US President Donald Trump has said that Venezuela is not yet ready for elections, while praising the country's recent economic progress, particularly its recovering oil industry. Trump credited Venezuela's acting leadership for improving oil production and claimed the country's economy had significantly recovered. However, he said elections would only take place when conditions are right. His remarks come as Venezuela continues to recover from devastating twin earthquakes that have claimed more than 5,398 lives, with thousands still displaced. At the same time, Caracas has announced its decision to permanently withdraw from the International

Trump on Venezuela Elections | Says country 'not ready yet' | US News 

Anti-government protests have broken out in Chile following President Gabriel Boric's latest State of the Nation address. Demonstrators took to the streets as police deployed water cannons to disperse crowds amid growing public anger over key political and economic issues. The unrest highlights continuing tensions between the government and opposition groups.

Chile Protests Erupt After President's State Of The Nation Address | WION

Paraguay has introduced a new “investor pass” programme that allows foreign nationals, including Indians, to apply for permanent residency through investments in sectors such as tourism, real estate, business and the stock market.

The move is aimed at attracting foreign capital and boosting economic growth, while also opening a new pathway for residency in South America. On #Gravitas, we explain how the scheme works, the investment requirements involved, and why Paraguay is emerging as an attractive destination for global investors and migrants.

How Indians Can Become Permanent Residents in Paraguay

A wave of anger is sweeping across South America. From Bolivia to Argentina, from Chile to Ecuador, thousands have taken to the streets against inflation, rising living costs, power shortages, and government austerity measures. As the global energy crisis deepens economic pressures, this video explains why South America is emerging as a continent in protest.


Why South America Is Witnessing a Wave of Mass Protests

From Mexico’s deadliest cartel wars to Colombia’s cocaine empires, this special report traces the rivalries that reshaped South America’s criminal underworld. Nemesio ‘El Mencho’ Oseguera Cervantes expanded the Jalisco New Generation Cartel into a global fentanyl network operating across 50+ countries. Joaquin ‘El Chapo’ Guzman built the Sinaloa Cartel into a trafficking empire. In Colombia, Pablo Escobar’s Medellín Cartel waged terror, while the Cali Cartel rose through strategy and corruption. Watch the full story.

The Drug Lords Who Bled South America | Cartel Wars Explained

China has expanded its naval presence in Latin America with the arrival of its hospital ship in Uruguay, raising questions about Beijing’s growing influence in the Western Hemisphere. The deployment comes as President Donald Trump has pledged to reassert US dominance in the region and limit the presence of non-hemispheric powers. While China says the mission is humanitarian, analysts see it as part of a broader strategy to deepen political, economic, and military ties across South America. With Washington invoking the Monroe Doctrine and Beijing promoting “anti-hegemonism,” this latest move signals a new phase in great power competition closer to US borders.

China Tests U.S. Dominance With Naval Mission in South America

The US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, went a step further and warned that Cuba and Mexico would be their next target.


South America faces two choices: Compliance or defiance, Colombia, Mexico, Cuba & Venezuela in focus

President donald trump is taking a hardline approach in south america,
Threatening military action against multiple countries in the region.
His comments and actions have raised alarm,
As he signals a willingness to use force to combat the flow of drugs and migrants into the united states.
Trump is openly questioning the limits of u.S. Military engagement in the americas.

Trump's Recent Strike Threats Puts Spotlight on His Presidency

Just a few weeks before leaving for South America, I learned about an application called Home Exchange, where travellers can exchange homes with locals or live with them. I was drawn to this concept especially because there was no concept of money on the application. It was all about exchange. A little bit like Auroville. The app charges a yearly subscription fee of around USD 70, but the number of free stays you can redeem makes it worthwhile. &nbsp;&nbsp;For my first home in Medellin in Colombia, I stayed with Ani, a local from Medellin who has travelled across the world. Her home was tasteful and she even had coffee table books of the artist Fernando Botero. I was quite impressed at her desire to help me plan my trip, even though she did not speak English, only Spanish. As someone who speaks broken Spanish, I was able to converse with her comfortably. She helped me plan my whole trip across Colombia. &nbsp;&nbsp;Next up, in Bogota, I stayed at Hernan and Maria’s home, located in the city center. Even though their home was a small studio, what stood out to me was how they welcomed me with beer and chocolates, which were left on the table for me with a thoughtful note. I stayed at their home for three nights. In the day, I went to see Zipaquira Cathedral with Beyond Colombia tours. It was a well-planned tour and they also stopped on the way at a local restaurant in Zipaquira for lunch. While staying at Hernan and Maria’s home, I got insights into the local life of Bogota. &nbsp;&nbsp;I hopped from one country to the next. In Lima, I stayed at Evelyn’s home. I was surprised at how easy it was to exchange homes. Just one direct message on the app and the hosts responded so fast. All of them were also willing to help and plan my trip, connect me with local operators for tours and I was able to save commission costs during travel. &nbsp;&nbsp;Evelyn’s home had stunning Peruvian interiors and llamas kept in unique corners of the house. Even though the house was modernised I could spot local ingredients in the kitchen. The home was comfortable, and felt just like I had stayed in my own. I spent five days exploring local museums and art collections—especially Barranco, my favourite area in Lima with Jade Rivera’s artwork. Lima also has great vegetarian restaurants which I thoroughly enjoyed. &nbsp;&nbsp;As a vegetarian, what I love about living in homes over hostels is the ability to stay in clean places and cook my own food in clean home kitchens. The homes I stayed in were so open to me using everything inside. Some of the homes also kept special shower gels and shampoos for me to use to clean up after long travels. &nbsp;&nbsp;Beyond Lima, I made a trip to Cusco, where I stayed with Jonathon and Hilda in their beautiful home in Quispicancha. This was the most moving Home Exchange experience I have had. Every day, Jonathon and Hilda checked on me when I travelled, stayed up for extra time beyond their general waking hours to ensure I was home safe, left water for me, checked on my meals and went the extra mile to treat me like family. Hilda was also kind enough to help with my laundry. She folded the clothes and kept them in my room. It was welcoming like family. I didn’t expect the home exchange experience to be so warm. Jonathon and Hilda also helped me to plan my trip to Machu Picchu, a wonder of the world and made me feel confident to do it solo without any agency. After my experience with them, I want to experience more exchanges.&nbsp;While using the application, I found it super easy to draft messages because they have AI tools to draft texts. They also have a translator to translate from different languages. Since Home Exchange is a global community, many exchanges occur between people who don’t share a language. And that’s beautiful since there’s no language barrier.&nbsp;&nbsp;Now that I’m out of my guest points, which are used to book more stays on the application, I can’t wait to host people in my home and give back some of the good I experienced in the world.&nbsp;

