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☆ Taiwan or China? Paraguay's dilemma puts election race in the spotlight
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-24 | by ( Lucindaalice Elliott | Daniela Desantis | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

[1/2] Paraguayan presidential candidate Santiago Pena from ruling Colorado Party, attends his campaign rally, in Asuncion, Paraguay April 18, 2023. REUTERS/Cesar OlmedoASUNCION, April 24 (Reuters) - From Paraguayan capital Asuncion to Taipei and Washington, diplomats, officials - and farmers - are closely watching a tight election race that could determine Paraguay's future ties with Taiwan. "How can I deny a relationship that is beneficial for all Paraguayans, a people that need development, need investment, need industry?" China has long argued that democratically-ruled Taiwan is part of its own territory with no right to state-to-state ties, a position Taipei strongly rejects. 'WHEN, NOT IF'Among diplomatic circles in Asuncion there is a sense a switch is inevitable - regardless of the election outcome.

The Chinese Embassy in Washington called self-ruled Taiwan "an inalienable part of China" and said the one-China principle was an "overwhelming trend" internationally. When Taiwan temporarily averted a split with Honduras after President Xiomara Castro took office in January 2022, U.S. State Department officials remained wary. The Biden administration is also keeping a close eye on tiny Belize for any cracks in its Taiwan relationship. Two U.S. officials said Washington was putting less stock in Taiwan maintaining its diplomatic allies in favor of efforts to increase its participation in international organizations. While denied a seat in the United Nations, Taiwan is a member of the WTO and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum.

☆ ‘Wanderlust’ Review: A Giant of Polar Adventure
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-10 | by ( Dominic Green | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +1 min

The age of European exploration was also the age of empires. When wild-bearded white men committed bold acts of derring-do on the margins of the map, they smoothed the path for the machinery of commerce and government. Reid Mitenbuler’s “Wanderlust” is a detailed, digressive and frequently fascinating biography of the Danish polymath Peter Freuchen (1886-1957), a man who explored Earth’s second-last and second-coldest frontier, the Arctic. In 1906, Freuchen, a 20-year-old medical student at the University of Copenhagen, enlisted in an expedition to Greenland as a ship’s stoker. Freuchen’s mother, Frederikke, the daughter of the Paraguayan renegade, approved of her son’s endeavor and wrote that he was “doing the right thing” by following his “restlessness and spirit of adventure.”

☆ Orchestra turns trash to music and environmental activism in Bolivia
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/5] Women waste pickers from the city of La Paz pose near the musicians of the Paraguayan Cateura Recycled Instruments Orchestra, at the Sak'a Churu landfill in Alpacoma, in La Paz, Bolivia February 27, 2023. But the garbage was the point, as the young musicians who make up Paraguay's Cateura orchestra use recycled materials to make their own instruments, "transforming trash into music," according to Fabio Chavez, one of the performers. "It's very beautiful and I was really surprised with these recycled instruments," said worker Silveria Vega. The concert played out as local officials in La Paz aim to minimize the environmental impact of garbage dumps, especially the risk they can pose to ground water supplies. Bolivia's capital produces some 670 tonnes of trash every day, according to official data.

☆ Paraguay president seeks to calm China jitters on Taiwan trip
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen and visiting Paraguay President Mario Abdo Benitez attend a welcome ceremony in front of the Presidential building in Taipei, Taiwan, February 16, 2023. Paraguay is one of only 14 countries to have formal diplomatic relations with Chinese-claimed Taiwan, and Beijing has been stepping up efforts to get those remaining allies to abandon Taipei. "Nobody is going to dare to go ahead with a process of diplomatic rupture with the Republic of China, Taiwan," he said, referring to Taiwan's official name. Santiago Pena, the ruling Colorado Party candidate, has said Paraguay's relations with Taiwan would remain intact if he wins on April 30. China views Taiwan as one of its provinces, with no right to state-to-state ties, a position Taipei hotly disputes.

