Latest Reporting by The Rio Times
20 Stories IndexedAlgeria Moves to Restore the Death Penalty for Setting Forests Alight
Twelve people died in the north-east. The president wants capital punishment on the statute book for arson by mid-September, in a country that has not executed anyone since 1993. The post Algeria Moves to Restore the Death Penalty for Setting Forests Alight appeared first on The Rio Times.
Hichilema Is Sworn In With the Election Petition Still Unresolved
Zambia declared a public holiday for the swearing-in. The copper economy Hichilema inherits is steadier than the one he found in 2021, and the politics around it is not. The post Hichilema Is Sworn In With the Election Petition Still Unresolved appeared first on The Rio Times.
Ghana’s Gold Board Promises US$1.4 Billion of Dollars in September
GoldBod says it will generate US$1.4bn of foreign exchange in September, half to the banks and half to reserves. August's reported figure was US$1.315bn. The post Ghana’s Gold Board Promises US$1.4 Billion of Dollars in September appeared first on The Rio Times.
Brazil and South Africa Talk Trade as US Tariffs Push Them Together
Pretoria and Brasilia have turned a shared tariff problem into a plan for minerals, manufacturing and technology - while leaving the poultry and sugar fights unresolved. The post Brazil and South Africa Talk Trade as US Tariffs Push Them Together appeared first on The Rio Times.
Washington Puts a US$7 Billion Number on Cameroon
The first US-Cameroon economic dialogue produced a published inventory of American deal flow, and a commitment to meet again in the United States in 2027. The post Washington Puts a US$7 Billion Number on Cameroon appeared first on The Rio Times.
KoBold Metals Just Got Its First Lithium Ground in Congo
The Gates and Bezos-backed explorer has won seven exploration permits in the Democratic Republic of Congo, four of them in the contested Manono territory. The post KoBold Metals Just Got Its First Lithium Ground in Congo appeared first on The Rio Times.
A South African Tailings Dam Collapsed. It Was Not on the Register
The Inyoni facility failed on 13 August, spilling slurry into a neighbouring platinum mine. Regulators say it was showing persistent seepages and was unregistered. The post A South African Tailings Dam Collapsed. It Was Not on the Register appeared first on The Rio Times.
A Platinum Approach in South Africa Could Lead the World
Northam has disclosed an unsolicited approach from a rival producer, reported to be Valterra. A deal would create the world's largest platinum supplier. The post A Platinum Approach in South Africa Could Lead the World appeared first on The Rio Times.
Zambia Charges Its Election Runner-Up With Treason
Brian Mundubile, who took about 38% of the vote on 13 August, has been charged with treason along with 17 others. Hichilema is sworn in on 1 September. The post Zambia Charges Its Election Runner-Up With Treason appeared first on The Rio Times.
Data Miners Now Pay Ethiopia More for Power Than Its Own Utility Does
Ethiopian Electric Power turned its first profit, and the customer paying it most is not the national utility but the data-mining companies drawing a third of its output. The post Data Miners Now Pay Ethiopia More for Power Than Its Own Utility Does appeared first on The Rio Times.
Europe Intelligence Brief — Tuesday, September 1, 2026
Rio Times · Europe Intelligence Brief September 1, 2026 Europe Intelligence Brief — Tuesday, September 1, 2026 A Bill From Somewhere Else Key Facts The print. Euro area inflation rose to 3.3 per cent in August… The post Europe Intelligence Brief — Tuesday, September 1, 2026 appeared first on The Rio Times.
Asia Intelligence Brief — Tuesday, September 1, 2026
Rio Times · Asia Intelligence Brief September 1, 2026 Asia Intelligence Brief — Tuesday, September 1, 2026 The Instruments Disagree Key Facts The count. Nepal's flood dead stood at 903 with 4,247 unaccounted for on Tuesday… The post Asia Intelligence Brief — Tuesday, September 1, 2026 appeared first on The Rio Times.
Africa Intelligence Brief — Tuesday, September 1, 2026
Rio Times · Africa Intelligence Brief September 1, 2026 Africa Intelligence Brief — Tuesday, September 1, 2026 The Price Of Being Certain Key Facts The mutiny. Niger's junta survived a night of fighting in Niamey with… The post Africa Intelligence Brief — Tuesday, September 1, 2026 appeared first on The Rio Times.
Paraguay Doctors Hand In Mass Resignations as Pay Talks Collapse
Paraguayan public-sector doctors filed mass resignations on 31 August; the union counts 196 and warns of 600, the ministry 61, as the government rules out a 76% raise and sends a +52% health budget to Congress. The post Paraguay Doctors Hand In Mass Resignations as Pay Talks Collapse appeared first on The Rio Times.
Vaca Muerta Now Funds a Third of Neuquén Wages as Lithium Wins US$700 Million IDB Invest Backing
ARGENTINA · ENERGY Key Facts —The payroll: 35.7 percent of Neuquén province’s registered private payroll now comes from jobs directly tied to Vaca Muerta, an IERAL-Fundación Mediterránea report calculates — though only 16 percent of the province’s jobs are in the sector, a measure of its high wages. —The export map: Neuquén became Argentina’s third-largest […] The post Vaca Muerta Now Funds a Third of Neuquén Wages as Lithium Wins US$700 Million IDB Invest Backing appeared first on The Rio Times...
Colombia Earthquake Insurance Payouts Quadruple as Damage Estimate Doubles
Three weeks after the Colombia earthquake, insurers quadrupled payouts to COP$42,992 million and claims hit 66,370; Netflix and the Voces por la Vida concert added relief funds. The post Colombia Earthquake Insurance Payouts Quadruple as Damage Estimate Doubles appeared first on The Rio Times.
Paraguay IMF Review: Growth Holds at 4.4%, Deficit Widens
The IMF concluded Paraguay's 2026 Article IV review on 28 August: 4.4% growth, a 3.5% deficit to clear arrears, a historic-low risk premium — and a construction sector employing a record 279,215 people. The post Paraguay IMF Review: Growth Holds at 4.4%, Deficit Widens appeared first on The Rio Times.
Argentina Farm Exports Hit US$2.75 Billion in August, Up 51 Percent on Corn Surge
ARGENTINA · ECONOMY Key Facts —The month: Argentine farm exporters settled US$2.75 billion in August, up 51 percent from the US$1.818 billion of August 2025, though 6 percent below July’s US$2.918 billion. —The year: The first eight months of 2026 total US$19.047 billion, 12 percent below the same period of 2025 — an improvement on […] The post Argentina Farm Exports Hit US$2.75 Billion in August, Up 51 Percent on Corn Surge appeared first on The Rio Times.
‘El Wicho,’ Los Reyes Cartel Leader in Michoacán, Killed in Army Operation
Luis Enrique Barragán Chávez, 'El Wicho' or 'R-5,' second-in-command of the Cártel de Los Reyes, was killed in an Army operation in Los Reyes, Michoacán. The U.S. had offered US$3 million for his capture. The post ‘El Wicho,’ Los Reyes Cartel Leader in Michoacán, Killed in Army Operation appeared first on The Rio Times.
Guyana’s Housing Foundation Aid Nears GY$1 Billion (US$4.8 Million)
Guyana has disbursed close to GY$1 billion (US$4.8 million) on concrete foundations for house lot owners, Minister Collin Croal said, anchoring a 40,000-home push funded by oil revenues. The post Guyana’s Housing Foundation Aid Nears GY$1 Billion (US$4.8 Million) appeared first on The Rio Times.