What's the best way to learn about a country's culture? Live with locals and understand their food, language and local culture. Here's a quick guide on what it's like to live with locals in South America and understand their culture.

Just a few weeks before leaving for South America, I learned about an application called Home Exchange, where travellers can exchange homes with locals or live with them. I was drawn to this concept especially because there was no concept of money on the application. It was all about exchange. A little bit like Auroville. The app charges a yearly subscription fee of around USD 70, but the number of free stays you can redeem makes it worthwhile. For my first home in Medellin in Colombia, I stayed with Ani, a local from Medellin who has travelled across the world. Her home was tasteful and she even had coffee table books of the artist Fernando Botero. I was quite impressed at her desire to help me plan my trip, even though she did not speak English, only Spanish. As someone who speaks broken Spanish, I was able to converse with her comfortably. She helped me plan my whole trip across Colombia. Next up, in Bogota, I stayed at Hernan and Maria’s home, located in the city center. Even though their home was a small studio, what stood out to me was how they welcomed me with beer and chocolates, which were left on the table for me with a thoughtful note. I stayed at their home for three nights. In the day, I went to see Zipaquira Cathedral with Beyond Colombia tours. It was a well-planned tour and they also stopped on the way at a local restaurant in Zipaquira for lunch. While staying at Hernan and Maria’s home, I got insights into the local life of Bogota. I hopped from one country to the next. In Lima, I stayed at Evelyn’s home. I was surprised at how easy it was to exchange homes. Just one direct message on the app and the hosts responded so fast. All of them were also willing to help and plan my trip, connect me with local operators for tours and I was able to save commission costs during travel. Evelyn’s home had stunning Peruvian interiors and llamas kept in unique corners of the house. Even though the house was modernised I could spot local ingredients in the kitchen. The home was comfortable, and felt just like I had stayed in my own. I spent five days exploring local museums and art collections—especially Barranco, my favourite area in Lima with Jade Rivera’s artwork. Lima also has great vegetarian restaurants which I thoroughly enjoyed. As a vegetarian, what I love about living in homes over hostels is the ability to stay in clean places and cook my own food in clean home kitchens. The homes I stayed in were so open to me using everything inside. Some of the homes also kept special shower gels and shampoos for me to use to clean up after long travels. Beyond Lima, I made a trip to Cusco, where I stayed with Jonathon and Hilda in their beautiful home in Quispicancha. This was the most moving Home Exchange experience I have had. Every day, Jonathon and Hilda checked on me when I travelled, stayed up for extra time beyond their general waking hours to ensure I was home safe, left water for me, checked on my meals and went the extra mile to treat me like family. Hilda was also kind enough to help with my laundry. She folded the clothes and kept them in my room. It was welcoming like family. I didn’t expect the home exchange experience to be so warm. Jonathon and Hilda also helped me to plan my trip to Machu Picchu, a wonder of the world and made me feel confident to do it solo without any agency. After my experience with them, I want to experience more exchanges. While using the application, I found it super easy to draft messages because they have AI tools to draft texts. They also have a translator to translate from different languages. Since Home Exchange is a global community, many exchanges occur between people who don’t share a language. And that’s beautiful since there’s no language barrier. Now that I’m out of my guest points, which are used to book more stays on the application, I can’t wait to host people in my home and give back some of the good I experienced in the world.

What's the best way to learn about a country's culture? Live with locals and understand their food, language and local culture. Here's a quick guide on what it's like to live with locals in South America and understand their culture.&nbsp;

Beyond the tourist trail: Discovering South America through its people

A powerful 7.5-magnitude earthquake struck the Drake Passage near South America early Friday, triggering a tsunami precaution alert for the Chilean Antarctic territory. The quake, initially recorded as magnitude 8.0, was later downgraded by the USGS. The epicenter was located over 700 km southeast of Argentina's Ushuaia, at a shallow depth of 11 km.

