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SYNOPSIS OF MEDIA HEADLINES

Selected in the period from January 27 to February 2, 2025

Click here to read what was published until January 26, 2025

Download the December 2024 newsletter here in PDF format with the synopsis of the news published on our portal.






Climate change is disrupting Latin America's food systems, UN report says

CNN,January 27, 2025

Synopsis: Extreme weather exacerbated by climate change fueled hunger and food insecurity across Latin America and the Caribbean in 2023, according to a new United Nations report.

Extreme weather conditions pushed up crop prices in several countries in the region in 2023. For example, heat and drought drove up the price of corn in Argentina, Mexico, Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic, while it was heavy rains in Ecuador that drove the increase.

However, the report credits social safety nets with a significant decline in malnutrition across Latin America, although the region's poorest and most vulnerable populations remain more likely to suffer the effects of climate change.

"In the most rural areas… they don't have many resources to be able to withstand a bad harvest," says Ivy Blackmore, a researcher who studied nutrition and agriculture among indigenous peasant communities in Ecuador.

Higher food prices are causing some consumers to seek out cheaper, but less nutritious, ultra-processed foods. According to a UN report, in Latin America "the cost of a healthy diet is the highest in the world."

One solution may lie in the region's traditional foods, which, in addition to being healthier, can withstand the worst of the ravages of climate change.


The EU is beginning to react in order not to sink in the face of China and the US: it will raise its hand on CO2 emissions and reduce bureaucracy

hibridosyeléctricos.com, 01/30/2025

Synopsis: The European Union's 2025 targets for carmakers to reduce CO2 emissions "must be applied fairly to reflect the investments that companies have made," said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

The car industry is in a bind and the danger comes from several fronts. On the one hand, Chinese cars are seriously increasing competition, offering a good level of technology and more affordable prices. On the other, US President Donald Trump plans new tariffs on European cars. And, as if that were not enough,

Most manufacturers face multi-million euro fines for failing to meet the EU's emissions targets for 2025. Manufacturers have said that these put future investments at risk and would further damage their competitiveness. The European manufacturers' association warned about the situation in the industry and called for "flexibility" with the Green Pact. The European Union seems willing to raise its hand, at least a little.

At a press conference, Ursula von der Leyen said that "there has to be fairness in the system because some [manufacturers] have already invested and are successful in meeting the targets, but also [playing a role] is the amount of flexibility and pragmatism we need to solve this complex problem." She is referring to competition from China and the tariffs announced by the United States.

"The fact that the Commission is looking at how it can support car manufacturers is a positive step in the ongoing discussions on the disproportionate costs of meeting the CO2 targets for 2025," the employers' association said.


Ambassador Milton Rengifo: Colombia and Venezuela have decided to create a roadmap to combat drug trafficking

. (capture)

Vladimir A La Carta, 01/28/2025

Synopsis: At the meeting between the Ministers of Defense of Venezuela and Colombia, it was decided to begin to generate a roadmap to confront drug trafficking, which ceased to be a territorial problem to become a regional and continental problem.

The information was provided by the Colombian ambassador in Venezuela, Milton Rengifo, during an interview conducted by journalist Vladimir Villegas on his digital channels.

He also stated that his government hopes that together they can recover "the extensive border that is now taken over" by irregular groups and drug trafficking.

"We have made progress in the progressive elimination of the 200 trails. For a year and a half, they no longer exist, we no longer have reports of smuggling. The affected businessmen themselves have reported it at the time, but other issues remain and judicial cooperation is necessary."

Colombian police and the Scientific, Penal and Criminal Investigation Corps (CICPC) have held important meetings and have dealt some blows against common crime leaders, he added.

On the other hand, Ambassador Milton Rengifo said that the National Liberation Army (ELN) is part of a fight for drug trafficking income in the Catatumbo area, bordering Venezuela.


Record-breaking winter storm paralyzes Gulf Coast with heavy snow and freezing temperatures

CNN, January 22, 2025

Synopsis: A severe winter storm has hit the southern United States, dumping record-breaking snowfall from Texas to Florida to the North Carolina coast, a region unaccustomed to extreme winter weather.

It caused airport closures in Louisiana, Mississippi and Florida and in Mobile, Alabama, which recorded 7.5 inches, beating the previous record of 3.6 inches, residents were urged on social media Tuesday to "stay off the roads tonight," warning of "treacherous, life-threatening conditions."

More than 25 million people were under winter weather alerts from Florida to Virginia, while much of the central and eastern US faced temperatures 20-30 degrees below average.

New Orleans broke its snowfall record, with 8 inches of snow, beating the previous record of 2.7 inches; Pensacola, Florida, recorded 19.3 centimetres, surpassing its record of 5.84 centimetres set in 1954.

Freezing temperatures are affecting much of the United States, with at least nine deaths reported. The situation for the homeless was becoming increasingly desperate.


COP30 in Brazil to highlight developing countries' climate finance needs

Reuters, January 24, 2025

Synopsis: With the US pulling out of the Paris agreement, a fierce dispute over who will pay for the global transition to cleaner energy sources is expected to develop at this year's COP30 global climate summit in Brazil.

The last summit saw a bitter fight pitting rich nations against lower-income ones, ending with a commitment by rich countries to provide $300 billion a year to support developing nations by 2035 that falls short of the $1.3 trillion a year developing countries say they need.

"It was already difficult to reach $300 billion with the United States in the negotiation," André Correa do Lago, the newly appointed Brazilian president of COP30, said in an interview with international media on Wednesday, but with his withdrawal it will be even more difficult.

N.R. The only way for poorer countries to successfully deal with the effects of climate change is by creating wealth, not by begging.


