Stories for January 2026

Wednesday, January 21st 2026 - 09:11 UTC
Chile wildfires: death toll rises to 20 as authorities report widespread destruction and arrest a suspect

Wildfires burning across south-central Chile have pushed the confirmed death toll to 20, with authorities keeping red alerts, a state of catastrophe, and a night-time curfew in parts of the Biobío and Ñuble regions as crews continue to battle multiple active blazes.
Wednesday, January 21st 2026 - 08:06 UTC
Uruguay to send 40 firefighters to Chile as Biobío and Ñuble wildfires leave at least 20 dead

Uruguay will deploy a contingent of around 40 firefighters to Chile to help battle the wildfires ravaging the country’s south-central regions—particularly Biobío and Ñuble—where Chilean authorities have reported at least 20 deaths and thousands of people affected.
Wednesday, January 21st 2026 - 03:52 UTC
Trump signals possible role for Machado as U.S. tightens Venezuela oil crackdown

United States President Donald Trump said Venezuela opposition leader María Corina Machado could “maybe” be brought into the transition process “in some way,” marking a notable shift in tone as Washington balances political messaging with day-to-day coordination in Caracas following Nicolás Maduro’s capture on January 3, according to a Reuters report.
Wednesday, January 21st 2026 - 00:26 UTC
Brazil revives naval industry through Petrobras-led investment drive

Petrobras, through its logistics subsidiary Transpetro, signed contracts worth R$2.8 billion (around US$570 million) on Tuesday for the construction of five gas carriers, 18 pushboats and 18 barges at shipyards in Rio Grande do Sul, Amazonas and Santa Catarina, as part of a government-backed effort to revive Brazil’s shipbuilding industry and reduce reliance on chartered vessels.
Wednesday, January 21st 2026 - 00:16 UTC
Las Vegas Sands’ Record Growth: What It Says About Global Casino Demand

Las Vegas Sands has become an unlikely bellwether for the health of the global casino industry. In the third quarter of 2025, the operator posted net revenue of 3.33 billion dollars, up about 24 percent on the year, and adjusted property EBITDA of roughly 1.34 billion dollars, a rise of more than one-third compared with 2024.
Tuesday, January 20th 2026 - 18:09 UTC
Macron warns Davos of a “world without rules” as Trump’s Greenland row intensifies

French President Emmanuel Macron told the World Economic Forum in Davos on Tuesday that the world is drifting toward a “world without rules,” where the law of “the strongest” prevails—remarks delivered against the backdrop of a deepening transatlantic dispute over Donald Trump’s push to secure control of Greenland and his fresh tariff threats.
Tuesday, January 20th 2026 - 15:29 UTC
Delcy Rodríguez vows 30% increase in gold output to boost hard-currency inflows

Venezuela’s interim president Delcy Rodríguez said her administration aims to raise gold production by 30% in 2026 to generate additional foreign-currency revenues, as the government seeks to shore up public finances and draw fresh investment into the mining sector, according to reports attributed to EFE.
Tuesday, January 20th 2026 - 15:28 UTC
Digital Communication Trends in Latin America

Latin America is changing fast. Mobile phones lead the way. Messaging apps rule everyday life. Businesses are learning new ways to talk to customers and teams. Security and privacy are now central concerns. Below I explain the key digital communication trends shaping the region today.
Tuesday, January 20th 2026 - 03:39 UTC
Trump links Greenland ambitions to Nobel snub ahead of Davos appearance

US President Donald Trump reignited tensions with European allies on Monday by linking his push for control of Greenland to the Nobel Peace Prize — arguing that, because he did not receive the award, he no longer feels “obliged to think only about peace.” In a message addressed to Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre —later circulated to European embassies in Washington— Trump pivoted from the Nobel grievance to Greenland, saying the world would not be safe without “total and absolute” US control of the Arctic island.
Tuesday, January 20th 2026 - 02:16 UTC
BYD ship reaches Argentina with record delivery of nearly 5,800 electric and hybrid vehicles

The BYD Changzhou car carrier docked on Monday at Terminal Zárate, in Argentina’s Buenos Aires province, and unloaded around 5,800 hybrid and electric vehicles shipped from China—described by local coverage as the largest single import landing of its kind in the country.