 Strong 7.5 magnitude earthquake hits drake passage in South-America 

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi made his visit to Guyana in South America yesterday. And now, Dominica and Guyana have presented their top awards to Modi for his statesmanship as well as his support during the Covid 19 pandemic. Both nations have conferred their highest national awards on Modi. Watch this video to find out more.

PM Modi's Caribbean Outreach: Indian PM Receives Top Honour for Aid During Pandemic | GRAVITAS

China has made a significant move in southern America, with the inauguration of the Chancay Port in Peru. Aiming to redefine the balance of power in South America.

South America's First Chinese-funded Port Launched by Xi

Earth has witnessed several episodes of climatic changes over millions of years. Ice has formed a major part of it and is like a valuable time capsule that can help understand the climate during different time periods. It has proliferated across the planet at different points in time and has preserved dust and debris preserved through millennia.

Using this as a starting point, scientists are now trying to find the world's oldest ice.

Right now, the oldest known continuous ice record from Antarctica is 800,000 years old. However, now an international team&nbsp;of scientists is working to increase this to 1.5 million years.

However, it is hard to locate the exact place where scientists can find the oldest ice since glaciers move across land, and basal melting can eradicate records.&nbsp;

But, as per research published in Climate of the Past, the International Ocean Discovery Program Site U1537 near South America might be a ripe candidate for dating Oldest Ice. This is based on its marine dust content.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/dozens-of-massive-craters-discovered-in-lake-michigan-no-asteroids-didnt-make-them-762778">Dozens of massive craters discovered in Lake Michigan. No, asteroids didn't make them</a>

To finalise the best candidate, researchers compared marine dust in southern Atlantic Ocean ice cores from Ocean Drilling Project Site 1090 with those of Site U1537. Dr&nbsp;Jessica Ng, of Scripps Institution of Oceanography, US and colleagues found Site U1537 to be the most appropriate marine dust record which was then compared to the ice dust of Epica Dome C on Antarctica.

They also created artificial Oldest Ice records and matched the patterns with the Site U1537 marine dust record.&nbsp;

They found that the records for the two sites matched up to 800,000 years ago. But the correlation reduced after that which may indicate spatial variability of dust influx across the southern hemisphere during the 40,000-year world scenario.

Meanwhile, another reason for finding the oldest ice is to understand why the mid-Pleistocene transition happened and what the consequences were.&nbsp;

Earth has witnessed several episodes of climatic changes over millions of years. Ice has formed a major part of it and is like a valuable time capsule that can help understand the climate during different time periods.

Earth has witnessed several episodes of climatic changes over millions of years. Ice has formed a major part of it and is like a valuable time capsule that can help understand the climate during different time periods. It has proliferated across the planet at different points in time and has preserved dust and debris preserved through millennia. Using this as a starting point, scientists are now trying to find the world's oldest ice. Right now, the oldest known continuous ice record from Antarctica is 800,000 years old. However, now an international team of scientists is working to increase this to 1.5 million years. However, it is hard to locate the exact place where scientists can find the oldest ice since glaciers move across land, and basal melting can eradicate records. But, as per research published in Climate of the Past, the International Ocean Discovery Program Site U1537 near South America might be a ripe candidate for dating Oldest Ice. This is based on its marine dust content. Also Read: Dozens of massive craters discovered in Lake Michigan. No, asteroids didn't make them To finalise the best candidate, researchers compared marine dust in southern Atlantic Ocean ice cores from Ocean Drilling Project Site 1090 with those of Site U1537. Dr Jessica Ng, of Scripps Institution of Oceanography, US and colleagues found Site U1537 to be the most appropriate marine dust record which was then compared to the ice dust of Epica Dome C on Antarctica. They also created artificial Oldest Ice records and matched the patterns with the Site U1537 marine dust record. They found that the records for the two sites matched up to 800,000 years ago. But the correlation reduced after that which may indicate spatial variability of dust influx across the southern hemisphere during the 40,000-year world scenario. Meanwhile, another reason for finding the oldest ice is to understand why the mid-Pleistocene transition happened and what the consequences were.

Scientists are on a mission to find 1.5-million-year-old ice, oldest in the world

A research team from the&nbsp;Southern Methodist University (SMU) have discovered rocks and fossils in Angola which speak about how South America and Africa tore apart nearly 140 million years ago and led to the formation of the South Atlantic Ocean.

The team found the rocks and fossils which belonged to the long-extinct marine reptiles in Angola.&nbsp;

It is not new information that the eastern coast of South America and the western coast of Africa once were co-joined in the supercontinent Gondwana, which had drifted from the larger landmass of Pangea.

