Stories for June 29th 2023

Thursday, June 29th 2023 - 15:45 UTC
World Bank approves $150 million loan to boost green hydrogen investment in Chile

In a significant move towards promoting sustainable energy solutions, the World Bank Board of Directors has approved a loan of $150 million to support green hydrogen projects in Chile. This loan marks the World Bank's first endeavor in promoting green hydrogen and aligns with Chile's commitment to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. The investment aims to accelerate the country's green growth, energy transition, and foster a resilient and inclusive economic development.
Thursday, June 29th 2023 - 10:45 UTC
Argentina says Coast Guard unit to Yacyretá area following incident with Paraguayan Navy

Argentina's Coast Guard (PNA) will up its patrolling in the Yacyretá dam area following an incident with the Paraguayan Navy which allegedly crossed into its waters, according to a complaint filed by local authorities of the province of Corrientes, it was reported.
Thursday, June 29th 2023 - 10:42 UTC
Portuguese President wants EU-Mercosur deal ratified this year

Portugal's President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa said Wednesday it was essential that an agreement between Mercosur and the European Union (EU) “be concluded as soon as possible,” Agencia Brasil reported. Rebelo made those remarks during a forum in Lisbon which was also attended by Brazilian Vice President Geraldo Alckmin, who is also the South American country's Minister of Development, Industry, Commerce, and Services.
Thursday, June 29th 2023 - 10:40 UTC
Chile takes on mediating role in Pacific Alliance crisis

After Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO) failed to pass on the pro tempore presidency of the Pacific Alliance to Peru citing illegitimacy on the part of President Dina Boluarte's government, Chile announced Wednesday that it was assuming the position for a month, in a move to unblock such a transfer.
Thursday, June 29th 2023 - 10:33 UTC
Brazil: Bolsonaro downplays magnitude of Jan. 8 riots

Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro Wednesday downplayed the magnitude of the Jan. 8 events in Brasilia when some of his followers tried to seize the headquarters of all three branches of government and compared the situation with recent events in Russia.
Thursday, June 29th 2023 - 10:30 UTC
Uruguay: School winter recess stretched, brought forward due to viruses

Uruguayan authorities finally decided Wednesday that primary school pupils will have a two-week winter recess between July 3 and July 14 in a move to curb the contagion of respiratory diseases that have caused at least two deaths so far, it was reported in Montevideo. Plans to hold online classes that had been evaluated earlier this week have been dropped.
Thursday, June 29th 2023 - 10:13 UTC
Brazil's population over 203 million, 2022 census shows

Brazil's population in 2022 was determined to be 203,062,512 people, the Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) announced Wednesday after the results of last year's census were published. The new figures showed an increase of 12.3 million since the 2010 census, Agencia Brasil noted.
Thursday, June 29th 2023 - 08:19 UTC
Brazil declares a record harvest of soy beans, 156 million tons in 2023

The Brazilian Association of Vegetable Oil Industries (Abiove) reported that the soybean harvest in Brazil, already completed in 2023, exceeded expectations, leading to an upward revision in export forecasts for soybean grain, meal, and oil this year. Soy remains Brazil’s primary export product.
Thursday, June 29th 2023 - 08:14 UTC
Lula government promoting Brazilian agriculture with US$ 76 billion financial support

Brazilian president Lula da Silva has increased subsidized farm loans as part of a national agriculture funding plan as he aims to strengthen ties with the sector, which has been driving the economic activity of the country.
Thursday, June 29th 2023 - 07:23 UTC
What just happened in Russia?

By Gwynne Dyer - Hundreds of analysts in a dozen countries are working on that mystery right now because Russia is still an important place and Putin’s power has clearly been damaged by this bizarre incident