Stories for January 18th 2019

Friday, January 18th 2019 - 10:19 UTC
Doubts about Brazil's real soybean production estimate because of adverse weather

Analysts are casting doubt on the Brazilian government’s soybean production estimate. Conab, the government’s food supply and statistics agency, recently issued a forecast for 118.8 million tons of production, only slightly smaller than last year’s record 119.4 million tons.
Friday, January 18th 2019 - 10:12 UTC
Evo Morales’ Bolivia: Abiding the constitution or ensuring the results of sustained economic growth

The Economist has published a piece on Bolivia and its first indigenous president, Evo Morales, who has managed the economy of the continent's poorest country with sustained success during thirteen years. But he has also a strong authoritarian attitude, given his dominance of government branches, and the support of the electorate, mostly indigenous or mestizo. In this scenario, he is running for a fourth consecutive presidential period, which the Constitution bans.
Friday, January 18th 2019 - 10:04 UTC
Wholesale prices in Argentina reach 73.5% in 2018; Peso rallies 10% in the midst of recession

Wholesale prices in Argentina shot 73.5% higher in 2018, government data showed on Thursday, the fastest rate since 2002 when they climbed 118% during an economic crisis that tossed millions of middle-class Argentines into poverty.
Friday, January 18th 2019 - 10:01 UTC
EU prepares contingency plans for a UK disorderly departure

French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe has said a no-deal Brexit looks “less and less unlikely” and has launched a contingency plan to prepare for it. After the UK Parliament rejected the withdrawal agreement, Mr Philippe said laws had to be passed and millions invested in French ports and airports.
Friday, January 18th 2019 - 09:39 UTC
China moves in after Hitachi and Toshiba abandon nuclear plants' plans in UK

China’s General Nuclear Power Corporation (CGN) will bring forward plans to build a nuclear plant in Britain, it said on Thursday, helping plug a gap left by the failure of two Japanese projects.
Friday, January 18th 2019 - 09:30 UTC
Brazilian government meets Venezuelan opposition leaders to discuss Maduro's “illegitimacy”

Brazilian and US officials met Venezuelan opposition leaders in Brasilia on Thursday to discuss the political crisis in the oil-rich country ruled by president Nicolas Maduro, Brazil's foreign ministry reported.
Friday, January 18th 2019 - 09:23 UTC
US investigating China's Huawei for “stealing trade secrets” from American partners

The United States is reportedly investigating Huawei for “stealing trade secrets” from American business partners in the latest action against the Chinese technology giant. The criminal inquiry was first reported by the Wall Street Journal (WSJ).
Friday, January 18th 2019 - 09:16 UTC
Spanish fishing industry faces dramatic consequences with a no-deal Brexit

Spain's Agriculture, Fisheries and Food minister Luis Planas admitted the fishing industry could suffer “dramatic consequences” with a no-deal Brexit, one of several options after this week's parliament events in London. Minister Planas had revealed that in the case of a hard-Brexit, all Spanish fishing vessels will have to immediately abandon United Kingdom waters immediately.
Friday, January 18th 2019 - 09:03 UTC
UK and Spain agree to guarantee reciprocal suffrage at municipal level post-Brexit

Spain’s Foreign Minister Josep Borrell announced this week that Madrid and London have agreed to guarantee electoral rights in local elections for British residents in Spain and Spanish residents in the UK post-Brexit.
Friday, January 18th 2019 - 09:00 UTC
WHO statement on reports of alleged misconduct

World Health Organization (WHO) is aware of a news story published today about allegations of misconduct in the organization. The allegations are being investigated according to WHO’s established procedures, having been referred to WHO’s Office of Internal Oversight Services by the Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.