According to the research team, the southern coast of Angola is filled with the most complete geological record of the breaking of the two continents and the coming up of the South Atlantic Ocean.&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/scientists-close-on-to-create-heaviest-element-ever-known-to-humankind-744929">Scientists close to unique feat of creating heaviest element ever known to humankind</a>

The scientists found the fossils and rocks which dated back from 71 million years to 130 million years ago.&nbsp;

SMU professor emeritus of Earth Sciences and lead author of the study Louis L Jacobs said, “There are places that you can go to in South America, for instance, where you can see this part of the split or that part of it, but in Angola, it’s all laid out in one place."

“Before this, there was not a place known to go and see the rocks on the surface that really reflected the opening of the South Atlantic Ocean, because they’re now in the ocean or eroded away,” he added.

<h2>Here's what the rocks from Angola tell about the breaking of the continent</h2>

Nearly 140 million years ago, Africa and South America started breaking off which caused gashes on the crust of the Earth and led to the opening up of the rifts along the pre-existing weaknesses.&nbsp;

The tectonic plates beneath Africa and South America moved apart which led to magma from the mantle of Earth rising to the surface and forming a new oceanic crust while pushing the continents in opposite directions.

Watch:&nbsp;Scientists say the Earth's core is behaving oddly. Here's why

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/scientists-say-the-earths-core-is-behaving-oddly-heres-why-739062/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The gap between the two newly-formed continents was eventually filled with the South Atlantic Ocean.

“It’s one thing for a geophysicist to be able to look at seismic data and make inferences from that. It’s quite another thing to be able to take a school field trip out to the rock formations, or outcrops, and say this is when the lava was spreading from eastern South America. Or this was when it was a continuous land," said study co-author Michael J. Polcyn.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

A research team from the Southern Methodist University (SMU) have discovered rocks and fossils in Angola which speak about how South America and Africa tore apart nearly 140 million years ago and led to the formation of the South Atlantic Ocean.

A research team from the Southern Methodist University (SMU) have discovered rocks and fossils in Angola which speak about how South America and Africa tore apart nearly 140 million years ago and led to the formation of the South Atlantic Ocean. The team found the rocks and fossils which belonged to the long-extinct marine reptiles in Angola. It is not new information that the eastern coast of South America and the western coast of Africa once were co-joined in the supercontinent Gondwana, which had drifted from the larger landmass of Pangea. According to the research team, the southern coast of Angola is filled with the most complete geological record of the breaking of the two continents and the coming up of the South Atlantic Ocean. Also Read: Scientists close to unique feat of creating heaviest element ever known to humankind The scientists found the fossils and rocks which dated back from 71 million years to 130 million years ago. SMU professor emeritus of Earth Sciences and lead author of the study Louis L Jacobs said, “There are places that you can go to in South America, for instance, where you can see this part of the split or that part of it, but in Angola, it’s all laid out in one place." “Before this, there was not a place known to go and see the rocks on the surface that really reflected the opening of the South Atlantic Ocean, because they’re now in the ocean or eroded away,” he added. Here's what the rocks from Angola tell about the breaking of the continent Nearly 140 million years ago, Africa and South America started breaking off which caused gashes on the crust of the Earth and led to the opening up of the rifts along the pre-existing weaknesses. The tectonic plates beneath Africa and South America moved apart which led to magma from the mantle of Earth rising to the surface and forming a new oceanic crust while pushing the continents in opposite directions. Watch: Scientists say the Earth's core is behaving oddly. Here's why The gap between the two newly-formed continents was eventually filled with the South Atlantic Ocean. “It’s one thing for a geophysicist to be able to look at seismic data and make inferences from that. It’s quite another thing to be able to take a school field trip out to the rock formations, or outcrops, and say this is when the lava was spreading from eastern South America. Or this was when it was a continuous land," said study co-author Michael J. Polcyn. (With inputs from agencies)

South America and Africa once tore apart and formed an oceanic crust. Its evidence lies in Angola

Remains of ancient foxes, that were once domesticated, were found buried with their owners at an archaeological site in Argentina. These foxes, called Dusicyon avus, were kept as pets by hunter-gatherers some 1500 years back, in Patagonia, Argentina.

Previously, some studies opined that after the arrival of European dogs, people started disregarding foxes as pets. However, a recent study shows that climate change was the actual reason for their extinction among various other factors, and not the arrival of European dogs.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/rover-and-first-japanese-astronaut-on-moon-us-japan-announce-historic-space-collaboration-710050">Rover and first Japanese astronaut on Moon: US, Japan announce historic space collaboration</a>

The study was conducted in parts of South America by Ophelie Lebrasseur among others, who is a zooarchaeologist at the University of Oxford. During the study, the team also found the remains of a&nbsp;fox that had “been deliberately buried alongside the person in the grave,” told Lebrasseur to Live Science.&nbsp;

Lebrasseur is a co-author of the new study, which was led by molecular biologist Cinthia Abbona of Argentina's Institute of Evolution, Historical Ecology and Environment (IDEVEA) in Mendoza.

<h2>Proof of people keeping foxes as pets in parts of South America</h2>

The remains of a fox buried with a human were found at the Cañada Seca site. Researchers initially thought that the bone specimens were from the Lycalopex genus of South American foxes.&nbsp;

However, upon carrying out precise measurements and DNA analysis, it was later found to be the remains of Dusicyon avus.