☆ Destiny unites us, Paraguay leader says as Taiwan ties hang in balance
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/5] Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen and visiting Paraguay President Mario Abdo Benitez arrive at the welcome ceremony in front of the Presidential building in Taipei, Taiwan, February 16, 2023. Speaking at a welcome ceremony in Taipei attended by Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen, Abdo said the Taiwanese people deserve the highest admiration, respect, and affection from his country. Tsai, recalling her two trips to Paraguay as president, said the two sides continued to deepen their friendship. Paraguay's Taiwan ties have been under pressure in recent years, especially from the country's beef producers and farmers, who see the relationship as an obstacle to gaining access to the world's largest market for their products. China views Taiwan as one of its provinces, with no right to state-to-state ties, a position Taipei hotly disputes.

☆ El Salvador arrests Colombian linked to Paraguayan prosecutor's murder
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] Margareth Lizeth Chacon Zuniga, who, according to the authorities, participated in the murder of Paraguayan prosecutor Marcelo Pecci, assassinated on the island of Baru near Cartagena, Colombia, is presented to the media after her detention in San Salvador, El Salvador January 18, 2023. REUTERS/Jose CabezasSAN SALVADOR, Jan 18 (Reuters) - A Colombian suspect in the murder of a Paraguayan prosecutor last year was arrested in El Salvador and will be handed over to Colombian authorities, El Salvador's government said on Wednesday. Chacon arrived in El Salvador on May 26 and has since traveled to several Latin American countries, returning regularly to the capital of San Salvador, Salvadoran Minister of Justice and Security Gustavo Villatoro said. She will be handed over to Colombian authorities later on Wednesday, Villatoro said. Two other people authorities say are suspected of planning, paying and hiring Pecci's murderers were captured in Colombia on Sunday.

☆ Colombia arrests two more suspects in Paraguayan prosecutor's murder
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Courtesy of Colombian Attorney/Handout via REUTERSBOGOTA, Jan 15 (Reuters) - Two more people suspected of participating in the May murder of a Paraguayan prosecutor have been arrested, the Colombian prosecutor's office said on Sunday. Prosecutor Marcelo Pecci, 45, known for fighting organized crime, was shot dead on the island of Baru near the Caribbean city of Cartagena while honeymooning with his wife. In the latest arrests, brothers Andres Perez and Ramon Perez are accused of arranging the logistics behind the murder, including hiring hitmen, who they planned to pay large sums of money, the prosecutor's office said in a statement. Attorneys for the Perez brothers could not be reached for comment. Officials seized documents, clothing and a car that had been used during the planning of the murder, the prosecutor's office added in a statement.

☆ Global leaders condemn assault on Brazilian government buildings
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

Brazil's democratic institutions have our full support and the will of the Brazilian people must not be undermined. Using violence to attack democratic institutions is always unacceptable. BOLIVIAN PRESIDENT LUIS ARCE"We strongly condemn the assault on the Brazilian Congress, Palace and Supreme Court by anti-democratic groups. A return to normality is urgently needed and we express solidarity with Brazilian institutions. We categorically condemn the assault on the Brazilian Congress and make a call for the immediate return to democratic normality."

☆ Exclusive: Paraguay election race puts Taiwan ties on a knife-edge
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-05 | by ( Daniela Desantis | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Paraguay is one of only 14 nations globally that retains diplomatic ties with Taiwan and the only South American country to do so. "Paraguay must have relations with China," Alegre said in a recent interview after being named presidential candidate. "We hold this critical position towards relations with Taiwan because we don't think we get enough back from this relationship." Santiago Pena, the Colorado Party candidate, said Paraguay's over six decades of ties with Taiwan would remain intact if he won the April 30 vote. "What we produce is enough for a neighborhood in a city in China, but what interests (Beijing) is us breaking ties with Taiwan.

