Stories for February 3rd 2023

Friday, February 3rd 2023 - 10:55 UTC
Parts of Chile under red alert for major forest fires in central region

The Government of Chile has declared a “red alert” in the central part of the country due to the heat wave stemming from 39 major forest fires as the wave keeps spreading throughout the country, most of them in Araucania (17) but also in Bío Bío (7), Ñuble (7), Maule (4), Los Lagos (3), and one in the Santiago Metropolitan Region.
Friday, February 3rd 2023 - 10:40 UTC
Peru's advancing elections third-time unlucky

Peru's one-house Congress voted once again Thursday against moving forward the elections to some time in 2023. It was the third such rejection in one week while the country sinks deeper into a political crisis which added one more fatality Thursday to the growing tally recorded since the impeachment of Pedro Castillo Terrones on Dec. 7, 2022. Several ministers are expected Friday to go to Congress to present another bill proposing an early election on October 8.
Friday, February 3rd 2023 - 10:23 UTC
Political crises might impact Latin America's economy, IMF team warns

A technical team of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has warned that political unrest in various regions of Latin America might have consequences for the economy since it would affect how the region is perceived worldwide.
Friday, February 3rd 2023 - 10:20 UTC
Aggressive ECB takes basic rate to 2,5%, anticipates another increase in March

The European Central Bank increased its basic interest rate 50 basis point to 2,5% and anticipated it intended to hike by another 50 basis points in March. The move follows four hikes in 2022 which brought euro zone rates out of negative territory for the first time since 2014.
Friday, February 3rd 2023 - 10:15 UTC
Bank of England raises main rate to 4%, but anticipates a shallower recession

The Bank of England Monetary Policy Committee on Thursday voted 7-2 in favor of hiking interest rates by 50 basis points with the main rate now at 4%. However the MCP indicated in its statement that smaller hikes and an eventual end to the hiking cycle may be in the cards in coming meetings. The two dissenting members voted to leave rates unchanged at this meeting.
Friday, February 3rd 2023 - 10:14 UTC
Uruguay's Ancap to lose US$ 72m during refinery maintenance

Uruguay's state-run oil company Ancap will lose US$ 72 million due to the remodeling of the La Teja Refinery to be carried out between September and December this year, during which time fuel will need to be imported, it was reported in Montevideo.
Friday, February 3rd 2023 - 10:01 UTC
Brazilian Navy announces Sau Paulo carrier to be sunk despite environmental protests

The Government of Brazil plans to sink the decommissioned French-built Sao Paulo aircraft carrier in the middle of the Atlantic ocean after the depleted structure has spent months wandering with no port to dock for scrapping due to the presence of toxic materials in the hull, it was reported Thursday.
Friday, February 3rd 2023 - 10:00 UTC
Revive and restore Wetlands

On 30 August 2021, the UN General Assembly proclaimed 2 February as World Wetlands Day to raise awareness of the urgency of reversing the accelerating loss of wetlands and to promote their conservation and restoration. The day marks the date of the adoption of the “Convention on Wetlands of International Importance” held in 1971 in the Iranian city of Ramsar on the shores of the Caspian Sea.
Friday, February 3rd 2023 - 09:53 UTC
US State Dept. official confirms clearance for Paraguayan beef moving forward

Negotiations for Paraguayan beef to land in the United States are at an advanced stage, US State Department Director for Brazil and Southern Cone Affairs Baxter Hunt told Deputy Foreign Minister Raúl Silvero Silvagni, it was reported Thursday in Asunción.