Politics

Thursday, February 25th 2021 - 09:36 UTC
EU divided over travel certificates of vaccination; southern countries want to recover the summer season

European Union leaders will agree on Thursday to work on certificates of vaccination for EU citizens who have had an anti-COVID shot, with southern EU countries that depend heavily on tourism desperate to rescue this summer's holiday season.
Thursday, February 25th 2021 - 09:05 UTC
Gangs' war in Ecuadorian jails death toll climbs to 79, and remains out of control

Ecuador raised the death toll from riots in four jails to 79, including 18 prisoners who were found dismembered at one site, one of the bloodiest outbreaks of prison violence in the country’s history.
Thursday, February 25th 2021 - 08:44 UTC
Brazilian border state of Acre chastised by the spell of several plagues

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro on Wednesday visited the state of Acre, in the Amazon rainforest, where several cities have been submerged in floodwaters, adding yet another challenge for the beleaguered state.
Thursday, February 25th 2021 - 08:44 UTC
Brazil reaffirms electricity provider Electobras privatization, except for nuclear plants and Itaipu dam

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro went to Congress to deliver a provisional measure associated with his government’s plans to privatize state-run electricity provider Eletrobras.
Wednesday, February 24th 2021 - 09:34 UTC
The Falkland Islands receives second batch of Covid-19 vaccines

The Falkland Islands Government has received its second batch of Covid-19 vaccines, supplied by the UK government. These 2,200 doses arrived today via the South Atlantic Airbridge and are of the same Oxford/AstraZeneca type as the first batch received at the beginning of the month.
Wednesday, February 24th 2021 - 09:33 UTC
Covid-19 vaccines: “where's the universal brotherhood” ask Mexican and Argentine presidents

REUTERS – The presidents of Mexico and Argentina on Tuesday pressed the UN and the world's richest countries to improve poorer nations' access to Covid-19 vaccines, arguing efforts are grossly inadequate so far.
Wednesday, February 24th 2021 - 08:58 UTC
At least 62 dead in gang violence in Ecuador prison mutinies

The Ecuadorian police on Tuesday said at least 62 people had been killed in prison mutinies in three separate facilities. News of the violence comes as Ecuador struggles to deal with prison overcrowding and frequent violence between gangs.
Wednesday, February 24th 2021 - 08:58 UTC
Bolsonaro poised to ensure the removal of Petrobras CEO

Brazilian president seems poised to win his controversial struggle over the removal of the country's giant oil and gas company Petrobras CEO, and replacement by a former Army general. In effect, Petrobras on Tuesday called an extraordinary shareholders' meeting, a move that all but guarantees the exit of CEO Roberto Castello Branco.
Wednesday, February 24th 2021 - 08:55 UTC
UN criticizes Colombian government over the murder of former guerrilla activists

United Nations' human rights body called on the Colombian government to improve protection of human rights activists and civilians, be more present in remote, poor areas, and fully implement a peace deal with FARC rebels to curb violence.
Wednesday, February 24th 2021 - 08:49 UTC
Statue of Franco removed from the African enclave of Melilla

Spanish dictator Francisco Franco no longer “guards” the city gates of Melilla, a Spanish enclave and autonomous city on the northwest African coast. Without much fanfare, a group of workmen operated a mechanical digger and heavy drills to chip away at the brick platform on which the statue stood, lifted it off by a chain around its neck, and carted it away in bubble wrap on a pickup truck.