Stories for January 2020

Saturday, January 25th 2020 - 09:57 UTC
Turmoil in Spanish coalition: Transport minister meets Venezuelan vice president in EU territory

Opposition parties in Spain are calling on the government to explain why one of its ministers met Venezuela’s vice-president in a secretive encounter onboard a private jet at Madrid airport.
Saturday, January 25th 2020 - 09:57 UTC
Falklands' January storm causes massive loss of Rockhopper penguin chicks

84% of Rockhopper chicks on Sea Lion Island have died as a result of a storm that hit the Falkland Islands on January 14/15. Strong easterly winds on the island, which lies southeast of East Falklands, launched sea spray on to the colony for more than 48 hours, to deadly effect, said owner Mickey Reeves.
Saturday, January 25th 2020 - 09:55 UTC
Bolivian interim president tosses her hat into the May 3 election ring

Bolivia’s interim President Jeanine Anez said on Friday that she will be a candidate in upcoming elections that will serve as a re-run of October’s disputed vote that sparked protests and prompted former leader Evo Morales to resign.
Saturday, January 25th 2020 - 09:55 UTC
Trump announces higher tariffs for steel and aluminum derivates

US. President Donald Trump on Friday signed a proclamation increasing tariffs on derivative steel products by an additional 25% and boosting duties on derivative aluminum products by an additional 10%.
Saturday, January 25th 2020 - 09:34 UTC
Argentina's YPF returns successfully to money markets: issues US$ 164 million debt

Argentina’s state energy company YPF said it issued debt of US$ 164 million on Wednesday, in a result it said exceeded its expectation.
Saturday, January 25th 2020 - 09:28 UTC
Bolivia breaks diplomatic relations with Cuba arguing Havana's “constant hostility”

Bolivia on Friday announced it was breaking off diplomatic relations with long-time ally Cuba, the latest in a series of foreign policy reversals by the right-wing interim government.
Saturday, January 25th 2020 - 09:22 UTC
First trail in Chile over eye injuries to protestor by Carabineros firing buckshot

A Chilean police officer appeared in court on Friday in the first instance of prosecutors bringing charges over eye injuries blamed on security forces during Chile's months of unrest.
Saturday, January 25th 2020 - 09:15 UTC
Chile's business community anticipates an ailing economy during 2020

Chile's central bank is expected to hold its benchmark rate at 1.75% in January, a poll of 62 traders showed on Friday, then keep it there through 2020 as seeks to spur the ailing economy following months of unrest in the key mining nation.
Saturday, January 25th 2020 - 09:08 UTC
Chile spurring lithium mining: copper giant Codelco joins the exploration

Chile state miner Codelco filed with regulators on Friday a plan to begin exploration for lithium in its Maricunga salt flat holdings, a key step in advancing development of the country's second richest deposit of the metal needed for batteries.
Saturday, January 25th 2020 - 09:00 UTC
Even the richest of the richest now admit climate change is an existential threat

By Gwynne Dyer – Donald Trump's speech to the World Economic Forum in Davos on Monday contained no surprises: half an hour of chest-thumping self-praise, although without the usual xenophobia and dog-whistle racism. It was, after all, an audience of the ultra-rich and powerful in which most of the movers and shakers were not American.