☆ Venezuelan arrested for involvement in murder of Paraguayan anti-mafia prosecutor
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

CARACAS, Dec 22 (Reuters) - A Venezuelan man has been arrested for his alleged involvement in the May murder of a Paraguayan prosecutor in Colombia, Venezuela's interior minister said on Thursday. Gabriel Salinas was arrested on Tuesday at a routine checkpoint east of Venezuela's capital Caracas when he was found to have an outstanding arrest warrant, Interior Minister Remigio Ceballos said. Salinas is accused of participating in the murder of Paraguayan anti-mafia prosecutor Marcelo Pecci, 45, who was shot dead while on his honeymoon on an island near the Caribbean city of Cartagena. Four others have been sentenced in Colombia to 23 years and six months in jail earlier this year for their involvement in Pecci's murder. Reporting by Vivian Sequera; Writing by Kylie Madry; Editing by Sandra MalerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Uruguay's free-trade deal ambitions rattle South American trade bloc
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-06 | by ( Fabian Werner | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

At the meeting in the Uruguayan capital Montevideo, the leaders sought to pressure their host over plans for go-it-alone trade deals with China and the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). "The solution is not for each one of us just to do our own thing," said Argentine President Alberto Fernandez, chiding Uruguay. One of the smallest economies in South America, Uruguay has been trying for years to conclude unilateral trade agreements that it considers more beneficial than Mercosur. Of course, if we go in a group it is much better," said Uruguayan President Luis Lacalle Pou. Paraguayan President Mario Abdo Benítez said Mercosur integration was "fundamental and strategic" but indicated flexibility on a demand Uruguay not move forward on trade deals without informing the others.

☆ Jet lands with smashed windshield and broken nose after extreme weather that left passengers in terror
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-28 | by ( Mia Jankowicz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

A passenger plane was forced into an emergency landing by extreme weather over South America. The Airbus A320 landed in Paraguay with a broken nose cone and a smashed windshield, images show. The plane hit "extreme and unforeseen weather conditions," according to the Chilean officials, who did not give precise details. According to Paraguayan news outlet Telefuturo, the flight had resumed its journey after an initial diversion to avoid the weather. Dramatic images broadcast by Telefuturo show the aircraft with a large portion of its nose cone broken off, its windshield shattered and equipment dangling from its base.

☆ Paraguay artist who painted boots for Messi looks to bring color to World Cup
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-27 | by ( Daniela Desantis | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

ASUNCIÓN, Oct 27 (Reuters) - Lili Cantero, a 29-year-old Paraguayan artist famed for painting intricate and personal soccer boots for stars including Lionel Messi and Ronaldinho, is preparing a new colorful show of her work to take to the World Cup in Qatar. The Asuncion-born artist is painting some two dozen sets of boots, balls and canvases, many inspired by the Middle Eastern nation and its capital Doha, which will host national teams from around the world next month to compete for the World Cup crown. "Messi's boots marked a before and after," said Cantero, who wants to create her own sportswear brand and bring Paraguayan art to major global events. The boots will be presented within 3D structures that reproduce the eight stadiums that Qatar built for the World Cup in Doha, Lusail, Rayyan, Al Khor and Al Wakrah. "I have been working on this for three years and it is a great pride for me to represent my country at this World Cup," Cantero said.

☆ Crypto miners turn to infrastructure consultancies like Sabre56 to help them avoid costly mistakes
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-28 | by ( Parisa Hashempour | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Kazi Awal/InsiderLimited power and infrastructural and logistics issues have led to inefficiencies in cryptocurrency mining farms. Sabre56 is a cryptocurrency mining consultancy working to plug a hole in this sector's problems. Companies like Sabre56 aim to help crypto miners avoid mistakes and make good choices in terms of infrastructure and planning. While many investors who populate the crypto mining industry have access to capital, Harvey says millions of dollars are often spent buying equipment without considering essential infrastructural issues. Designing a successful crypto mining facilitySabre56 has consulted on projects as varied as re-routing excess power from Abu Dhabi's nuclear projects to sustainably-sourced mining in Norwegian and Canadian hydroelectric dams.

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