Politics

• Wednesday, January 24th 2024 - 09:31 UTC

  Sweden closer to joining NATO after Ankara's nod

  

  Türkiye's Parliament Tuesday greenlighted Sweden's accession to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization by 287 votes in favor, 55 against, and four abstentions. However, the rest of the 600 lawmakers did not attend Tuesday's session. The surprising nod came after months of objections citing the Scandinavian country's stance regarding Kurdish militants and members of a network believed to be behind a failed coup in 2016.

• Tuesday, January 23rd 2024 - 11:10 UTC

  Curfew extended as Ecuador “winning battle” against organized crime

  

  Ecuadorean President Daniel Noboa Monday announced a 30-day extension to the curfew from 11:00 pm to 5:00 am decreed on Jan. 8 when a wave of violence erupted nationwide as notorious prison inmates escaped unleashing riots at several corrections facilities and other attacks by drug-trafficking gangs that resulted in over 2,000 arrests.

• Tuesday, January 23rd 2024 - 11:10 UTC

  Mercosur region students visit the Falklands and share life with residents for a week

  

  Last week the Falkland Islands welcomed the regional student competition 2024 winners, who are visiting the Falklands from Argentina, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay.

• Tuesday, January 23rd 2024 - 11:04 UTC

  Argentina: Daughter of minister's bodyguard killed during robbery

  

  Nine-year-old Umma, the daughter of an Argentine Federal Police (PFA) officer who serves on Security Minister Patricia Bullrich's bodyguard team, died Monday from a bullet wound to her head when the family was robbed at gunpoint, it was reported in Buenos Aires.

• Tuesday, January 23rd 2024 - 11:03 UTC

  Venezuelan gov't arrests 32 alleged “traitors to the homeland” who planned to kill Maduro

  

  Venezuelan authorities have arrested 32 people who were said to be involved in a plot to assassinate President Nicolás Maduro with backing from the United States, it was reported in Caracas. “Treason” charges were filed against the detainees, the Public Prosecutor's Office said.

• Tuesday, January 23rd 2024 - 10:36 UTC

  Brazil's gov't pushes for further industrial development

  

  President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva Monday launched the New Industry Brazil (NIB) plan which promises to invest R$ 300 billion (US$ 60.12 bn) by 2026 in a move to boost the South American country's economy. The project laid out by the National Industrial Development Council (CNDI) aims to transform Brazil's industry into a more innovative, green, exporting, and productive sector, it was explained.

• Tuesday, January 23rd 2024 - 10:03 UTC

  Lords call for the UK/Rwanda treaty to be delayed to improve asylum procedures

  

  The House of Lords has called for the new UK-Rwanda treaty to be delayed until Kigali improves its asylum procedures. Peers backed a motion calling the government not to ratify the treaty by 214 votes to 171, but the motion is not binding on the government, according to a report from BBC.

• Monday, January 22nd 2024 - 14:02 UTC

  José “Pepe” Mujica criticizes Milei's fanaticism, fears an authoritarian shift in Argentina

  

  In a press conference on Sunday, former Uruguayan President José Mujica shared his thoughts on the policies of Argentine President Javier Milei since taking office on December 10.

• Monday, January 22nd 2024 - 11:23 UTC

  Argentina's Health Ministry issues Covid-19 vax recommendation

  

  Argentina's Health Ministry issued Sunday a recommendation to patients people over 50 years of age and those at risk to get a booster dose of a Covid-19 vaccine given the increase in cases reported during the last few weeks. The drug “is essential to maintain adequate protection to prevent complications, hospitalizations, and deaths due to this disease,” the Ministry said in a statement.

• Monday, January 22nd 2024 - 10:59 UTC

  SME industries plummet in Argentina

  

  The Argentine Confederation of Medium-Sized Companies (CAME) released a report in Buenos Aires during the weekend saying industries from those companies had shrunk by 26.9% in December last year from the same month in 2022, amid a presidential changeover and growing uncertainties. The activity closed last year with an accumulated drop of 2.6%.