Extreme weather is here to stay. How to prepare financially for a disaster

CNN, January 17, 2025

Synopsis: No part of the United States is safe from the risk of extreme weather events, which have hit harder in recent years. There are steps you can take right now to help speed the repair and recovery process after a disaster.

In addition to the physical essentials you may need if you need to evacuate or take shelter, prepare an administrative emergency kit — physical and virtual, so to speak. "Things can happen very quickly. You want to have a go-bag with all your important documents in one place that's easy to remember and easy to access," said Loretta Worters, a spokeswoman for the Insurance Information Institute. A wildfire can burn your home and all your belongings to the ground. "When it burns, there's nothing left to show what you have," Worters said.

It's recommended to take photos or videos of your home and its contents and store them in the cloud, and if possible, keep a physical copy with your important documents or on a flash drive.

Having sufficient insurance is critical to preserving your finances and sanity after a disaster. In 2023 alone, there were nearly $80 billion in insured losses due to 89 natural catastrophes in the U.S., such as wildfires and floods.


Volkswagen, about to break the barrier of 2000 km of autonomy: it will do so with this fuel

ECO News, January 23, 2025

Synopsis: Volkswagen plans to build an efficient hydrogen-powered car capable of travelling up to 2,000 kilometres without refuelling, more than double the range of current hydrogen cars, and it achieves this with a new generation of cells.

The huge batteries of electric cars are important accumulators of electricity that is released according to the needs of the vehicle. In contrast, hydrogen fuel cells are capable of producing their own electricity. To do so, they require a high-pressure tank to store the hydrogen in the form of a gas.

The company hopes to have the technology ready for the first tests to be carried out starting in 2026.


Great Barrier Reef bleaching reaches 'catastrophic' levels

National Geographic, January 23, 2025

Synopsis: According to a study led by the University of Sydney, the Great Barrier Reef, which is so large that it can be seen from space and stretches for more than 345,000 square kilometres, is on the brink of collapse. More than 50% of the corals studied on One Tree Island, south of the Great Barrier Reef, died during the summer of 2024, when it suffered the most severe and widespread bleaching episode ever recorded in its history. They were previously considered resilient, but have given in to record temperatures.

Bleaching occurs when extreme heat forces corals to expel the symbiotic algae on which they depend to survive. Without them, they turn white and, over time, can die if thermal stress persists.

Global warming, driven by the burning of fossil fuels, has been the main factor behind this ecological disaster. A situation aggravated by the El Niño phenomenon, which intensifies the warming of the waters in this region.

What makes this disaster even more alarming is the speed at which it is happening. In just five months, the percentage of dead corals has increased dramatically. From 66% of colonies bleached in February, by July, more than half of them had already perished, according to the study.

Greenhouse gas emissions are needed, as are more ambitious international policies and active restoration of damaged reefs. However, time is a resource that is rapidly running out.

N.R. It should be remembered that algae, by absorbing carbon from the ocean, play an important role in the fight against climate change. As algae grow, pieces fall off and float to the seabed, storing carbon.


Brazil prepares to hand over deforested forests to the private sector

. (Agencia Brasil)

Folha de S.Paulo, January 23, 2025

Synopsis: The government plans to hand over deforested forests to private enterprise, with the aim of developing the forests and thus obtaining benefits from the sale of carbon credits, which can be generated in public areas, provided that part of the income from the sale of the credits is allocated to the governments.

So far, the Pará government has estimated an area of ??10,000 hectares, while the Lula government intends to hand over around 350,000 hectares of public forest to private enterprise by next year.


Russian cancer vaccine could be available by the end of this year

Diario El Universal, 01/30/2025

Synopsis: A personalized cancer vaccine that introduces a modified messenger ribonucleic acid molecule into a patient's body using artificial intelligence (AI) has been developed by the Russian government and could be available to the public later this year.

By introducing this molecule, it modifies the genetic code in such a way that it causes cancer cells to synthesize specific proteins that help the body's immune system identify and eradicate them.

More than 80 percent of rodents that were given this vaccine had a reduction in the size of their tumors.

A vaccine can be made for a specific patient in approximately one week, at a cost of about 3 thousand US dollars, and it is estimated that patients from several medical centers would receive it free of charge.

According to Alexander Gintsburg, director of the Gamaleya Center, he said that the treatment would be universal and would be effective for all cancer variants.

According to international studies presented at the annual congress of the European Society of Medical Oncology, held in 2024, which brought together more than 30,000 doctors, specialists and researchers from around the world, the use of AI will have a fundamental effect on all types of treatments in the future.

In the cases studied at that congress, it was analyzed that this type of treatment administered before surgery increasingly allows for organ preservation in cases of cancer.

Until now, the standard was surgery, but it seems that we are entering a new era, in which the operation could be avoided, celebrated David Sebag-Montefiore, oncologist and professor at the University of Leeds, located in the United Kingdom.


China made a bet that it couldn't compete with the U.S. in cars. The bet is paying off

CNN, January 23, 2025

Synopsis: For Li Shuo, director of China's climate center, traditional automakers in the United States, Japan and Europe had "such a big lead" in gasoline-powered vehicles that China was unlikely to catch up. Electrics offered a chance to dominate a new market, and it is succeeding.

More than half of new cars sold are battery-powered. Last year alone, electric sales in China soared to 11 million, an increase of nearly 40% from 2023.

China's electric vehicle revolution is helping to cement its dominance in clean technology and its claim to global climate leadership.

It is also shaking up oil markets. Analysts predict that oil demand may be shifting from rising to declining demand. As the world's largest oil importer, what happens here has ripple effects across the global oil market.

China's crude oil imports fell by nearly 2% in 2024. China was the second-largest importer of U.S. crude oil in 2023.

China is also reshaping the global landscape through its exports of electric vehicles, with an increasing share going to countries in the Global South.

