Stories for 2025

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).
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Thursday, February 13th 2025 - 10:20 UTC
Alckmin to push for return of US steel import quotas

Brazilian Vice President and Minister of Development, Industry, Trade and Services, Geraldo Alckmin, defended on Wednesday the establishment of exemption quotas for steel and aluminum to be shipped to the United States, as it happened during US President Donald Trump's previous government (2017-2021).
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Thursday, February 13th 2025 - 10:18 UTC
Paraná-Paraguay Waterway concession tender canceled amid foul play allegations

The Argentine Government of President Javier Milei Wednesday declared the tender for the Paraná-Paraguay Waterway - which handles 80% of the country's exports and is also vital for Paraguay - concession void and launched an investigation into the only bidders: Dredging Environmental and Marine Engineering (DEME) for allegedly pressuring other potential bidders not to participate. The National Commission for the Defense of Competition will look into possible anti-competitive practices or an illicit association, it was explained.
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Thursday, February 13th 2025 - 09:45 UTC
Brazil shoots down clandestine aircraft carrying drugs

The Brazilian Air Force (FAB) Wednesday shot down a plane that clandestinely entered from Venezuela carrying drugs. The measure was within legal protocols, it was explained. The aircraft was intercepted and instructed to land but failed to comply.
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Thursday, February 13th 2025 - 01:18 UTC
Uruguay's Green Energy Success Story Takes an Unexpected Turn

Uruguay has been considered a leading country in renewable energy, with 98% of its energy eolic, but now has surprisingly has invited foreign companies to explore for offshore oil and gas reserves, attracting some of the heavy weights of he industry, which has generated certain controversy in the country regarding concerns about the impact on marine life and the potential damage to Uruguay’s current global standing. OilPrice, which specializes in the oil and gas industry information comments on the decision.
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