Politics

• Wednesday, June 30th 2021 - 00:16 UTC

  With no budget by Thursday, UN peacekeeping missions to be frozen

  

  United Nations has instructed peacekeeping missions “to make contingency plans” to leave since no agreement has been reached for the financial year beginning July first, and which could lead to a freeze of activities, diplomats revealed. The roadblock allegedly stems from China and African countries making multiple last-minute requests.

• Tuesday, June 29th 2021 - 23:34 UTC

  Brazil commits armed forces to protecting Amazonia yet again

  

  Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro ordered the armed forces to be involved for the third time in the protection of the Amazon basin from deforestation and other man-caused calamities.

• Tuesday, June 29th 2021 - 09:23 UTC

  Sea Breeze military exercises with 32 countries in the Black Sea; Russia describes them as a “provocation”

  

  A total of 32 countries began conducting military exercises in the Black Sea Monday, despite sharp criticism from Russia. The US and Ukraine are leading the “Sea Breeze” drills. They are scheduled to last for two weeks, according to the US military.

• Tuesday, June 29th 2021 - 09:21 UTC

  Biden calls Duque to make sure Colombia remains US top ally in the region

  

  US President Joseph Biden Monday telephoned his Colombian colleague Iván Duque in what the first direct talk between the two leaders since the 78-year-old Democrat took office on January 20.1

• Tuesday, June 29th 2021 - 09:00 UTC

  History of corruption and bribes behind doomed Florida building reported

  

  The developers of the building which collapsed last week in Southern Florida were under investigation for allegedly bribing local officials to get the permit to build the condominium which has left around 10 people confirmed dead plus some 150 others yet unaccounted for.

• Tuesday, June 29th 2021 - 08:49 UTC

  Coronavirus Delta variant claims first two fatalities in Brazil

  

  The Government of Brazil Monday announced the occurrence of the first two deaths due to the coronavirus Delta variant.

• Tuesday, June 29th 2021 - 08:45 UTC

  Energy minister calls for “conscious” use of electricity throughout Brazil

  

  Brazil's Mines and Energy Minister Bento Albuquerque Monday launched an appeal for “conscious” use of water and energy in a televised message during which he admitted the seriousness of the current drought and its impact on the production and distribution of electricity.

• Tuesday, June 29th 2021 - 08:30 UTC

  Euthanasia law in force in Spain pending Constitutional Court ruling

  

  Spain has become the fourth European country where terminally ill patient can seek an assisted suicide treatment – or euthanasia- to put an end to their suffering.

• Tuesday, June 29th 2021 - 08:15 UTC

  Vaccinated people wear masks, avoid crowds and keep social distance, WHO officials insist

  

  World Health Organization (WHO) officials have urged even fully vaccinated people to continue wearing masks and to keep taking other measures to prevent infection.

• Monday, June 28th 2021 - 22:19 UTC

  Falklands English with a Uruguayan flavor, “Chay”

  

  By Yliana Rodríguez (*) – An English variety with an Uruguayan flavour Falkland Islands English has called my attention for more than a decade since my dear friend George Stewart once told me about the Spanish words used down there. I flew home to tell my Dad, who to my surprise remained unruffled at the news and went on to tell me about Uruguayan gauchos in the Falklands.