While China is adding wind and solar power at a rapid pace, the electricity that powers EVs is still dominated by coal, yet an EV produces less pollution over its lifetime than a gasoline-powered car.

But given the carbon intensity of the manufacturing process, we'll only see EV sales start to reduce emissions in a few years.


Fires are on the rise in Brazil and in 2024 they will have burned an area equivalent to Italy

El país.es January 22, 2025

Synopsis: In Brazil, fires will burn more than 300,000 square kilometers (equivalent to the size of Italy) in 2024, which is 80% more than a year earlier, according to the annual report released this Wednesday by MapBiomas, a Brazilian network of NGOs, universities and technology companies that makes measurements from satellite images.

Three-quarters of it was native vegetation and almost 60% belonged to the Amazon.

According to MapBiomas researcher Felipe Martenexen, fires in the largest tropical forest in the world are not a natural phenomenon.

Deliberate fires are a widely used way to convert forested areas into pastures for livestock. But they not only destroy or damage vegetation, they also trigger greenhouse gas emissions.

The state most affected by the fires last year was Pará, which is larger than France and Spain combined, and whose capital, Belem, will host COP30 next November, a meeting which, given the US' withdrawal from the Paris agreement, no one doubts that the absence of the leading power will hamper the global fight against climate change.


FDA bans red dye 3 in candy and other foods over cancer risk

Dallasnews, January 16, 2025

Synopsis: U.S. regulators have banned the use of the dye erythrosine, FD&C Red No. 3, or simply Red 3, which gives a bright red hue to some candies, pastries and maraschino cherries and is used in foods, dietary supplements and oral medications such as cough syrups, because of a possible cancer risk.

The dye has been found in some studies to cause cancer in laboratory rats.

Food manufacturers will have until January 2027 to phase it out, and drug makers until January 2028. Other countries still allow certain uses of the dye.

The action was especially important to protect children, who consume more of the dye based on their body weight than adults, lawmakers said.

Red 3 is banned for food use in Europe, Australia and New Zealand, with the exception of certain types of cherries. It will be banned in California starting in January 2027.



MEDIA HEADLINES SUMMARY

Selected until January 26, 2025






Argentina will eliminate the figure of femicide from the Penal Code because it implies "a distortion of the concept of equality"

RTVE.es, 01/24/2025

Synopsis: The Argentine Minister of Justice announced that the Government will eliminate the figure of femicide from the Penal Code because it implies "a distortion of the concept of equality." "This administration defends equality before the Law enshrined in our National Constitution. No life is worth more than another."

This is a modification of Law 26,791 of the Penal Code, which since 2012 - during the Government of Cristina Fernández (2007-2015) - imposes life imprisonment on anyone who kills "a woman when the act is perpetrated by a man and involves gender violence."

"For years they have used women to fill their pockets and undermine men. Regardless of our sex, we are all equal before the Law and deserve the same protection and respect," added Libarona, who said that feminism "seeks privileges by setting one half of the population against the other."

It should be remembered that Milei abolished the Ministry of Women, Gender and Diversity

Argentina recorded between 255 and 294 feminicides in 2024

N.R. We imagine that the next decree of Argentine fascism will be to eliminate the provision on ships that, in the event of a shipwreck, children, the elderly and women must first be allowed into lifeboats.

This is the problem when reality overflows the rigid limits of ideological radicalism. Our people have already suffered some of this with the failed attempt to corner our economies in the famous neoliberal theses.


In Venezuela: Mérida signs agreement with Chinese company to optimize electricity with solar farm

VTV, Prensa, 01/26/2025

Synopsis: A contract to install the largest solar farm in Venezuela in the city of El Vigía, Mérida, with a nominal capacity of 50 megawatts, was signed between the Government of Mérida and the Chinese company Green Full.

The supply of 50 megawatts of energy from these facilities represents more than 40% of the average electricity demand in the state of Mérida, which is why this project provides an important improvement for the stability of the service in the entity. The initiative was promoted by bilateral cooperation agreements between China and Venezuela, and foresees the installation of 94 thousand solar panels, according to reports from the regional Executive, released at the beginning of January.


Venezuelan diplomatic headquarters vandalized in several countries

RT, january 13, 2025

Synopsis: Venezuela denounced that several diplomatic offices in other countries have been vandalized after the swearing-in of President Nicolás Maduro for the 2025-2031 period.

The head of Foreign Affairs, Yvan Gil, reported through his Telegram account that the so-called 'comanditos', made up of shock groups from extremist sectors of the opposition, have attacked diplomatic facilities in Lisbon (Portugal), Frankfurt (Germany), Medellín (Colombia), Vigo (Spain) and San José (Costa Rica).

In the images that accompany the interaction, a Venezuelan flag with the incomplete name of former candidate Edmundo González can be seen on one of the buildings; posters where he wears the presidential sash; the word 'dictatorship' and smoke coming out of a balcony.


In Venezuela: Minister Jiménez asks to reverse the effects of brain rot and pay attention to youth

Venezolana de Televisión, 01/08/2025

Synopsis: The Minister of People's Power for Science and Technology, Gabriela Jiménez, on her Telegram channel, stressed that we have to work to reverse the effects of brain rot and pay more attention to our youth. "We need healthy children and young people, both physically and mentally. Less screens and more reading, more nature, more human encounters, with friends, family, more hugs, love, and face-to-face conversations. We are on time."

The message was shared along with a research paper where it reports that the Oxford Dictionary chose 'brain rot' as the word of the year 2024, a term that perfectly captures a phenomenon of our times that refers to the perceived deterioration in mental capacities caused by excessive consumption of digital content and social networks.

Jiménez highlighted that it is "interesting to see how vocabulary evolves to describe the effects of the Digital Age on our cognition", in which it has increased by 230% between 2023 and 2024 and has gained popularity among generations Z and Alpha on platforms such as TikTok; according to the media.

