over the Third Reich on May 9. In addition, Putin suggested signing a strategic partnership with the South American country as they exchanged their mutual views on current world affairs. In the end, the Chavista leader did not confirm his attendance to the event where representatives from several countries, including Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and World War II veterans are expected to be present.
Friday, March 14th 2025 - 13:24 UTC
UN: Bolivia loses voting rights over unpaid membership dues

Former Foreign Minister Diego Pary (2018-19), who resigned as Bolivia's permanent representative to the United Nations (UN) last year, has said that his country has lost its voting rights within the global organization due to unpaid membership dues for the 2024-2025 term, amounting roughly to US$ 780,000.
Friday, March 14th 2025 - 10:55 UTC
Brazil lifts import taxes of foodstuffs to lower inflation

Brazil's Chamber of Foreign Trade's (Camex) Executive Management Committee (Gecex) gave its nod Thursday to the temporary removal of import taxes on nine food items to lower prices for local consumers. The tax exemption applies to boneless frozen beef, roasted and unroasted coffee beans, corn (not for sowing), certain uncooked pasta, cookies, extra virgin olive oil, crude sunflower oil, cane sugar, and preserved sardines (limited to 7,500 tons). Taxes ranging between 7.2% and 32% have been lowered to 0% in a move to curb inflation. The measure is effective starting Friday. Authorities insisted it would only be for a limited time.
Friday, March 14th 2025 - 10:11 UTC
American Airlines aircraft catches fire at Denver Airport

Just as air travel in the United States is slowing due to repeated serious incidents, an American Airlines Boeing 737-800, operating as Flight 1006 from Colorado Springs to Dallas, was diverted to Denver International Airport due to an engine problem that caused it to catch fire after an emergency landing.
Friday, March 14th 2025 - 10:04 UTC
New euthanasia bill submitted before Uruguayan Congress

Uruguayan lawmakers submitted a new euthanasia bill before the Lower House, reviving a proposal already passed there in 2022 but stalled in the Senate. The bill, introduced by deputies from the Colorado Party (PC) and the ruling Brooad Front (Frente Amplio - FA), is supported by a multiparty coalition including members of the Partido Nacional and Partido Independiente. The initiative seeks to allow assisted death for individuals with terminal, incurable, and irreversible diseases.
Friday, March 14th 2025 - 09:34 UTC
Argentina's CGT announces 24-hour general strike

Argentina's General Labor Confederation (CGT) will be staging a 24-hour general strike against the government of Javier Milei, tentatively set for before April 10. Héctor Daer, one of the CGTs triumvirs, announced the plan Thursday during a meeting with social movements and at the closing of Juan Grabois' Union of Workers of the Popular Economy (UTEP) plenary at the CGT headquarters.