News from South America
MercoPress South Atlantic News Agency
- Elisha Kent Kane Society awards Gold Medal to Falklands Maritime Heritage Trust trustee Mensun Bound
on January 7, 2026At a recent black-tie dinner in Manhattan, the Elisha Kent Kane Historical Society, presented its Gold Medal to Mensun Bound, Trustee of the Falklands Maritime Heritage Trust (FMHT). The prestigious award was in recognition of his role in discovering Sir Ernest Shackleton’s ship Endurance that sank beneath the ice of the Weddell Sea on 21 November 1915. […]
- Trump claims control of Venezuelan oil: Up to 50 million barrels bound for US
on January 7, 2026US President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that Venezuela's interim authorities had agreed to "turn over" between 30 and 50 million barrels of crude oil to the United States.
- Bolsonaro denied hospital trip after fall
on January 7, 2026Brazil's Supreme Federal Court (STF) Justice Alexandre De Moraes denied on Tuesday a request from former President Jair Bolsonaro's legal team to have their client transferred to a medical facility after suffering what his relatives claim was a fall while locked up at the Federal Police's headquarters in Brasilia to serve his 27-year prison sentence for […]
- Delcy Rodríguez declares week of mourning for fallen Maduro's guardsmen
on January 7, 2026Venezuela's Acting President Delcy Rodríguez has declared seven days of national mourning to honor those fallen during the Jan. 3 US military mission to capture former ruler Nicolás Maduro. Rodríguez said the week will be dedicated to the "honor and glory" of the "martyrs."
- Key IDB Chief's visit to Bolivia announced
on January 7, 2026Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) President Ilan Goldfajn is visiting Bolivia between Jan. 13 and 14, marking the first time in 15 years that someone in his position has become interested in the landlocked South American country, signaling a shift in international financial relations under the administration of President Rodrigo Paz Pereira.
- Ascension’s Telecoms Turning Point and What It May Signal for the Falklands
on January 7, 2026By OpenFalklands This post examines the latest milestone in Ascension Island’s telecommunications story, set against the accelerating global adoption of Starlink and its relevance for the Falkland Islands. If you are new to this unfolding saga, you may wish to begin with my two earlier OpenFalklands posts, which anticipated how similar dynamics could […]
- Convicted CIA mole serving life with no parole dies in jail
on January 7, 2026Former CIA counterintelligence officer Aldrich Ames, whose nearly decade-long betrayal of the United States stood as one of the most catastrophic security breaches in history, died in federal custody on Monday at the age of 84.
- Trump sets eyes on Greenland, does not rule out military means
on January 7, 2026White House sources confirmed on Tuesday that President Donald Trump was considering “a range of options” to acquire Greenland, explicitly stating that military intervention was not to be ruled out, thus sending shockwaves through the NATO alliance.
- Argentine health authorities concerned over growing number of superflu cases
on January 7, 2026Argentina's Health Ministry and the ANLIS-Malbrán Institute have confirmed a rise in cases of Influenza A (H3N2) subclade K —popularly dubbed the "superflu"—, with 18 confirmed detections in the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires (CABA), and the provinces of Buenos Aires, Santa Cruz, Neuquén, and Mendoza. So far, no deaths have been reported.
- The Near-Miss Effect: Why Our Brains Crave Uncertainty More Than Rewards
on January 7, 2026Imagine a digital display where three symbols must align. The first two click into place perfectly, but the third slows down, hovering just above the winning line before settling on a loss. Logically, this is a failure with no payout. Yet, the human brain rarely registers it as such. Instead of walking away, most feel a surge of energy and an urge to try […]