The head of the technology portfolio described that "The emotional wear and tear increased by the need to exist on these platforms, the excessive consumption of information without control and even the inability to connect with the world outside the screens, is causing dangerous damage to mental health." In this sense, she recommended continuous work to reverse the effects of social networks and "pay more attention to our youth.


We present the first hydrogen bus made in Chile

Gobierno de chile, 12/11/2024

Synopsis: As part of a public-private partnership between Colbún, Anglo American, Reborn Electric Motors, Fundación Chile and the Centro Nacional de Pilotaje, the first hydrogen bus made in Chile was presented.

The initiative has a total investment of 800 million pesos, and its development is in charge of Reborn Electric Motors, a Chilean technology startup. It will begin testing in 2025 on different routes, and then carry out demonstrations in communities and educational institutions.

Characteristics of the new hydrogen bus: Capacity for 24 passengers; Autonomy of up to 600 kilometers; Maximum speed of 90 km/h; Dimensions: 8.5 meters long, 2.4 meters wide and 3.4 meters high; Fuel storage tanks with an approximate capacity of 20 kg, which will allow it to operate in various environments, both industrial and urban and rural.


Astronomers warn: The world's darkest and most pristine skies could be in danger due to industrial megaproject

Ladera sur, january 14, 2025

Synopsis: Since last week, scientists have been warning that the future of astronomy and the world's most pristine skies is being threatened by a green hydrogen megaproject presented by AES Andes for its environmental impact assessment on December 24.

The project covers an industrial complex of more than 3,000 hectares, including the construction of a port, ammonia and hydrogen production plants and thousands of electricity generating units, located between 5 and 11 kilometers from the telescopes of the Paranal observatory in Chile.

If implemented, this complex would produce light pollution throughout its operational life, causing irreparable damage to astronomical observations.

The Paranal observatory, inaugurated in 1999, is a key asset for the global astronomical community, giving rise to important astronomical advances, such as the first image of an exoplanet and the confirmation of the accelerated expansion of the universe.


Nanoplastics could impact mood and behavior

kchcomunicacion.com, january 11, 2025

Synopsis: A recent study evaluated brain activity in regions related to dopamine, a neurotransmitter that regulates mood, in mice that were given nanoplastics at different stages of their development.

An experiment with mice, conducted by researchers at the Catholic University of Daegu in South Korea, suggests that nanoplastics (fragments less than a micrometer in diameter) could alter brain development.

Likewise, nanoplastics have been considered to be more harmful to humans than microplastics, since being small enough they can enter human cells, the bloodstream and some organs. It has even been documented that they can penetrate the body of fetuses through the placenta.

The experiment evaluated locomotor and social behavior and brain activity in areas related to dopamine, a neurotransmitter that helps control motor skills and also functions associated with mood.

According to PsyPost, although the research had limitations, since it focused on male rodents, its results are significant. In particular, they provide evidence that nanoplastics can cause damage to the brain, in addition to having other far-reaching implications for human health.


Petro announces a 9.54% increase in the minimum wage in Colombia

EFE, december 25, 2024

Synopsis: Colombian President Gustavo Petro signed a decree to increase the country's minimum wage by 9.54% to 1,423,500 Colombian pesos, or about US$322.

"It is an increase in the standard of living of all people who link their income to the minimum wage. The minimum wage does make the economy grow, not the other way around. It is not with slave workers that a country's economy grows."

To defend the wage increase, Petro also stressed that Colombia will close the year with 5% inflation, while food inflation will remain at 2.7%, which represents "the largest drop in the entire Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)."


A mega electric transmission line: this is the new project that is being sought to be installed in Chile

Ladera Sur, december 19, 2024

Synopsis: The Kimal-Lo Aguirre power transmission line is a megaproject that seeks to bring energy from solar and wind sources from the Antofagasta Region to the Metropolitan Region. It would pass through 5 regions, 30 communes and more than 150 localities, over 1,342 kilometers and 2,686 towers.

It will be analyzed in a detailed and multidisciplinary manner in a collective effort of knowledge and experiences that includes the areas of environmental sciences, energy, geology, hydrogeology, climatology, acoustics, biology, botany, zoology, biodiversity, archaeology, paleontology, forestry sciences, sociology, anthropology, cartography, laws, natural resources, territorial planning and a long etcetera.

It will be Chile's first high-voltage direct current project and is one of the axes of the roadmap of the 2022-2026 energy agenda to meet the 2050 decarbonisation goals, as it seeks to take advantage of clean - albeit discontinuous - energy produced in the north of the country and which is currently being lost due to a lack of transmission capacity.

The consortium in charge of executing the project is the Conexión Energía consortium, formed by the companies China Southern Power Grid (CSG), Transelec and ISA Inversiones Chile. Work on the project has not yet begun, but the completion date has been set for 2029 and the end of its environmental processing for February 2025.


Marine heatwave causes worst single-species mortality event in Alaska, study finds

CNN, january 1,2025

Synopsis: A marine heatwave driven by warming ocean temperatures has killed off about half of Alaska's common murres, the largest single-species die-off in modern history, a study says.

The northeastern Pacific heatwave spanned the ocean ecosystem from California to the Gulf of Alaska between late 2014 and 2016 and is considered the largest and longest-lasting marine heatwave on record, with temperatures rising 4.5 to 5.4 degrees Fahrenheit above normal levels, said Brie Drummond, a co-author of the study.

The murres, which resemble penguins in their tuxedos, are predators that play a critical role in regulating the flow of energy within the marine food web in the Northern Hemisphere.

As temperatures in Alaska increased, the murres' food supply decreased, according to the study, and one of their main prey, Pacific cod, declined by 80 percent between 2013 and 2017.

