South America

Professor Akshay Venkatesh wins mathematics’ Fields Medal

Professor Akshay Venkatesh has won this year's Fields Medal, an award often described as the Nobel Prize of mathematics.

The 36-year-old professor grew up in Perth then moved to US and works at Stanford University. He specialises in pure mathematics and number theory.  He was among four mathematicians from around the world to be awarded this year's Fields Medal.

Venezuela's president admits economy has failed

1 Aug 2018; AFP; Under-fire Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro admitted his economic model has "failed" in the wake of food and medicine shortages and public service paralysis, such as Tuesday's power failure that affected 80 percent of Caracas.

"The production models we've tried so far have failed and the responsibility is ours, mine and yours," Maduro told his ruling PSUV party congress, as Venezuela looks to tackle chronic inflation the International Monetary Fund predicted would reach one million percent this year.

CHILEAN FIRM USES CHINESE TECHNOLOGY TO DEVELOP WATER-SOLUBLE BAGS

SANTIAGO, July 27 (NNN-XINHUA) -- Using Chinese technology, a Chilean company has succeeded in making "non-plastic" bags that quickly dissolve in cold water and won't take hundreds of years to disintegrate.

The cost-effective formula combines hydrogen, carbon and a synthetic polymer, which doesn't cause pollution to produce a grocery bag, according to the company Solubag.

URUGUAY'S RECORD POWER DEMAND COMPLETELY COVERED BY RENEWABLE ENERGIES

MONTEVIDEO, July 26 (NNN-XINHUA) -- Uruguay's state-owned power company said on Tuesday that the recent record demand for electricity was completely covered by renewable energies.

The National Administration of Power Plants and Electrical Transmission (UTE) said the South American country's power demand reached a record 2,063 megawatts on Monday night when temperatures dropped to around 7 degrees Celsius in the capital Montevideo. The country, in the southern hemisphere, is currently in winter.

HONDURAS: JUDGE ORDERS ARREST OF 38 LAWMAKERS, OFFICIALS FOR GRAFT

TEGUCIGALPA, July 23 (NNN-TELESUR)--A Honduran judge Saturday ordered the arrest of 38 Hondurans, including lawmakers, officials and individuals, accused of diverting more than US$11.7 million to finance political campaigns in the 2013 elections, EFE reported according to a judicial source.

The arrest warrants were issued by Judge Lidia Álvarez, before whom the accused must appear Monday at a hearing the judicial spokesman who requested anonymity told EFE.

ASIA BECOMES BOLIVIA'S MAIN MINERALS MARKET

LA PAZ, July 23 (NNN-XINHUA) -- Asia has become Bolivia's main market for mineral exports, overtaking the United States, in the past three years due to better export conditions and prices, according to the Bolivian mining ministry.

In 2017, Asia received 61 percent of Bolivia's minerals exports, including zinc, gold, silver, lead, tin and copper, valued at more than US$2.3 billion.

Meanwhile, the U.S. demand for Bolivia's minerals fell from US$256 million worth of imports in 2015 to US$59 million in 2017.

Increased tariffs to damage global GDP: IMF managing director

BUENOS AIRES, July 22 (Xinhua) -- Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Christine Lagarde, has reiterated the risks that protectionist trade policies will have negative impacts on world economy.

During a Saturday press conference here in the Argentine capital, Lagarde noted recent global Gross Domestic Product (GDP) forecasts amid the United State's application of heavy tariffs being placed on various foreign imports.

G20: US told to 'see sense' as Mnuchin pushes for EU, China concessions

21 July 2018, AFP; US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin on Saturday urged China and the EU to respect "free, fair and reciprocal trade" as his French counterpart fired back that the US needs to "see sense" amid fears of a global commerce conflict.

Mnuchin arrived in Buenos Aires for the Group of 20 summit of finance ministers and central bankers at the end of a week in which US President Donald Trump ramped up his inflammatory remarks and threats regarding global trade.

Mexico's president-elect says he'll stop US helicopter deal

AP; Mexico City, Jul 12 :  President-elect Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has said he will cancel the pending purchase by Mexico's navy of eight armed Lockheed Martin MH-60R helicopters from the US government.

Lopez Obrador mentioned nixing the planned USD 1.2 billion deal as an example of extensive cost-cutting measures his government will undertake.

"That purchase is going to be cancelled because we can't make that expense," he said during a wide-ranging news conference yesterday.

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