Stories for January 2018

Monday, January 8th 2018 - 09:19 UTC
Argentina and Chile forecasted to lead global lithium production

A new report by BMI Research states that based on project pipelines, Chile and Argentina will lead lithium production in coming years, with the bulk of new capacity coming online in 2019.
Monday, January 8th 2018 - 09:06 UTC
Brazil announces end of building big hydroelectric dams in Amazon basin

In a surprise move, the Brazilian government has announced that the era of building big hydroelectric dams in the Amazon basin, long criticized by environmentalists and indigenous groups, is ending.
Monday, January 8th 2018 - 05:53 UTC
Argentina dismantling the extortive power of the corrupt unions

A member of Argentina's elite of powerful union sharks has been arrested in Uruguay at his Great Chaparral ranch and is awaiting extradition to Buenos Aires to face charges of corruption, money laundering, extortion, stealing funds and links with the drugs business, among others.
Sunday, January 7th 2018 - 09:07 UTC
Ex King Juan Carlos honored at military ceremony for his many years of “loyal service to Spain”

Former Spanish King Juan Carlos appeared in full military garb alongside the current monarch, his son King Felipe VI, for the military ceremony at the royal palace in Madrid on Saturday. Joined by their two wives, the royals marked the annual Pascua Militar, which is held on January 6, the same day as Epiphany.
Sunday, January 7th 2018 - 09:01 UTC
Released Fujimori calls to set aside “grudges”; anticipation of an alliance with Kuczynski?

Recently pardoned former president Alberto Fujimori called for Peruvians on Saturday to set aside their “grudges” in order to unite against violence and crime, appealing to his right-wing political base two days after being freed from prison by a presidential pardon.
Sunday, January 7th 2018 - 08:14 UTC
Chaos in Venezuela as shops are ordered to cut prices to last month's levels

Mobs gathered outside some Caracas supermarkets on Saturday after the government ordered shops to slash prices, creating chaos as desperate Venezuelans leapt at the chance to buy cheaper food as the country’s worsening economy causes severe shortages.
Sunday, January 7th 2018 - 07:45 UTC
Ecuador names new vice president; Correa begins campaign against referendum to limit re-election

Ecuador has chosen a new vice president to replace Jorge Glas, who was sentenced to six years in jail for his role in a bribery scheme involving Odebrecht, the Brazilian company at the center of Latin America’s biggest corruption scandal. Lawmakers selected Maria Alejandra Vicuña in a vote on Saturday.
Saturday, January 6th 2018 - 10:01 UTC
Northeast US and Canada frigid with wind chills reaching negative C 50 degrees

The aftermath of a frigid “bomb cyclone” and polar vortex left much of the northeastern US and Canada frigid on Friday night. Wind chills in one part of the state of New Hampshire were forecast to hit negative 50 degrees Celsius, according to forecasters. New York Times reporters who were sent to Mount Washington in that state said the wind “steals your breath and freezes your eyelashes.”
Saturday, January 6th 2018 - 09:54 UTC
“Fire and Fury” becomes an instant bestseller despite Trump's threats

President Donald Trump legal threat aimed at “Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House”” appears to have the effect of making the book an early 2018 hot-selling title. On its first day of release, bookstores in major cities like Washington D.C., New York, and Los Angeles reported selling out of the initial order, and other shops in places like Oxford, Miss., and Shaker Heights, Ohio, also said that buyers quickly snatched up copies of their first batch.
Saturday, January 6th 2018 - 09:45 UTC
Argentine stock market reaches a new record, 13th session running of gains

Good and not so good news from Argentina. Merval, the main index of the Buenos Aires Stock Exchange, rose 0.79% to 32,505.59 points on Friday, a new settlement record that marked the 13th consecutive session of gains to the Argentine stock market. Merval had a weekly gain of 7.11%.