Stories for January 8th 2020

Wednesday, January 8th 2020 - 10:51 UTC
Iran’s retaliation in Iraq against U.S. forces is a “Slap in face”: Supreme Leader

Hours after Iran’s attacks on two bases in Iraq that houses United States troops, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei addressed his nation considering the firing of 22 ballistic missiles as a “slap in the face” and that military action were “not sufficient” to end the American presence in the region. However, Iran’s authorities said they did “not seek escalation or war.”
Wednesday, January 8th 2020 - 09:55 UTC
Guaidó sworn as Venezuelan Assembly speaker for another term, despite Maduro's forces, goons and blackout

Venezuela's opposition leader Juan Guaido was sworn in for another term as speaker of parliament on Tuesday after a tense stand-off with the armed forces who initially prevented him from entering Congress.
Wednesday, January 8th 2020 - 09:50 UTC
Spain finally has a government: a coalition which includes a Catalan separatist group

Socialist leader Pedro Sanchez won the narrowest of victories in Parliament on Tuesday to take power for a second term in Spain with the backing of the anti-austerity party Podemos and a Catalan separatist group.
Wednesday, January 8th 2020 - 09:49 UTC
S&P admits a mistake and raised its debt grade for Argentina to CCC

S&P Global Ratings raised its debt grade for Argentina on Tuesday, acknowledging the agency made a mistake when it changed the rating in late December for the crisis hit country.
Wednesday, January 8th 2020 - 09:46 UTC
Chilean activity down and poor prospects for this year, following weeks of social unrest

Economic activity in Chile dropped 3.3% in November, led by a slump in mining activity, the central bank has said, and officials predicted low growth for the coming year as the country reels from anti-government unrest. The prediction is based on Chile’s economic activity index or IMACEC (Indicador Mensual de Actividad Economica).
Wednesday, January 8th 2020 - 09:45 UTC
Argentina will begin distribution of food cards to low income families later this month

Argentina's government will begin to distribute food cards to low-income families beginning later this month as part of its anti-hunger program. Social Development Minister Daniel Arroyo announced during a live presentation of Argentine Plan Against Hunger the government reached an agreement with the Governor Jorge Capitanich from the northern province of Chaco to fight with hunger.
Wednesday, January 8th 2020 - 09:44 UTC
Falklands' Sea Lion project reaches farm-in deal with Tel Aviv listed Navitas

Rockhopper Exploration PLC on Tuesday said it has signed a milestone farm-in deal at the Sea Lion project in the Falkland Islands. Rockhopper shares were 30% higher in early trade in London at a price of 19.44 pence each. Premier was 13% higher at 114.62p.
Wednesday, January 8th 2020 - 09:40 UTC
Guaidó's ambassador has her diplomatic credentials withdrawn by Argentine government

In a blow to Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido, Argentina's government said on Tuesday it did not recognize him as his nation's interim president and had revoked the credentials of his representative in Buenos Aires.
Wednesday, January 8th 2020 - 09:40 UTC
University entrance exams in Chile disrupted by students protesting elitism

University entrance exams to be taken by 300,000 students around Chile were disrupted in some cities by fresh protests over inequality and elitism, with some students blocking access to test sites and burning exam papers.
Wednesday, January 8th 2020 - 09:35 UTC
Falklands patrol HMS Forth arrives in the Islands

The British Forces South Atlantic Islands and the Falkland Islands welcomed the arrival on Tuesday of the Royal Navy's next-generation patrol ship, HMS Forth. The ship has taken over the mission from HMS Clyde, which has offered protection to the Falklands and nearby South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands for the past 12 years.