Stories for 2025

Friday, February 14th 2025 - 10:37 UTC
Argentina: Indec says January's inflation stood at 2.2%

Argentina's inflation in January 2025 stood at 2.2%, down from 2.7% in December, the National Institute of Statistics and Census (Indec) said in a report released Thursday, which also showed yoy values of 84.5%. January's was the lowest Consumer Price Index (CPI) since July 2020 - 1.9% amid the Covid-19 pandemic - and also the best under Javier Milei, who took office on Dec. 10, 2023. The President's best previous CPI was in November 2024 at 2.4%.
Friday, February 14th 2025 - 10:30 UTC
CFK appeals her conviction for corruption

Former Argentine President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner (CFK) Thursday filed an appeal to have her six-year prison sentence and lifelong disenfranchisement overturned. On the other side, the prosecution requested her sentence be upped to 12 years, citing illicit association in the “Vialidad” scandal regarding road works in the province of Santa Cruz.
Friday, February 14th 2025 - 10:28 UTC
Details about Port of Asunción's future disclosed

Nuevo Mundo Entertainment SA Director Santiago Sosa explained Thursday the details of the redevelopment works undertaken at the Paraguayan capital's historic port. In an interview with an Asunción broadcaster, he explained that the project stemming from an agreement with the Government signed early last year will include the recovery and modernization of the facility's four sheds, converting them into a multifunctional space with commercial premises, open-air stages, and a large-capacity events center.
Friday, February 14th 2025 - 10:24 UTC
Body of fallen Uruguayan soldier arrives in Montevideo

The remains of Uruguayan soldier Rodolfo Cipriano Álvarez Suárez, who died in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) earlier this month while deployed on the United Nations (UN) peacekeeping MONUSCO mission, arrived in Montevideo on Thursday. A ceremony was held at Air Base No. 1, attended by President Luis Lacalle Pou and Ministers Armando Castaingdebat (Defense) and Omar Paganini (Foreign Affairs), among other high-ranking officials.
Friday, February 14th 2025 - 10:13 UTC
Uruguay tops Transparency International regional rankings

With a score of 76 points, Uruguay topped Transparency International's latest Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) for the Americas - 2024 issue - released earlier this week. Amid widespread regional declines, Uruguay outperformed Canada and Barbados thanks to robust democratic institutions, high transparency, strong citizen participation, and effective environmental governance. This achievement came during President Luis Lacalle Pou's last month in office. Starting March 1, he will be succeeded by Yamandú Orsi, of the opposition Broad Front (Frente Amplio - FA).
Thursday, February 13th 2025 - 20:17 UTC
Brazilian scientists find enzyme that can transform waste into biofuel

Scientists at Brazil's National Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM) have discovered a biocatalyst called CelOCE (Cellulose Oxidative Cleaving Enzyme) stemming from a soil bacteria, which can transform waste into biofuel. The enzyme, isolated from bacteria found in sugarcane bagasse, enhances the breakdown of cellulose, increasing glucose release by up to 21%. The study showing these findings was published Thursday in the journal Nature.
Thursday, February 13th 2025 - 19:49 UTC
Uruguay: Possible slave-like conditions for Chinese company workers under investigation

Uruguay's National Union of Construction and Related Industries (Sunca) Secretary-General Javier Díaz said the rate of labor accidents nationwide has worsened over the past five years and blamed the departing administration of President Luis Lacalle Pou for this, amid waning collective wage bargaining conditions and high unemployment and informality.
Thursday, February 13th 2025 - 15:19 UTC
Falklands, Korean jigger refloated and heading with support for Stanley

Following a multi-agency operation extending over several days in the Falkland Islands, the Korean flagged jigger 107 Eun Hae was re-floated just before 09:00 Thursday morning, with no injuries and no apparent pollution.
Thursday, February 13th 2025 - 13:20 UTC
Cuba going through one of its worst electricity-generation crises

Cuba has been reported to be facing severe power outages after the unexpected breakdown of the Felton 1 Thermoelectric Power Plant, worsening the situation in Havana and other parts of the island. The State-run National Electric Union (UNE) said numerous generation plants were out of service due to fuel shortages, local authorities blaming the US economic blockade for their hardships, when in reality infrastructure failures and poor maintenance to already obsolete equipment were other contributing factors. A total of 57 generation plants in the country, in addition to two floating units, were affected by the lack of fuel.
Thursday, February 13th 2025 - 10:55 UTC
End of war in Ukraine nearer after Trump-Putin talks

US President Donald Trump held a telephone conversation Wednesday with his Russian colleague President Vladimir Putin, with whom he discussed for over 90 minutes the idea of starting negotiations to end the war in Ukraine. Both leaders expressed their eagerness to end the conflict at the earliest opportunity possible.