The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) pointed out last week that Latin America and the Caribbean were going through a series of weather crises linked to the El Niño phenomenon and climate change. The current one in the Brazilian State of Rio Grande do Sul was one of the worst.
Brazil's National Supply Company (Conab) has been entrusted with purchasing one million tons of rice to feed the people of Rio Grande do Sul and avoid the intervention of middle people seeking a black market profit from the victims of the unprecedented storms. Under normal circumstances, Rio Grande do Sul accounts for 70% of Brazil's rice production.
Former Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori was found to have yet another malignant tongue tumor, it was reported in Lima during the weekend. The 85-year-old rightwing leader, who was released from jail on Dec. 7, 2023, has suffered from a cancerous lesion for more than 27 years and has undergone six surgeries in the same place.
Argentine mothers are unique. They are the addressees of many famous tango pieces and celebrate Mother's Day way apart from all the others worldwide.
The Governor of the Argentine province of Corrientes Gustavo Valdés insisted that the Foreign Ministry and the Senate should get involved after another clash was reported between unauthorized Paraguayan fishermen and the Coast Guard (Prefectura Naval Argentina - PNA). “I hope they take care and do not continue denying the conflict as they have been,” Valdés underlined.
US Southern Command (Southcom) Chief General Laura Richardson warned during her appearance Thursday at the Ninth Hemispheric Security Conference (HSC) at the Florida International University (FIU) Miami campus, organized by the Jack D. Gordon Institute for Public Policy together with the Taeda Foundation that China's growing influence in building critical infrastructure in Latin America had raised security concerns. In addition, the region hardly benefits from the resources that China extracts, the four-star general stressed.
Ms Danielle Dunne has been appointed His Majesty’s Ambassador to the Republic of Paraguay in succession to Mr Ramin Navai who will be transferring to another Diplomatic Service appointment in El Salvador. Ms Dunne will take up her appointment during January 2025.
Water levels below average at the Paraná-Paraguay river waterway have traders concerned over the future of their business. However, there seems to be consensus on the need to develop a master plan to tackle the grim situation stemming from discouraging precipitation forecasts despite abundant rainfall in recent weeks.
Former President Evo Morales has been deposed as leader of Bolivia's Movement Towards Socialism (MAS) after a party congress over the weekend chose Grover Garcia to chair the political movement. The winner is aligned with incumbent President Luis Arce Catacora, a former ally of Morales' who has become his deadliest enemy in recent years. García stems from the Single Confederation of Bolivian Peasant Workers Union (CSUTCB) and was also mayor of the municipality of Tiraque.
Paraguayan health authorities said the number of dengue cases was declining. Still, they told the population to look out for oropouche, another mosquito-borne virus that causes symptoms similar to those of dengue. Instead of the Aedes Aegypti, or pouches is carried by the Culicoides Paraensis mosquito.