Stories for January 2018

Tuesday, January 30th 2018 - 09:28 UTC
Brazil's meets 2017 fiscal target and juggles funds to keep the investment/debt rule

Brazil’s government will tap the nation’s sovereign fund and recent surpluses to cut debt and avoid breaking budget rules this year, officials said on Monday, after easily meeting the 2017 fiscal target.
Tuesday, January 30th 2018 - 09:12 UTC
Chile's incoming finance minister pledges the economy will expand 3.5% this year

Chile's economy is likely to grow by 3.5% this year on the back of increased confidence in a new presidential administration and in improving global economy, the future finance minister said in a local newspaper published on Sunday.
Tuesday, January 30th 2018 - 09:03 UTC
Peruvian public opinion divided in halves over pardon to ex president Fujimori

Peruvian President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski’s approval rating has fallen to 19% since he granted a pardon to authoritarian former President Alberto Fujimori, a decision that has deeply divided the country, a poll showed on Sunday.
Tuesday, January 30th 2018 - 08:54 UTC
Widespread antibiotic resistance to bacterial infections confirmed in WHO global testing

WHO’s first release of surveillance data on antibiotic resistance reveals high levels of resistance to a number of serious bacterial infections in both high- and low-income countries. WHO’s new Global Antimicrobial Surveillance System (GLASS) reveals widespread occurrence of antibiotic resistance among 500 000 people with suspected bacterial infections across 22 countries.
Tuesday, January 30th 2018 - 08:03 UTC
Argentina: Antarctic tribute to lost San Juan crew

They formed the number 44 on the ice as they headed into the Antarctic while performing a traditional military salute next to their ship, the ARA Almirante Irizar. Forty-four submariners on the ARA San Juan were lost in the waters of the South Atlantic on 15 November.
Tuesday, January 30th 2018 - 07:22 UTC
Foreign Office planning to ban drilling and mining offshore BOTs in South Atlantic

British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson is expected to institute a ban on fishing, drilling and freight transport in British overseas territories in the South Atlantic in an effort to protect wildlife in the area. The South Sandwich Islands, which plays host to Antarctic scientists but has no permanent residents, lie around 1,500km east of the Falkland Islands.
Tuesday, January 30th 2018 - 07:12 UTC
EU Agriculture and Trade commissioners at odds over increasing Mercosur beef access

A long-awaited major trade deal between the EU and Mercosur may this week take a key step towards realization with ministerial teams from both sides meeting in Brussels on Monday. They are expected to give negotiators a new, decisive political impulse to reach agreement in a matter of weeks, according to Irish sources.
Tuesday, January 30th 2018 - 07:00 UTC
EU rules for post-March 2019: UK abides but will not be involved in making them

The European Union has set out its demands for the temporary transition period after the UK leaves in March 2019, and EU wants the UK to continue to follow its rules but not be involved in making decisions.
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.