Watch |&nbsp;Peru archaeologists unearth 1,000-year-old mummies of children in Lima

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An analysis of the carbon and nitrogen isotopes present in the fox bones indicated that the animal had eaten a plant-rich diet similar to that of the person buried in the grave, said Lebrasseur. Wild foxes were generally habitual of eating more meat, but the fox found inside the grave had been eating whatever the human ate.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/i-think-this-is-pretty-doable-says-elon-musk-on-mars-settlement-plans-709865">‘I think this is pretty doable,’ says Elon Musk on Mars settlement plans</a>

"The most plausible explanation is that this fox was a valuable companion to the hunter-gatherer groups," the authors wrote in the study.

"Its strong bond with human individuals during its life would have been the primary factor for its placement as a grave good after the death of its owners or the people with whom it interacted," they wrote.

<h2>Spread of dogs as pets in South America</h2>

Dogs (Canis familiaris) first came to the South American continent about 4000 years ago, but by 3000 years ago, their spread seems to have stopped north of Patagonia.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/accelerated-aging-heightens-cancer-risk-in-younger-population-study-709980">Accelerated ageing is heightening cancer risk in younger population: Study</a>

Due to this, the first evidence of dogs in the region is from the 16th century, when some indigenous societies started breeding dogs of European descent.

It is highly unlikely that the modern dogs of the region could have descended from a mixture of dogs and foxes, as was thought previously.

(With inputs from agencies)

Remains of ancient foxes, that were once domesticated, were found buried with their owners at an archaeological site in Argentina. These foxes, called Dusicyon avus, were kept as pets by hunter-gatherers some 1500 years back, in Patagonia, Argentina.

Remains of ancient foxes, that were once domesticated, were found buried with their owners at an archaeological site in Argentina. These foxes, called Dusicyon avus, were kept as pets by hunter-gatherers some 1500 years back, in Patagonia, Argentina. Previously, some studies opined that after the arrival of European dogs, people started disregarding foxes as pets. However, a recent study shows that climate change was the actual reason for their extinction among various other factors, and not the arrival of European dogs. Also Read | Rover and first Japanese astronaut on Moon: US, Japan announce historic space collaboration The study was conducted in parts of South America by Ophelie Lebrasseur among others, who is a zooarchaeologist at the University of Oxford. During the study, the team also found the remains of a fox that had “been deliberately buried alongside the person in the grave,” told Lebrasseur to Live Science. Lebrasseur is a co-author of the new study, which was led by molecular biologist Cinthia Abbona of Argentina's Institute of Evolution, Historical Ecology and Environment (IDEVEA) in Mendoza. Proof of people keeping foxes as pets in parts of South America The remains of a fox buried with a human were found at the Cañada Seca site. Researchers initially thought that the bone specimens were from the Lycalopex genus of South American foxes. However, upon carrying out precise measurements and DNA analysis, it was later found to be the remains of Dusicyon avus. Watch | Peru archaeologists unearth 1,000-year-old mummies of children in Lima × An analysis of the carbon and nitrogen isotopes present in the fox bones indicated that the animal had eaten a plant-rich diet similar to that of the person buried in the grave, said Lebrasseur. Wild foxes were generally habitual of eating more meat, but the fox found inside the grave had been eating whatever the human ate. Also Read | ‘I think this is pretty doable,’ says Elon Musk on Mars settlement plans "The most plausible explanation is that this fox was a valuable companion to the hunter-gatherer groups," the authors wrote in the study. "Its strong bond with human individuals during its life would have been the primary factor for its placement as a grave good after the death of its owners or the people with whom it interacted," they wrote. Spread of dogs as pets in South America Dogs (Canis familiaris) first came to the South American continent about 4000 years ago, but by 3000 years ago, their spread seems to have stopped north of Patagonia. Also Read | Accelerated ageing is heightening cancer risk in younger population: Study Due to this, the first evidence of dogs in the region is from the 16th century, when some indigenous societies started breeding dogs of European descent. It is highly unlikely that the modern dogs of the region could have descended from a mixture of dogs and foxes, as was thought previously. (With inputs from agencies)

Guess which wild animal was used to be man's pet 1,500 years ago. Hint: Not dogs

Argentina meanwhile is battling a surge in Dengue cases which is surpassed last year's records. It also reflects a wider worry around South America where warmer and wetter weather has led to an uptake in the number of cases.

Dengue outbreak in Argentina, over 120,000 cases recorded in 2023-24

Brazilian markets experienced a significant downturn following a surprising move by state-controlled oil giant Petroleo Brasileiro SA, commonly known as Petrobras, which paid a lower-than-anticipated dividend. <o:p></o:p>

The decision sent shockwaves through the investor community, rekindling fears of political instability in the Latin American nation.<o:p></o:p>

The aftermath of Petrobras' dividend announcement was palpable across various financial indicators. <o:p></o:p>

The Brazilian real faced a depreciation of up to 1.1 per cent, marking one of the most substantial declines among major currencies worldwide. <o:p></o:p>

Meanwhile, swap rates due in January 2031 surged by 12 basis points. <o:p></o:p>

The country's benchmark Ibovespa equity index also experienced its sharpest drop since September, with Petrobras itself contributing significantly to the downturn, as it holds a weight of 13 per cent in the index.<o:p></o:p>

