Stories for January 2019

Tuesday, January 8th 2019 - 07:18 UTC
UN anti corruption commission given 24 hours to leave Guatemala

Guatemala has said it is withdrawing from a UN-backed anti-corruption commission which has been investigating the country's President Jimmy Morales. Guatemalan Foreign Minister Sandra Jovel said on Monday that the UN body had 24 hours to leave the country.
Tuesday, January 8th 2019 - 06:54 UTC
Bolsonaro advances on the Amazon: head of environmental protection agency resigns

The head of Brazil's environmental protection agency has resigned following criticism from the country's newly inaugurated far-right President Jair Bolsonaro.
Monday, January 7th 2019 - 09:37 UTC
Bolsonaro in the process of purging some 3.300 federal staff allegedly communists or socialists

The new government in Brazil, headed by President Jair Bolsonaro, has initiated the process of firing any “communists” and “socialists” working as contractors in government departments contending those holding opposition ideological views cannot properly execute its goals.
Monday, January 7th 2019 - 09:29 UTC
Brazil meat exports had a complicated 2018, buts sales are picking up

Export sales by Brazilian meat processors lagged last year as trade bans and a domestic truckers’ strike weighed on their ability to serve major customers like Russia and the European Union, according to data released by trade group ABPA.
Monday, January 7th 2019 - 09:23 UTC
Organized crime challenges Bolsonaro despite deployment of federal forces

The attacks and fire-bombings sweeping Brazil's northeastern state of Ceara continued unabated Sunday despite the deployment of at least 300 members the elite, military-style National Police Force to help bring an end to the violence.
Monday, January 7th 2019 - 09:18 UTC
Rule out a “no-deal Brexit”, 200 plus all parties MPs call on Theresa May

More than 200 MPs from different political parties have signed a letter to Prime Minister Theresa May, urging her to rule out a no-deal Brexit. The MPs - including both Leave and Remain supporters - have been invited to meet the prime minister on Tuesday.
Monday, January 7th 2019 - 09:13 UTC
Venezuelan Justice and close advisor of Maduro flees with family to Miami

Venezuela Supreme Court judge Christian Zerpa has fled to the United States to protest over President Nicolás Maduro's second term in office. Last year's election “was not free and competitive”, the former Maduro loyalist told a Florida radio station, and he accused President Maduro of systematically manipulating the affairs of the Supreme Court.
Monday, January 7th 2019 - 09:03 UTC
Oil Is at the mercy of Financial Markets

Oil prices regained more ground on Wednesday, pushed higher after equity markets rebounded from an initial selloff at the start of 2019 trading. The price gains are not entirely convincing. WTI and Brent posted strong gains, each up more than 3 per cent by midday in New York, but come largely after U.S. equity markets shook off an earlier bout of pessimism.
Monday, January 7th 2019 - 08:54 UTC
How a Uruguayan town revolutionized the way we eat

BBC has published a piece on the history of Corned Beef and its brand name, Fray Bentos, the city located on the banks of the Uruguay River, and which over a century ago produced what it describes “as the most influential food brands of the 20th century”
Monday, January 7th 2019 - 08:50 UTC
Brazil's 2018/19 soy crop estimated at 122m tons and Argentina's, 56.5m tons

Estimates of corn and soybean production in Brazil and Argentina remain unchanged from private analytics IEG vantage last monthly report. The firm projected Brazil’s 2018/19 soybean crop at 122 million tons and Argentina’s crop at 56.5 million tons.