As temperatures continue to rise in areas like Alaska, tropical or subtropical waters are shifting to different areas, Huettmann said, creating conditions for a completely new ecosystem. With these environmental changes, animals will either adapt or fail to survive in the new climate.

While rising temperatures are the main factor affecting animals like murres, other elements can also contribute to changes in marine life, such as microplastics, ocean acidification, rising sea levels, chronic oil spills, etc.


Design of a device with almost inexhaustible energy presented in Russia

RT, december 11, 2024

Synopsis: Russian specialists will now design a prototype of a thermonuclear power reactor that could help reduce dependence on fossil fuels.

A group of scientists from the Scientific Research Institute of Electrophysical Equipment developed the conceptual design of a device for magnetic confinement of thermonuclear deuterium-tritium plasma, known as a 'tokamak with reactor technology' (TRT), which is considered one of the most important stages in the creation of a prototype of a thermonuclear power reactor, a facility with the capacity to produce virtually unlimited, safe and clean energy.

The results of the preliminary design will allow specialists to move on to the next stage, at which it is planned to complete the technical design of the TRT.

NIIEFA Director General Sergei Hertsog said that controlled thermonuclear fusion energy "will significantly reduce dependence on fossil fuels" as well as reduce "greenhouse gas emissions," "such projects can attract investment in scientific development, create new jobs and contribute to the development of industries related to "materials science, cryogenic technologies and supercomputers."


2024 was the hottest year on record, exceeding the pre-industrial level by 1.5ºC

Noticias de las Naciones Unidas 01/10/25

Synopsis: 2024 was the hottest year on record, with global average surface temperatures 1.55°C above pre-industrial levels, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has confirmed.

Reporting today's revelations, the UN Secretary-General said global warming is a harsh reality, saying that despite the 1.5-degree limit set by the Paris Agreement for the end of the century having been exceeded, "all is not lost," "there is still time to avoid the worst of the climate catastrophe," "Governments must submit new national climate action plans this year to limit the long-term global temperature rise to 1.5°C and help the most vulnerable cope with devastating climate impacts," he explained.

The secretary general of the Meteorological Organization recalled that the record temperatures of the last ten years have meant devastating and extreme weather, rising sea levels and melting ice, "and all of this has been driven by record levels of greenhouse gases due to human activities."

The agency detailed that ocean warming in 2024 played a key role in high temperatures since around 90% of the excess heat from global warming is stored in the ocean, making ocean heat content a critical indicator of climate change.

The data released are a preview of the report on the state of the world climate to be published by the WMO in March 2025, which will offer full details of the main indicators of climate change, including greenhouse gases, surface temperatures, ocean heat, sea level rise, glacier retreat and sea ice extent.


Lula signs law banning cell phone use in schools across the country

Folha. De S.Paulo, january 14, 2025

Synopsis: President Lula (PT) has approved the bill banning the use of cell phones in public and private schools across the country. The measure will begin to be implemented this school year and will be valid for all stages of basic education, from early childhood education to secondary school.

The sanction took place in a closed event, but broadcast on the internet, with ministers and parliamentarians at the Planalto Palace.

"I want to tell you that what you did was a great gesture of dignity with the future of this country. We need to allow humanism to not be replaced by algorithms. After you leave the classroom, when you get home, your mother can do whatever she wants; we are not going to prohibit, we are not interfering, we are just educating that there are places where it is allowed and places where it is not," said Lula. "And, in a classroom, if we want to properly educate Brazilian youth, they have to go there to study. This is not going to harm the digital education of that child in any way."


"There is an intention to execute our leaders": the struggle of the Sin Tierra in Brazil

SWI swissinfo.ch, january 12, 2025

Synopsis: "They are increasingly organized and they come with the intention of executing mainly our leaders," said Altamir Bastos, a local leader of the (MST) at the wake of the two militants killed in Brazil.

The Landless Rural Workers Movement, one of the most active Brazilian social organizations that fights for agrarian reform, suffered the attack of "hitmen" who killed two men, the leader of the camp, Valdir do Nascimento, 52 years old, and the militant Gleison Barbosa, 28 years old.

Bastos clarified that what happened was not an isolated case and recounted various acts of intimidation and violence that this and other settlements throughout Brazil have suffered in recent years at the hands of "criminals who want to take over plots of land."

The Brazilian government estimated that 40 people were involved in the recent attack on the settlers, which gained national repercussion and dismayed much of the cabinet, which referred to the crime as an "attack."

In an almost immediate reaction once the event became known, the federal government, through the Ministry of Justice and Public Security, directed a request to the Federal Police to open an investigation for human rights violations.

Former President Jair Bolsonaro (2019-2022) and the famous "rural bench" that always supported him in Congress have maintained a historical dispute with the MST and its progressive thought leaders. In 2023, this opposition bloc in the Chamber of Deputies managed to have a special commission installed to investigate alleged land invasions by members of the social movement.


Clean energy in Brazil closes 2024 with a positive balance

Folha de S. Paulo, january 16, 2025

Synopsis: The solar and wind energy industries recorded investments of close to US$ 13 billion in 2024. The positive balance was led by the solar industry, which benefited from tax breaks guaranteed by federal and state laws. In 2024, 14.3 GW of solar energy was installed throughout Brazil, of which 8.7 GW came from micro and mini generators, the so-called distributed generation (DG).

In this modality, solar panels are installed close to consumer units, such as on roofs. According to specialists, the arrival of Donald Trump to the White House is unlikely to immediately affect investments in clean energy in Brazil, as it is sufficiently consolidated to suffer immediate fluctuations.


La Higuera mining project rejected in Chile

Ladera Sur, january 8, 2025

Synopsis: The Committee of Ministers has unanimously decided to reject the controversial Dominga mining and port project, located in the commune of La Higuera, Coquimbo region. This decision marks a new chapter in the extensive environmental debate that has surrounded the project.