Analysts from renowned financial institutions swiftly responded to the market turmoil. <o:p></o:p>

Both Bank of America Corp. and Banco Santander SA moved to downgrade Petrobras from their previous buy-equivalent ratings. <o:p></o:p>

This shift came as Petrobras' CEO hinted at a more cautious approach towards shareholder remuneration, focusing instead on the company's transition towards renewable energy initiatives.<o:p></o:p>

A Bloomberg report cited Malcolm Dorson, a senior portfolio manager at Global X Management Company, who said that the situation reflects growing concerns over Brazil's political landscape. <o:p></o:p>

He noted that while Brazil presents significant opportunities, factors like unpredictable political risks associated with major companies like Petrobras and Vale weigh heavily on investor sentiment.<o:p></o:p>

The disappointment over Petrobras' dividend payout comes at a time when Brazilian investors were enjoying a period of relative calm on the political front. <o:p></o:p>

The real had been perceived as an attractive option for carry traders. <o:p></o:p>

However, this recent development serves as a setback, reminding investors of the inherent volatility within Brazilian markets.<o:p></o:p>

In addition to Petrobras, investors are closely watching developments within another major player, Vale SA, particularly its CEO succession race. <o:p></o:p>

The outcome of this race could provide insights into whether the current administration, led by President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, will succeed in promoting a candidate with strong government ties, further influencing market dynamics.<o:p></o:p>

(With inputs from Bloomberg)<o:p></o:p>

Brazilian markets experienced a significant downturn following a surprising move by state-controlled oil giant Petroleo Brasileiro SA, commonly known as Petrobras, which paid a lower-than-anticipated dividend.

Brazilian markets experienced a significant downturn following a surprising move by state-controlled oil giant Petroleo Brasileiro SA, commonly known as Petrobras, which paid a lower-than-anticipated dividend. The decision sent shockwaves through the investor community, rekindling fears of political instability in the Latin American nation. The aftermath of Petrobras' dividend announcement was palpable across various financial indicators. The Brazilian real faced a depreciation of up to 1.1 per cent, marking one of the most substantial declines among major currencies worldwide. Meanwhile, swap rates due in January 2031 surged by 12 basis points. The country's benchmark Ibovespa equity index also experienced its sharpest drop since September, with Petrobras itself contributing significantly to the downturn, as it holds a weight of 13 per cent in the index. Analysts from renowned financial institutions swiftly responded to the market turmoil. Both Bank of America Corp. and Banco Santander SA moved to downgrade Petrobras from their previous buy-equivalent ratings. This shift came as Petrobras' CEO hinted at a more cautious approach towards shareholder remuneration, focusing instead on the company's transition towards renewable energy initiatives. A Bloomberg report cited Malcolm Dorson, a senior portfolio manager at Global X Management Company, who said that the situation reflects growing concerns over Brazil's political landscape. He noted that while Brazil presents significant opportunities, factors like unpredictable political risks associated with major companies like Petrobras and Vale weigh heavily on investor sentiment. The disappointment over Petrobras' dividend payout comes at a time when Brazilian investors were enjoying a period of relative calm on the political front. The real had been perceived as an attractive option for carry traders. However, this recent development serves as a setback, reminding investors of the inherent volatility within Brazilian markets. In addition to Petrobras, investors are closely watching developments within another major player, Vale SA, particularly its CEO succession race. The outcome of this race could provide insights into whether the current administration, led by President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, will succeed in promoting a candidate with strong government ties, further influencing market dynamics. (With inputs from Bloomberg)

Brazil's Market Turmoil: Petrobras dividend disappointment sparks investor concerns

Archaeologists have discovered the earliest dated cave paintings in South America in Argentine Patagonia, dating back 8,200 years. Watch in for more details!

Archaeologists excavate mankind's earliest dated cave paintings

Javier Milei, the newly elected far-right Argentine president, received a major setback on Tuesday (Feb 6) as his&nbsp;labour reforms package&nbsp;was blocked from advancing in the parliament and sent back for a rewrite.&nbsp;

According to reports, Milei's&nbsp;La Libertad Avanza (LLA) party, which controls only a small number of seats in the Congress, pulled the bill and&nbsp;obtained the adjournment of the session.

The move was necessitated after&nbsp;opposition lawmakers went on a rejection spree, culling several crucial proposals at an article-by-article vote.&nbsp;

After the setback, LLA said it would send the bill back to committees for further debate.&nbsp;Meanwhile, Oscar Zago, leader of the ruling party faction called out the governors for their betrayals.&nbsp;

“Betrayal will be costly and [LLA] will not allow the governors to extort the people to maintain their privileges,” the coalition wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter).&nbsp;

Notably, the opposition towards the bill continued even as the LLA dramatically scaled back on its previous version - removing&nbsp;more than two-thirds of its original 664 articles, to win over centrist lawmakers.

Despite the omissions, the new bill still included measures such as giving the nod to privatise two dozen state companies,&nbsp;strengthening penalties for road-blocking protests and relaxing some environmental protections.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-who-is-javier-milei-argentinas-president-elect-660904">Watch |&nbsp;Gravitas: Who is Javier Milei, Argentina's president-elect?</a>

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After the setback, Milei, who is currently on a trip to Israel, issued a fiery response.&nbsp;

"Our government program was voted by 56 per cent of Argentines and we are not willing to negotiate it with those who destroyed the country," Milei posted.

