After the strong reduction in visibility registered in the country this Monday due to fog and mist, which according to the Uruguayan Institute of Meteorology (Inumet) will persist until next Thursday, the ports of Montevideo, Colonia, and Buenos Aires decided to close, reported the Uruguayan newspaper El Observador.
Managerial authorities of the Uruguayan port of Colonia have reached an agreement for renovation works over the next year at a cost of around UY $ 80 million (US $ 1,840,800), it was announced.
Uruguay and Argentina will have for the first time a dry border. This is not because historians, cartographers or geographers suddenly found out, or Uruguay grabbed land from its larger neighbor.
Presidents from Uruguay and Argentina, Tabare Vazquez and Mauricio Macri, will be meeting on Wednesday to discuss an open agenda, but which according to Buenos Aires sources will be centered on the Venezuelan situation, where the two countries hold different positions. The meeting is scheduled to take place in Colonia, at the Anchorena Park, which is an official resting place of the Uruguayan Executive, and a twenty minutes helicopter flight distance from Buenos Aires.
Uruguay will be receiving fifty cruise calls less this 2014/15 season, which is 26% down compared to a year ago, revealed the country's Deputy Tourism and Sports minister, Antonio Carambula during the official launching of the season. This means Montevideo will be hosting 104 calls and Punta del Este, 70, compared to the 237 between both terminals (121 and 116) in 2013/14.
Uruguay expects a slowing down of cruise activity this season, probably in the range of 10% less vessel calls, particularly in Punta del Este, because of logistics problems with the circuits. However this will be partly compensated by the two Costa Cruise company vessels that will be operating from Montevideo as the starting point and end of South Atlantic tours.
Agents working for Argentina's Federal Public Incomes Administration (AFIP), with a little help from Larishka the dog, found 86,500 dollars hidden by an Argentine who was trying to leave the country for Uruguay.
Uruguay hosted last week a conference and workshop on tools and strategies to strengthen the response to cruise ship accidents. David Jardine-Smith, from the International Maritime Rescue Federation, and Roly McKie, HM Coastguard Staff Officer, Search and Rescue Operations, were the facilitators of the event.
Uruguay president José 'Pepe' Mujica was again ironic in praising Argentines when he stated that the Argentine population is capable of eluding the Pope and even the United Nations in their quest to buy US dollars and get them out of the country, in spite of current exchange controls.
Two Uruguayan politicians, one from the ruling coalition and the other from the main opposition National party will be honoured with a medal by Argentina for their unlimited support to the Malvinas cause, announced the Argentine ambassador in Montevideo, Dante Dovena.