Stories for January 2024

Friday, January 26th 2024 - 10:56 UTC
Covid-19: Facemasks mandatory again at Bolivian schools

Bolivian health authorities will be requiring school pupils to wear facemasks upon returning to classes next week as part of a set of preventive measures taken given an increase in the number of cases of Covid-19, Ministers María Renée Castro (Health) and Édgar Pary (Education) announced in La Paz.
Friday, January 26th 2024 - 10:42 UTC
Spain urges reconsideration of argentine fisheries measures by President Milei

The Government of Spain has formally approached President Javier Milei of Argentina, requesting a reconsideration of the proposed measures aimed at enhancing control over foreign-flagged fishing vessels in Argentina's maritime space and liberalizing catch permits.
Friday, January 26th 2024 - 10:23 UTC
Brazil's President to visit Egypt, Ethiopia, and Guyana next month

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva will take on a series of international engagements next month, including a Caricom Summit in Guyana, Agencia Brasil reported. He will also be traveling to Egypt on Feb. 15 and 16 to thank his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah al-Sissi for his support in pulling out Brazilian nationals and their families from the Gaza Strip.
Friday, January 26th 2024 - 10:19 UTC
US State of Alabama executes inmate through nitrogen hypoxia

Kenneth Eugene Smith, an inmate in the US State of Alabama, Thursday became the first person ever to be put to death through the controversial nitrogen hypoxia mechanism.
Friday, January 26th 2024 - 10:10 UTC
Ecuador gives US useless Russian weapons despite Moscow's warning

Ecuador's Foreign Minister Gabriela Sommerfeld admitted that his country sold useless Russian-built weaponry to the United States in exchange for operational arms to wage the South American country's war against drug trafficking gangs. The measure was adopted despite Moscow's advice against it, it was explained.
Friday, January 26th 2024 - 10:04 UTC
Milei sacks untrustworthy Infrastructure Minister

Argentine President Javier Milei Thursday sacked Infrastructure Minister Guillermo Ferraro after the latter allegedly leaked to the press some details about a cabinet meeting that should have not gone public, specifically an outburst by the head of state who pledged to “leave without a peso” those provincial governors who did not instruct their federal lawmakers to pass the Libertarian Government's so-called Omnibus Law bill.
Thursday, January 25th 2024 - 15:45 UTC
Guyana and Venezuela discussing Essequibo in Brazil

Diplomatic teams from Venezuela and Guyana are to discuss Thursday in Brazil the dispute over the oil-rich Essequibo area in control of the latter since the 1890s.
Thursday, January 25th 2024 - 15:45 UTC
President Lacalle Pou fined for speeding in Maldonado during motorcycle escapade

Uruguay's President Luis Lacalle Pou has received a fine from the Municipality of Maldonado for a speeding violation while riding a Harley Davidson motorcycle. This incident, which occurred on January 8 and was reported the last few hours, gained attention as it followed the president's new “biker” facet as he rides without visible bodyguards and using a non-approved helmet in Punta del Este.
Thursday, January 25th 2024 - 15:12 UTC
Argentine leftwing and labor groups stage national strike against Milei's reforms

Argentine labor unions staged a relatively successful strike and demonstration Wednesday to protest against President Javier Milei's emergency decree (DNU) already in force plus the so-called Omnibus Law bill to curb public spending which would defund numerous activities currently running on State allowances. It was the first such measure since May 29, 2019, under then-President Mauricio Macri (2015-2019).
Thursday, January 25th 2024 - 15:11 UTC
UK military presence in South Atlantic: Is it adequate to ensure the defense of the Falklands?

The UK Defense Journal is reporting that in a recent Parliamentary Written Question and Answer, Andrew Rosindell MP sought clarification from the Ministry of Defense regarding the current state of defense support for the Falkland Islands.