Dominga, a project valued at US$2.5 billion, has generated strong opposition due to its environmental impact on the marine ecosystem near the Humboldt Penguin National Reserve. Its detractors highlight the danger it represents for the biodiversity and ecological balance of the area.


Fires in numbers: Deaths and damages, the most devastating in the history of Los Angeles

France 24, january 13, 2025

Synopsis: The raging wildfires in Los Angeles, which have already scorched about 160 square kilometers, have so far left at least 24 confirmed dead, but the number could rise as 16 people remain missing.

Local authorities estimate that the fires have destroyed at least 12,000 structures, caused losses of up to $150 billion and more than 100,000 residents evacuated, while another 87,000 people were facing evacuation warnings.

Crews from California and nine other states are part of the ongoing response that includes nearly 1,400 fire trucks, 84 aircraft and more than 14,000 personnel, including firefighters recently arrived from Mexico. Firefighters from Canada have also joined efforts in the Los Angeles area to assist fire departments in the flame-ravaged state.


Bolivian government announces purchase of vaccines to curb COVID-19 resurgence

The Associated Press, january 7, 2025

Synopsis: Bolivian President Luis Arce announced on Tuesday the purchase of half a million doses of vaccines in response to a resurgence of COVID-19 with hundreds of infections and three deaths in recent days. "In the coming days we will have more than half a million vaccines available for the population," the president said on his X account.


Europe is running out of water

Radio Miraflores, 01/05/2025 08:15 AM

Synopsis: It is already difficult to control the water crisis that the old continent has been experiencing for some years and that was accentuated in 2024 with the action of climate change. Unfortunately, it is now that its political leaders are beginning to realize the seriousness of the matter. Such is the case of Jessika Roswall, who is the European Commissioner for the Environment and who recently pointed out that "The energy issue is very important, of course, but water is also important and we have a shortage of it."

According to the official: "The European bloc focused for a long time on the energy issue, neglecting to address the water supply crisis. We have talked too little about water and we have talked about energy efficiency, and about energy, energy, energy. This is very important, of course, but water is also important and we have a shortage of it in Europe," she said.


'We need competent people': Trump's nod to Musk on work visas

Notitarde, january 1, 2025

Synopsis: The United States needs “competent people,” said the country’s president-elect, Donald Trump, thus supporting the need for an H-1B type work visa for specialists with specialized knowledge.

Trump said that “We need smart people to come to our country. We need a lot of people to come. We are going to have jobs like we have never had before.”

In turn, Musk supported the implementation of the H-1B visa that authorizes the temporary employment of qualified people and applies to companies that wish to hire non-immigrant foreigners as workers in specialized occupations that require the application of a set of highly specialized knowledge and the obtaining of at least a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent.”

N.R. This policy is deadly for our region, since it not only reduces the number of prepared professionals that we so desperately need, but in fact, it means that our countries are investing huge resources to prepare them, so that other countries take advantage without contributing anything in return.


40 million people predicted to die from antibiotic resistance

RT, january 6, 2025

Synopsis: Sally Davies, England's former chief medical officer, said antimicrobial resistance could claim 40 million lives by 2050 if left unchecked.

There is a real danger that routine procedures - from surgery to childbirth - could lead to widespread life-threatening risks due to the spread of bacteria that are resistant to antimicrobials. "Around a million people die each year due to the spread of antimicrobial resistance, and that number will rise over the next 25 years," she warned.

According to Davies, "recent data shows that AMR is decreasing in children under five, which is good news," but "in those over 70, mortality rates have increased by 80% since 1990, which is very worrying." "New types of antibiotics have not been used since the late 1980s, and the market model that would encourage the creation of new antibiotics does not work."

"Blood pressure drugs that you have to take every day, or cancer drugs that you have to take for months, offer pharmaceutical companies much higher profits. So they have no incentive to try to develop new antibiotics," he said.


Heavy rains in Bolivia cause 14 deaths

Telesur december 22, 2024

Synopsis: The Meteorological Service of Bolivia activated an Orange alert for the rains.

More than 200 communities in six departments in Bolivia suffered damage due to the intense rainfall in the departments of Tarija, Chuquisaca, Potosí, Cochabamba, Beni, Santa Cruz, Pando and La Paz, which have left at least 14 dead due to the increase in waters, said the Vice Minister of Civil Defense, Juan Carlos Calvimontes.

"We already have an impact in six departments, there were intense rains in these departments, there is an impact in more than 40 municipalities, from the minimum to the maximum, we are talking about more than 200 communities," said Calvimontes.


Two dead in Ecuador, damage and a hundred ports closed in Peru due to waves in the Pacific

France 24, december 29, 2024

Synopsis: A tidal wave in the Pacific has hit Chile, Ecuador and Peru. In Ecuador, two deaths were reported, one of them a fisherman, and in Peru, the phenomenon has caused serious damage to infrastructure and the closure of 101 ports in the north and center of the country and flooding in the capital, Lima.

The incident, which initially seemed limited to some areas of northern Peru, began to spread over thousands of kilometers of coast along the Pacific, becoming a growing threat for the three countries.

The rescue of 31 crew members of small boats who had decided to stay at sea, to protect their ships, was carried out.

Meanwhile in Chile, the affected localities have been Viña del Mar and Valparaíso, where the waves hit the coastal infrastructure and suspended tourist activity.


More than 10,000 migrants died at sea trying to reach Spain in 2024, according to a report by Caminando Fronteras

Euronews 12/26/2024

Synopsis: The Spanish migrant rights group Caminando Fronteras says 10,457 migrants died at sea while trying to reach Spain in 2024, a 58% increase in deaths compared to last year. 9,757 deaths occurred along the so-called Atlantic route, while more than 700 on the Mediterranean routes.

