
Ecuador's forces retook control of all the country's prisons and freed some 150 corrections officers who were being held hostage by the rioting inmates, it was reported this past weekend. However, one guard was killed during a shootout in the operation.

At least eleven people died and many others needed to be evacuated this weekend after heavy rains hit Rio de Janeiro causing severe flooding and damage to numerous houses that were left under water. The Federal Government decreed a maximum alert. The risk of further flooding and landslides remains very high, it was also explained.

Argentine Foreign Minister Diana Mondino met Friday with Chinese Ambassador Wang Wei. During the encounter, both diplomats agreed on the importance of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership signed between the two countries ten years ago, and reaffirmed the principle of one China in reference to Taiwan's separatism. However, there was no mention of the currency swap worth US$ 6.5 billion Argentina was expecting to receive.

Palestine's Embassy in Montevideo criticized the Uruguayan government of President Luis Lacalle Pou for a recent beef export agreement with Israel and suggested there was some sort of political alliance with Tel Aviv.

Argentine-born Pope Francis will have a private meeting at the Vatican on Feb. 11 with Javier Milei, the president of his native country, after the latter spoke ill of the Catholic leader during his election campaign, it was reported in Buenos Aires.

Ecuador's President Daniel Noboa Friday said his government would be accepting the military cooperation offered by Argentina and the United States among other countries because the situation did not allow for egos to stand in the way.

Buenos Aires' iconic Teatro Colón Friday sacked musical director Jan Latham-Koenig (OBE) after he was arrested earlier this week at London's Victoria train station and charged with child sex offenses. The 70-year-old Briton was released on bail and is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court in court on Feb. 9.

International Monetary Fund (IMF) Spokeswoman Julie Kozack Thursday said the global credit agency hoped Argentina's latest measures would have the political support they needed, particularly the adjustments included in the so-called Omnibus Law bill currently in Congress.

Despite stemming from different political forces, the governors of Argentina's Patagonian provinces Thursday issued a joint statement condemning President Javier Milei's bold approach to the country's economic crisis, particularly his most-encompassing emergency decree (DNU) and the so-called Omnibus Law bill currently in Congress.

Argentina's National Institute of Statistics and Census (Indec) Thursday said the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for December 2023 went up by 25.5% for an interannual total of 211.4%, it was reported in Buenos Aires.