"We know that it will not be easy to change a system in which politicians have enriched themselves at the expense of Argentines,"&nbsp;he added.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
LA CASTA CONTRA EL PUEBLO 
 
La casta se puso en contra del cambio que los argentinos votamos en las urnas. 
 
Sabemos que no va a ser fácil cambiar un sistema donde los políticos se hicieron ricos a costa de los argentinos que se levantan todos los días a trabajar. 
 
Nuestro programa…
— Javier Milei (@JMilei) <a href="https://twitter.com/JMilei/status/1755009359061344268?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 6, 2024</a></blockquote>
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The Argentine president had earlier rationalised his decision saying the labour reforms were aimed at deregulating the South American country's&nbsp;economy which has been in a rut.

<h2>Milei's unexpected win</h2>

Milei managed a political upset in November last year by clinching Argentina's presidential run-off elections. Milei's campaign was marked by unconventional tactics, including wielding a chainsaw on the trail.&nbsp;

His economic proposals, notably the bold idea of "detonating" the central bank and endorsing the US dollar as the official currency, struck a chord with voters disillusioned with traditional politics and desperate for a transformative approach.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/argentinas-new-far-right-president-ditches-brics-to-support-us-and-israel-674880" target="_blank">Also read | Argentina’s new far-right President Javier Milei ditches BRICS to ‘support US and Israel’</a>

While Milei's win resonated with a significant portion of the electorate frustrated with economic hardships, critics remain sceptical of his untested leadership and unconventional policy proposals.

After taking office in December, Milei has undertaken some drastic policy changes that include labour reforms as well as pulling out of the BRICS grouping.

(With inputs from agencies)

Javier Milei, the newly elected far-right Argentine president, received a major setback on Tuesday (Feb 6) as his labour reforms package was blocked from advancing in the parliament and sent back for a rewrite.

Javier Milei, the newly elected far-right Argentine president, received a major setback on Tuesday (Feb 6) as his labour reforms package was blocked from advancing in the parliament and sent back for a rewrite. According to reports, Milei's La Libertad Avanza (LLA) party, which controls only a small number of seats in the Congress, pulled the bill and obtained the adjournment of the session. The move was necessitated after opposition lawmakers went on a rejection spree, culling several crucial proposals at an article-by-article vote. After the setback, LLA said it would send the bill back to committees for further debate. Meanwhile, Oscar Zago, leader of the ruling party faction called out the governors for their betrayals. “Betrayal will be costly and [LLA] will not allow the governors to extort the people to maintain their privileges,” the coalition wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter). Notably, the opposition towards the bill continued even as the LLA dramatically scaled back on its previous version - removing more than two-thirds of its original 664 articles, to win over centrist lawmakers. Despite the omissions, the new bill still included measures such as giving the nod to privatise two dozen state companies, strengthening penalties for road-blocking protests and relaxing some environmental protections. Watch | Gravitas: Who is Javier Milei, Argentina's president-elect? After the setback, Milei, who is currently on a trip to Israel, issued a fiery response. "Our government program was voted by 56 per cent of Argentines and we are not willing to negotiate it with those who destroyed the country," Milei posted. "We know that it will not be easy to change a system in which politicians have enriched themselves at the expense of Argentines," he added. LA CASTA CONTRA EL PUEBLO La casta se puso en contra del cambio que los argentinos votamos en las urnas. Sabemos que no va a ser fácil cambiar un sistema donde los políticos se hicieron ricos a costa de los argentinos que se levantan todos los días a trabajar. Nuestro programa… — Javier Milei (@JMilei) February 6, 2024 × The Argentine president had earlier rationalised his decision saying the labour reforms were aimed at deregulating the South American country's economy which has been in a rut. Milei's unexpected win Milei managed a political upset in November last year by clinching Argentina's presidential run-off elections. Milei's campaign was marked by unconventional tactics, including wielding a chainsaw on the trail. His economic proposals, notably the bold idea of "detonating" the central bank and endorsing the US dollar as the official currency, struck a chord with voters disillusioned with traditional politics and desperate for a transformative approach. Also read | Argentina’s new far-right President Javier Milei ditches BRICS to ‘support US and Israel’ While Milei's win resonated with a significant portion of the electorate frustrated with economic hardships, critics remain sceptical of his untested leadership and unconventional policy proposals. After taking office in December, Milei has undertaken some drastic policy changes that include labour reforms as well as pulling out of the BRICS grouping. (With inputs from agencies)

Argentine President Milei's sweeping reform bill stalled in Congress in a major setback

The offspring of illegal hippopotamuses imported to Colombia by late druglord Pablo Escobar in the 1980s have started attacking people, according to media reports.&nbsp;

Since these hippos do not have any natural predators in the South American country, their reign of terror has extended to humans who have become the target of their&nbsp;brute aggression.&nbsp;

"They're very, very dangerous. The hippos have started to attack people," one local was quoted as saying by Fox News.

