Uruguayan authorities confirmed Sunday that at least two people were killed in the city of Colonia del Sacramento as a result of the heavy storm hitting the area. Heavy rains and material damages were also reported in Montevideo, Durazno, Canelones, and other southern areas.
Uruguayan President Luis Lacalle Pou's trip to Antarctica has been postponed due to bad weather, Defense Minister Javier García announced Friday in Montevideo.
Attendees at the closing plenary session of the 28th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) reached a final consensus to speed up climate action, it was announced. It is a strengthened and balanced package, COP28 President Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber explained. The document also mentioned the gradual suppression of fossil fuels.
The Brazilian delegation attending the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai this week called for stronger measures against the proliferation of fossil fuels, Agencia Brasil reported.
Global trade through the Panama Canal is being severely disrupted by a drought affecting the man-made corridor, which could force shippers to choose other, more costly routes, it was reported. The historic waterway in Central America connecting the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans handles about 5% of international seaborne trade.
Mercosur and the European Union failed to sign the much-expected and long-awaited free trade and cooperation agreement during the South American block summit in Rio do Janeiro, mainly because of discrepancies over forestry and agricultural land. Brazilian President Lula da Silva said he was committed to signing the agreement with the EU, and will not give up until achieved but further hurdles could be in the way.
By Gwynne Dyer
The key debate on the last day of the COP28 climate summit at the United Arab Emirates was about whether the conference should endorse a resolution to “phase out” fossil fuels — or, in a less ambitious formulation, phase them “down” (but not out).
Following approval from the Executive Council on Monday 27 November, the Falkland Islands Government will be able to proceed with “in principle approval” for Phase Three of the Sand Bay Wind Farm.
Scientists aboard the Falklands flagged RRS Sir David Attenborough collected samples of seawater around the A23a mega iceberg, the largest iceberg in the world. New video footage shows the enormous iceberg, some 3,900km2 and 400m tall, twice the size of Greater London stretching out into the distance beyond the research vessel.
French President Emmanuel Macron Saturday pledged € 500 million over the next three years to Brazil's Amazon Fund, while the United Kingdom announced an additional £ 35 million (around € 40.78 million) in addition to the £ 80 million (€ 93.22 million) it had already announced in May, Agencia Brasil reported.