The report specifies that among the dead there are 1,538 children and 421 women, and that the months of April and May were the deadliest of the year.

For its part, the Spanish Ministry of the Interior reported that more than 57,700 migrants arrived in the country by sea, an increase of 12% compared to the same period last year.


Sheinbaum launches a plan to make Mexico "the best country in the world": what does it entail?

Diario El Universal, 01/13/2025

Synopsis: The president of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum, launched an ambitious government plan, called "Plan Mexico" that will be used as a work tool to be developed by her administration and that is intended to go "beyond" her six-year term, which had the participation of her executive train and the different sectors of the private sector and regional entities of the country, who were involved in its creation during the last six months of work.

The plan, said the president, seeks to achieve the comprehensive development of the country in all its aspects, not only in the economic but also in the educational, social and general well-being of the quality of life of Mexicans, based on an increase in foreign and national investment to achieve greater local production while reducing imports.

The plan incorporates the regional development of the country, the increase in jobs with well-paid salaries, the relocation of strategic companies in the domestic market, the substitution of imports, the generation of new companies and manufacturing and supply industries, scientific, technological development and innovation, as well as the expansion of access to education, and coverage of basic services such as water, electricity, gas, among others.

In the international arena, the plan also seeks to increase the integration of the continent, not only among North American countries through the trade agreement with Canada and the United States, but also with the rest of Latin America and the Caribbean, to turn the region into the one with the "greatest economic potential" in the world. His office's portfolio already has almost 2,000 projects from national and foreign investors, amounting to some 277 billion dollars that could reach Mexico. With these investments, Mexicans will be able to continue reducing poverty and inequality, and go beyond being a cultural and tourist power.

To achieve this, he hopes to increase investment with respect to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by over 25%, between the public and private sectors, with special emphasis on ensuring that national consumption in the textile, footwear, furniture, and toy sectors, among others, is with products made in the country. The plan establishes the construction of major projects such as highways, passenger and freight train systems, airports, and at least 1 million homes for the most vulnerable sectors.

The Executive plans to increase public purchases from the national industry by at least 50%, proposes establishing rules on energy consumption, environmental sustainability, the reduction of pollution and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, and is betting on the expansion of commercial banking financing for small and medium-sized businesses.


"Redefining energy transitions": Must-read article by OPEC's secretary general

La Iguana.tv, 01/14/2025

Synopsis: Haitham Al Ghais, OPEC Secretary General: Is it perhaps time to rethink the concept of “energy transition”? The past has shown us that our future has never been about replacing energy sources, but about adopting new ones and continually finding new uses for energy. It has been about adding new energies and technologies, not removing them. Coal replaced wood, which was replaced by oil, which will apparently be replaced by renewables. Energy sources have not disappeared; in fact, they continue to complement and even depend on each other.

The growing importance of oil from the late 1950s onwards also led to an increase in demand for coal, vital for steel production, a key material for oil exploration, production and transport. The world consumes more than three times as much coal as in 1960, and its consumption is increasing.

Petroleum products such as fibreglass, resin and plastic are used in wind turbines and ethylene is used in the production of solar panels. And as for wind farms, they would not exist without steel, which brings us back to the importance of coal. Without petroleum it would be difficult to manufacture medical products such as medical syringes, hand sanitisers, artificial heart valves, resuscitation masks and stethoscopes.

The world continues to consume more oil year after year, and we have no doubt that this trend will continue in the future, given the expansion of the population in the developing world, which means that more investment, investment and more investment is needed, which we estimate at $17.4 trillion by 2050 – almost $650 billion a year.

For some, our energy future is simple. It is a world dominated by renewable energy. Perhaps it is easy to be fooled. We need to realise that the current energy transition is not based on the real history of energy and is not a realistic future for all countries and peoples of the world. This has become clear in recent years with the adoption of ambitious and unrealistic policies.

On renewables, OPEC considers them to be an essential component of our energy future, but they are only one part of the future energy puzzle.

Is it realistic to think that renewables alone can meet current global energy demand and projected global energy expansion, especially given that wind and solar currently only supply about 4% of global energy?


At least 14 dead in two Brazilian states after heavy rains and flooding

Publicado: RT, january 13, 2025

Synopsis: At least 14 people have died in the southeastern region of Brazil after heavy rains and flooding. The storm mainly affected the states of Minas Gerais and Sergipe, where large landslides were recorded that even caused the asphalt of a road to give way, sweeping away several vehicles.


Forest fire razes more than 4,100 hectares of Argentina's National Park

Xinhua news.cn, 01/15/2025

Synopsis: A fire in the Nahuel Huapi National Park, one of Argentina's main tourist attractions and located in the province of Río Negro, is still active and has so far razed more than 4,100 hectares. A total of 92 firefighters are fighting the fire on the ground, with the air support of helicopters and planes from the National Fire Management Service and the Argentine Army.

"All possible operational strategies are being implemented to fight the fire and protect the populations that could be affected. For this reason, roads have been conditionally closed and access to the areas where the brigades, vehicles, trucks, air resources and road machinery are working has been restricted, in order to protect visitors and residents who circulate through the area and also not hinder the deployment in the territory," the official information highlighted.

The Nahuel Huapi National Park, established in 1934, has an area of ??710,000 hectares, which are located in two southern provinces, Neuquén and Río Negro. It is the first national park in the country and protects Andean ecosystems in northern Patagonia, water basins, fauna and a varied cultural heritage.


Innovative technique developed in China that accelerates the extraction of rare earths

Sputnik Mundo, 01.12.2025

Synopsis: A new technology for producing rare earth elements that achieves "unprecedented" speeds and significantly reduces environmental damage has been developed in China, a local media outlet reports. By minimising the duration of mining operations and reducing energy consumption and waste, it helps to give a new dimension to the industry.