Others said the giant hippos were "unpredictable and aggressive" and if one squared up against them, the best course of action is to quickly hide and hope they do not come after you.&nbsp;

Last year, one of the hippos, belonging to Escobar's collection died after being struck by a car.&nbsp;While the hippo died on the spot, the driver of the car was sent for medical assistance by emergency personnel.

The hippos were brought to Escobar's&nbsp;private zoo in Hacienda Nápoles in the 1980s. However, after Escobar's death in 1993, these animals have spread to the nearby rivers, reproducing without control, forcing Colombia's Ministry of Environment to declare them an invasive species as they threaten the entire ecosystem.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/colombia-grapples-with-escobars-hippopotamus-legacy-588442">Watch |&nbsp;Colombia grapples with Escobar's Hippopotamus legacy</a>

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&nbsp;

<h2>Invasive species&nbsp;</h2>

As their population grew to 150, the hippos started polluting soil and water and wiping out native plants in the region. The officials said that their faeces affected water oxygen levels, lowered the water quality and caused widespread fish fatalities.&nbsp;

"We are in a race against time in terms of permanent environmental and ecosystem impacts,"&nbsp;&nbsp;Colombian environmental minister Susana Muhamad told the New York Times.&nbsp;

The environmental authorities have been helpless to curb their numbers. According to a study in Nature journal, their numbers could increase to 1,500 in 20 years. The authorities have tried various methods like using contraceptive darts and other methods to control their population, but these have yielded limited success.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/court-rules-pablo-escobars-cocaine-hippos-are-legally-people-422874">Also read |&nbsp;Court rules Pablo Escobar's&nbsp;hippos are legally people</a>

As part of another plan, the authorities are hoping to sterilise 40 hippos a year and transfer some of them to other countries while euthanising a few.&nbsp;

However, the sterilisation task remains difficult as spotting and capturing these aggressive animals is complicated. Additionally, it costs about $9,800 for each sterilisation, making it an expensive job as well.

(With inputs from agencies)

The offspring of illegal hippopotamuses imported to Colombia by late druglord Pablo Escobar in the 1980s have started attacking people, according to media reports.

The offspring of illegal hippopotamuses imported to Colombia by late druglord Pablo Escobar in the 1980s have started attacking people, according to media reports. Since these hippos do not have any natural predators in the South American country, their reign of terror has extended to humans who have become the target of their brute aggression. "They're very, very dangerous. The hippos have started to attack people," one local was quoted as saying by Fox News. Others said the giant hippos were "unpredictable and aggressive" and if one squared up against them, the best course of action is to quickly hide and hope they do not come after you. Last year, one of the hippos, belonging to Escobar's collection died after being struck by a car. While the hippo died on the spot, the driver of the car was sent for medical assistance by emergency personnel. The hippos were brought to Escobar's private zoo in Hacienda Nápoles in the 1980s. However, after Escobar's death in 1993, these animals have spread to the nearby rivers, reproducing without control, forcing Colombia's Ministry of Environment to declare them an invasive species as they threaten the entire ecosystem. Watch | Colombia grapples with Escobar's Hippopotamus legacy × Invasive species As their population grew to 150, the hippos started polluting soil and water and wiping out native plants in the region. The officials said that their faeces affected water oxygen levels, lowered the water quality and caused widespread fish fatalities. "We are in a race against time in terms of permanent environmental and ecosystem impacts," Colombian environmental minister Susana Muhamad told the New York Times. The environmental authorities have been helpless to curb their numbers. According to a study in Nature journal, their numbers could increase to 1,500 in 20 years. The authorities have tried various methods like using contraceptive darts and other methods to control their population, but these have yielded limited success. Also read | Court rules Pablo Escobar's hippos are legally people As part of another plan, the authorities are hoping to sterilise 40 hippos a year and transfer some of them to other countries while euthanising a few. However, the sterilisation task remains difficult as spotting and capturing these aggressive animals is complicated. Additionally, it costs about $9,800 for each sterilisation, making it an expensive job as well. (With inputs from agencies)

Pablo Escobar's 'cocaine hippos' attacking people in Colombia

The small south American nation of Ecuador was once perceived as a haven of peace sandwiched between cocaine-producing Colombia and Peru. Renowned as world's top exporter of bananas, it is home to the biodiverse Galapagos islands. However, in the past five years, things have taken a turn for the worse. Large ports, lax security and endemic corruption have lured foreign drug cartels to its shore.

President of Ecuador declares 60-day state of emergency | World At War

The UK has deployed its Royal Navy Patrol vessel HMS Trent near Guyana. Venezuelan President Maduro has slammed this move as a provocation and asked 5,600 troops to launch a defensive exercise near the border. The neighbours are locked in a dispute over the oil-rich Esequibo region. Will this lead to an oil war in South America?

Gravitas | Will there be an oil war in South America?

Let's also take a quick look at how different parts of the world are celebrating the Festival of Christmas on the 25th of December.

DRC marks Christmas amid unrest following elections

Sydney, Tokyo, Copenhagen, and many more cities around the world are ready for the Christmas season with vast decorations and twinkling lights shining bright. Keep watching to know more.

The world twinkles with Christmas lights as the season kicks off

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