Stories for February 2020

Monday, February 10th 2020 - 08:03 UTC
Chinese group takes control of major lithium project in Argentina

China’s Ganfeng Lithium Co said it will take control of an Argentina lithium project it has been developing with Lithium Americas Corp, cementing its control over a key source of the white metal for electric vehicle batteries.
Monday, February 10th 2020 - 07:55 UTC
Apple fined in France for deliberately slowing down older iPhone model, unaware to customers

Apple has been fined 25 million Euros (US$ 27m) for deliberately slowing down older iPhone models without making it clear to consumers. The fine was imposed by France's competition and fraud watchdog DGCCRF, which said consumers were not warned.
Saturday, February 8th 2020 - 11:31 UTC
Argentine base in Antarctica recorded the hottest temperature ever for the continent

A research base in the Antarctic has recorded the hottest temperature ever for the continent amid rising concern about global warming that has caused an increase in the melting of ice sheets around the South Pole.
Saturday, February 8th 2020 - 11:30 UTC
Lavrov denounces US foreign policy towards Venezuela in Mexico and puts hosts in an awkward position

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Thursday denounced U.S. foreign policy in Venezuela, criticizing U.S. “provocations” and attempts to create what he called a pretext for military intervention.
Saturday, February 8th 2020 - 11:29 UTC
Freedom of expression and cybercrime case controversy in Brazilian court

A Brazilian judge indicted six people accused of hacking the phones of prosecutors in the country’s biggest corruption case on Thursday but held off “for now” on accepting cybercrimes charges against U.S. journalist Glenn Greenwald.
Saturday, February 8th 2020 - 11:09 UTC
Greenpeace blames global warming for record temperatures in Antarctica

Global warming is to blame for Argentine Antarctica recording its hottest day since readings began, Greenpeace said on Friday. Temperatures climbed to 18.3 degrees Celsius (64.9 degrees Fahrenheit) at midday Thursday at the research station Esperanza base, the highest temperature on record since 1961, according to the National Meteorological Service.
Saturday, February 8th 2020 - 11:04 UTC
US job growth accelerated in January, but payrolls downgraded over a 12 month period

U.S. job growth accelerated in January, with unseasonably mild temperatures boosting hiring in weather-sensitive sectors, indicating the economy will probably continue to grow moderately despite a deepening slump in business investment.
Saturday, February 8th 2020 - 10:39 UTC
US imposes sanctions on Venezuela's Conviasa, the country's flag carrier

United States on Friday criminalized transactions with Venezuelan flag carrier Conviasa, saying it wanted to pressure President Nicolas Maduro to cede power. Under the new sanctions, anyone in the United States will be banned from any transactions with Conviasa, which stands for Consorcio Venezolano de Industrias Aeronauticas y Servicios.
Saturday, February 8th 2020 - 10:34 UTC
Award winning Cuban dissident prevented from attending human rights meeting in Europe

An award-winning Cuban dissident who was detained this week announced on Thursday that he has been released without charge but barred from a planned trip to Europe for a meeting on human rights.
Saturday, February 8th 2020 - 10:27 UTC
New IMF chief Georgieva reshuffling top jobs: deputy Lipton to be replaced

The top American serving at the International Monetary Fund will leave his post at the end of the month amid a reshuffling of the top leadership, the fund said Friday. David Lipton, 66, who has been in the number two position at the Washington-based lender since September 2011, will be replaced by newly installed IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva “in the context of changes she will be making to the leadership team,” the IMF said in a statement.