Stories for January 2017

Tuesday, January 17th 2017 - 10:19 UTC
Eight of the richest people on earth own as much combined wealth as half the human race

Just eight of the richest people on earth own as much combined wealth as half the human race. The charity Oxfam does the math each year and publishes its results just in time for the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, where many of the spectacularly wealthy are often among the attendees, along with diplomats, political figures, and business and cultural leaders.
Tuesday, January 17th 2017 - 10:06 UTC
IMF downgrades Latin America prospects because of lesser growth in Brazil and Mexico

The International Monetary Fund has become more pessimistic about Latin America in the January economic outlook update. IMF is now forecasting regional GDP growth of just 1.2% in 2017, down from the 1.6% projection it made in October. It also lowered its 2018 estimate for Latin America by 0.1% to a revised projection of 2.1% expansion.
Tuesday, January 17th 2017 - 09:45 UTC
Trump barking at the wrong tree: Automation revolution is taking the jobs, not evil foreigners

By Gwynne Dyer - The main message of 2016 was that we are entering a period of economic and political upheaval comparable to the Industrial Revolution of 1780-1850, and nothing expressed that message more clearly than Donald Trump's appointment of Andrew Puzder as Secretary of Labour. Even though it's clear that neither man understands the message.
Tuesday, January 17th 2017 - 09:29 UTC
Falklands under no pressure from the UK: “final decision on flights will be ours, and ours alone”

The Falkland Islands Government is under no pressure from the UK government to agree to something that we feel is not in our best interests, and ”the final decision on (additional) flights will be ours, and ours alone”. The statement belongs to the elected Legislative Assembly of the Falkland Islands' chair of the month, Barry Elsby.
Tuesday, January 17th 2017 - 09:08 UTC
Falklands: spectacular display of helicopter capability

Falkland Islanders were able to enjoy a first class display of chopper capability when a military Chinook transported from Mount Pleasant to Stanley Airport the decommissioned Sea King Search and Rescue (SAR) helicopter donated to the Falkland Islands Museum and National Trust by the UK Ministry of Defense.
Monday, January 16th 2017 - 17:46 UTC
Airbags maker Takata agrees to pay US$ 1bn in penalties for concealing defects

The Japanese car parts maker Takata has agreed to pay US$1bn in penalties in the US for concealing dangerous defects in its exploding airbags. The firm, which also has assembly plants in Brazil and Uruguay, also pleaded guilty to a single criminal charge, the company and the US Department of Justice said..
Monday, January 16th 2017 - 17:40 UTC
Sterling drops ahead of Theresa May's Tuesday Brexit speech

The British pound has fallen against the dollar to below US$1.20 ahead of a key speech from Theresa May on Brexit this week. Sterling fell 1.5% against the US currency on Sunday to its lowest level since the flash crash in October.
Monday, January 16th 2017 - 17:35 UTC
Prison massacres (and beheading) continues in Brazil, this time 30 inmates in Natal

The latest in a string of brutal prison massacres involving suspected gang members in Brazil has killed at least 30 inmates, most of whom were beheaded, officials said on Sunday. The bloodbath erupted Saturday night in the overcrowded Alcacuz prison in the northeastern state of Rio Grande do Norte. Similar violence at other jails in Brazil left around 100 inmates dead in early January.
Monday, January 16th 2017 - 11:04 UTC
Trump says Brexit a 'great thing,' will meet PM May to reach trade deal with UK

US-President-elect Donald Trump said in a newspaper interview published on Sunday that “Brexit is going to end up being a great thing.” He also confirmed he will be meeting with British Prime Minister Theresa May soon after his inauguration on January 20 to finalise a trade agreement between the two countries that will be “good for both sides.”
Monday, January 16th 2017 - 09:50 UTC
Azul to operate daily Belo Horizonte-Ezeiza nonstop flight

Over 1,200 reservations were registered during first week after services were made available, Fabián Lombardo, the company's representative in Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay, announced. The company will fly daily from Belo Horizonte to Buenos Aires (Ezeiza) starting March 6.