The technique demonstrated a 95% reduction in ammonia emissions compared to traditional methods, and the new method allowed 95% of rare earth elements to be recovered versus 15% with traditional methods, while reducing extraction time by 70% and energy consumption by 60%.

This new technique uses electric fields to separate rare earth elements, which are usually dispersed in low concentrations within minerals, making their conventional extraction expensive and harmful to the environment.

Rare earth minerals play a key role in the production of electronic devices, smartphones, vehicles and weapons, but their extraction is limited due to the severe environmental impacts associated with these activities.


In Spain: 2024 closes with a 7.1% increase in car sales

motor1.com. january 3, 2025

Synopsis: For the first time since 2019, Spain has sold more than one million units, which puts us at pre-pandemic levels. Growing by 7.1% during 2024.

But on the other hand, registrations of electrified passenger cars (BEV+PHEV) are growing by 2% in 2024, with 115,939 units, which translates into 11.4% of the total market.

Likewise, registrations of light commercial vehicles registered 165,847 units, which represents an increase of 13.6% in 2024, while sales of industrial vehicles, buses, coaches and minibuses close the year with a growth of 12.5%, with 36,509 units.

In terms of brands and models, during the last month of 2024, the winners were Toyota, Hyundai and SEAT, in that order, while in the year-to-date, Toyota, Volkswagen and SEAT occupied the first three places on the podium.


Scientists discover cancer's "fingerprint"

Deutsche Welle, 12/26/2024

Synopsis: Different types of cancer have unique molecular fingerprints that are detectable in the early stages of the disease using small, portable scanners with almost perfect precision and in a matter of hours, by identifying cancer cells by analyzing only 250 RNA molecules, opening a new era in diagnosis.

This is the result of a study promoted by the Center for Genomic Regulation (CRG) in Barcelona, ??Spain, published in the journal Molecular Cell; in which researchers analyzed the chemical modifications of ribosomal RNA in various tissues, revealing unique patterns for each type, discovering that each tissue has a unique pattern of rRNA modifications and called it 'epitranscriptomic fingerprint'.

However, researchers warn that more studies are needed before this strategy can have clinical benefits.

Specifically, the project focuses on ribosomes, a cell's protein factories, which for decades were thought to have the same design throughout the human body, but which have chemical modifications that vary between different tissues, stages of development and diseases.

"This ribosomal fingerprint tells us where a cell comes from. It's as if each tissue leaves its address on a tag in case its cells eventually get lost," said the study's first author, Ivan Milenkovic.

The test achieved almost perfect accuracy in distinguishing between lung cancer and healthy tissue: "Most lung cancers are not diagnosed until advanced stages of development. Here we detect it earlier, which could help us buy more time," said Dr. Milenkovic.


This hybrid engine forgets about electricity to reduce emissions by replacing diesel with hydrogen

Xataca.com, december 24, 2024

Synopsis: A team of researchers from the Engine Research Laboratory at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) in Australia has developed a technology that converts diesel engines into hydrogen-diesel hybrid systems, managing to reduce CO2 emissions by more than 85%.

The dual system allows existing diesel engines to run on up to 90% hydrogen, which could be quickly adapted in trucks, agricultural machinery and equipment used in mining. This approach not only significantly reduces carbon emissions, but also takes advantage of green hydrogen, which does not have to be high purity and produced from renewable energies such as wind and solar, making it a more sustainable and environmentally friendly solution.

The hybrid system retains the original diesel injection and adds direct hydrogen injection into the cylinder, allowing the fuel mixture to be precisely controlled, reducing nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions even below those of a pure diesel engine and allowing the combustion process to be optimized under different operating conditions.

In mining, where hydrogen is already used to generate power, existing diesel engines could be adapted to the hybrid system quickly and efficiently. However, advances in storage technologies that are safer and more efficient are still needed. This challenge represents a critical area for the future development of this technology.

This approach could be key to meeting climate challenges without compromising industrial and economic progress.


Sugary drinks cause more than three million cases of diabetes and cardiovascular accidents a year

El País.es, ENE 07, 2025

Synopsis: A study published in the journal Nature Medicine, based on the analysis of data from 184 countries, concludes that approximately one in 10 new cases of type 2 diabetes and one in 30 cardiovascular diseases can be attributed to the consumption of sugary drinks. The highest proportion of cases was recorded in sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, something that the authors attribute to the change in diet imitating a more Western and industrialized lifestyle.

The study estimates that in 2020, 2.2 million new cases of diabetes and 1.2 million cardiovascular accidents were attributable to these types of drinks. Laura Lara Castor of the University of Washington and lead author of the study. "And it is important to bear in mind that cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of death globally, while diabetes continues to rise."

The incidence of type 2 diabetes has skyrocketed by almost 60% in three decades among the adolescent and young population, according to an analysis by The British Medical Journal.

Analyzing how the consumption of this type of beverage, which has grown by 16% in this time, has been eroding global health. The greatest increase occurred in sub-Saharan Africa, precisely where cases of diabetes have increased the most.

The constant presence and ease of consumption of this type of beverages containing sugar, and sometimes caffeine, makes them addictive

The authors of the study underline the need to implement more policies to regulate the sale and consumption of sugary drinks around the world.


Peruvian government declares state of environmental emergency due to oil spill

Diario El Universal,12/26/2024

Synopsis: The Peruvian government declared on Wednesday a state of environmental emergency for a period of 90 days in the Piura region, which was hit by an oil spill that covered 10,000 square meters on Las Capullanas beach, which occurred on December 20 on a beach located in the north of the country, seeking to reduce environmental pollution and thus safeguard the health of the inhabitants of the area.