It's rice harvest time in Uruguay, and the country expects to collect over a million tons of the cereal which is enjoying a favorable international prices prospect since the world's main exporter India, has dropped out of the market. The production of Uruguay's 150,000 hectares of rice paddies are expected to bring in close to US$ 700 million in exports this year, which will be higher than the US$ 550/600 million from the 2023 harvest.
The budget carrier JetSmart announced this week that starting May 29 it will be offering two daily flights between the airports of Buenos Aires Aeroparque Jorge Newbery (AEP) and Montevideo's Carrasco. The official ceremony was held at the residence of Uruguay's Ambassador in Argentina Carlos Enciso, who was said to be pivotal in brokering these services since 2021 to add to those offered by Aerolíneas Argentinas.
A total of 4,722 Uruguayans were displaced from their homes Thursday as heavy rains caused severe floods in the departments (provinces) of Canelones, Colonia, Florida, Durazno, San Jose, Paysandu, and Rivera, the National Emergency System (Sinae) reported. President Luis Lacalle Pou visited some of the affected areas.
Classes were suspended in Uruguay for Thursday and other precautions were taken after a red alert was declared following the Weather Bureau's forecast of heavy electrical storms. Such a measure is enacted when the intensity of a meteorological phenomenon in course or forecast implies an extreme or imminent risk level for the population in general.
President Luis Lacalle Pou Tuesday confirmed Uruguay's first fatality due to dengue fever in 2024 following a Health Ministry (MSP) report that a possible case was under investigation. The head of state will meet Wednesday with Health Minister Karina Rando at the Suarez y Reyes residency to review possible courses of action with the malady as a priority.
The Argentine justice system has requested Uruguay to repatriate a plane allegedly used in the infamous Condor Plan, a coordination effort between South American dictatorships during the 1970s and 1980s. The aircraft, a Hawker Siddeley twin-jet, is believed to have been utilized in the transfer of detainees during this dark period of political repression.
An invasion of bats forced Uruguayan authorities Monday to shut down the Health Ministry's (MSP) headquarters in Montevideo out of safety and sanitary concerns. All clerical work was done remotely as measures were taken to restore normalcy at the earliest, it was reported.
The Uruguayan Government of President Luis Lacale Pou decided to appoint Silvana Montes de Oca as the new Ambassador to Venezuela following the resignation of Eber Da Rosa, which raised doubts as to whether Montevideo would lower its diplomatic mission in Caracas to a chargé d'affairs level.
Uruguay's strong institutions have earned the South American country an upgrade in Moody's rating from Baa2 to Baa1, it was reported Friday. The risk-gauging agency also changed the outlook to stable.
Italian Navy's training ship Amerigo Vespucci docked Thursday in Montevideo and will welcome visitors Friday, it was reported from the Uruguayan capital. The iconic vessel, built in 1931, is making her second round-the-world trip after setting sail from Genoa in July. Her next call will be Buenos Aires.