Stories for January 29th 2018

Monday, January 29th 2018 - 18:29 UTC
“Electoral charade”: Maduro clings to power at all costs

On December 20 the National Constituent Assembly (ANC) - formed only by pro-government officials - decreed that political parties that did not participate for the last regional election a few months ago must be revalidated before the National Electoral Council (CNE), a rule that according to the the current constitution should be should be applied when absenting more than 3 times to the suffrages.
Monday, January 29th 2018 - 11:11 UTC
Punta Arenas moves into alternative energy and plans wind farm to supply 6.000 homes

Magallanes Region in the extreme south of Chile is taking advantage of its weather conditions and will convert its wind gusts into energy. With some six million dollars from the National Fund for Regional Development and in coordination with Chilean government owned oil company Enap, a wind farm will be installed in Cabo Negro during the second half of the year.
Monday, January 29th 2018 - 11:06 UTC
“Rhubarb Day” celebrated at the Magallanes Expo in Punta Arenas

Punta Arenas celebrated “Rhubarb Day” as part of the Magallanes Expo celebrations. Although not original from the extreme south of Chile, rhubarb has long grown and adapted in Magallanes region where it is much valued for its gastronomic and medicinal properties.
Monday, January 29th 2018 - 11:01 UTC
Macri and ministers expected to freeze their salaries, for one year, as part of the austerity measures

The government of Argentine president Mauricio Macri is expected to announce on Monday as part of the overall austerity and adjustment programs, a freeze on all top government salaries and the reduction of at least 20% in political nominee posts in the Executive branch.
Monday, January 29th 2018 - 10:56 UTC
February 10, RMS St Helena departs on her last trip after 27 years service

The unique Royal Mail Ship, RMS St Helena, will depart on a final voyage (268) from the remote South Atlantic island of St. Helena on Saturday, 10 February, having dutifully served for the past 27 years. The island, a UK Overseas Territory located 1200 miles off the west coast of Africa could only be reached by the ocean-going passenger-cargo ship service, until commercial flights began operating last October, following completion of an airport.
Monday, January 29th 2018 - 10:50 UTC
Drugs related shootings in northeast Brazil kill 14 in a nightclub

At least 14 people were killed in a shootout at a nightclub in Fortaleza, in northeastern Brazil, officials said on Saturday. “We can confirm 14 deaths,” Andre Costa, security secretary for the state of Ceara - of which Fortaleza is the capital - told a press conference.
Monday, January 29th 2018 - 10:41 UTC
Euro-skeptic Tories fear real danger of a “dilution of Brexit”; point to Hammond

The UK is heading towards “a dilution of Brexit”, former cabinet minister Theresa Villiers has said. The Conservative MP, writing in the Sunday Telegraph said there was “a real danger” the UK will sign up to an agreement with Brussels which could “keep us in the EU in all but name”. Her comments come amid growing Tory party rifts over Brexit.
Monday, January 29th 2018 - 10:22 UTC
Ozone hole: NASA's satellite confirms 20% less depletion; recovery by 2080

Scientists have shown through direct satellite observations of the ozone hole that levels of ozone-destroying chlorine are declining. Measurements show that the decline in chlorine, resulting from an international ban on chlorine-containing man-made chemicals called chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), has resulted in about 20% less ozone depletion during the Antarctic winter than there was in 2005, the first year that measurements of chlorine and ozone during the Antarctic winter were made by NASA's Aura satellite.
Monday, January 29th 2018 - 06:55 UTC
Punta Arenas reaffirms Antarctica links with two private support vessels

Punta Arenas. Chile seems determined to remain as the main calling point for Antarctica scientific and logistics support. This month two private undertakings were inaugurated which confirmed that determination, one of them is the DAP's MV Betanzos a scientific vessel for Antarctica research, and the second in the Antarctic Warrior, belonging to the Petromar company and which has been conditioned to transport supplies and fuel to Antarctica.
Monday, January 29th 2018 - 06:31 UTC
Argentina will not recognize Venezuela election results, anticipates Macri

Argentina will not recognize the results of upcoming elections in Venezuela, President Mauricio Macri has said accusing strongman Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro of running a “dictatorship”.