Stories for February 2019

Friday, February 8th 2019 - 08:30 UTC
Fears in Australia that hundreds of thousands of cattle could have died in record floods

Hundreds of thousands of cattle weakened from a severe drought are feared to have died in record-breaking floods in northeastern Australia, authorities said on Friday, as they stepped up efforts to feed surviving livestock.
Friday, February 8th 2019 - 08:22 UTC
Bolsonaro recovering from intestinal surgery but has caught pneumonia

Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro has pneumonia after registering a fever during a hospital stay, but a tweet on the far-right leader’s Twitter profile on Thursday said he was “well.”Bolsonaro had an operation on Jan. 28 to remove a colostomy bag that was put in place after he was stabbed while campaigning ahead of Brazil’s election last year.
Thursday, February 7th 2019 - 16:57 UTC
EU calls for free elections in Venezuela at International Contact Group meeting in Montevideo

The High Representative of the European Union (EU) for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini warned on Thursday at the meeting of the International Contact Group in Montevideo, on a beside the president of Uruguay, Tabaré Vázquez, that the group does not seek a “direct negotiation” but a free, transparent and credible Presidential election in Venezuela.
Thursday, February 7th 2019 - 11:14 UTC
“Neutral-neutralized” Uruguay hosts international gathering on the Venezuelan situation

Montevideo, the capital of “neutral/neutralized” Uruguay is hosting this Thursday an international gathering with countries of the Americas and the European Union to address, and attempt to solve or find a way out to the delicate and worsening situation in Venezuela.
Thursday, February 7th 2019 - 10:33 UTC
As March countdown clicks, UN warns about global implications of the US/China trade dispute

United Nations trade official has warned a US plan to raise tariffs on Chinese goods next month would have “massive” implications for the global economy. The US plans to increase tariffs on Chinese goods if the two sides fail to make progress on a trade deal by 1 March.
Thursday, February 7th 2019 - 10:29 UTC
Brazil central bank leaves interest rates at record low 6.5%

Brazil’s central bank left interest rates at a record low on Wednesday as expected, and signaled it is in no rush to change them even though inflationary pressures have cooled. The bank’s nine-member monetary policy committee, Copom, voted unanimously to keep the benchmark Selic rate at 6.5% for the seventh straight meeting.
Thursday, February 7th 2019 - 10:17 UTC
Massive sea birds death along the Dutch coast: possible victims of a spill from 345 containers fallen overboard

Scientists are trying to find out why some 20,000 guillemots have died in recent weeks along the Dutch coast. The birds were all emaciated and there are fears they may have been victims of a spill from the MSC Zoe container ship, from which some 345 containers fell in the sea during a storm.
Thursday, February 7th 2019 - 10:11 UTC
Guaido insists with humanitarian aid for Venezuela, but the Army blocks access

Venezuela’s opposition leader Juan Guaido stepped up efforts on Wednesday to win recognition from EU holdout states and insisted the armed forces allow desperately needed humanitarian aid to enter the country.
Thursday, February 7th 2019 - 10:08 UTC
Falklands' air service latest incorporation delayed waiting for airworthiness documentation

In January, a newly leased aircraft from Britten-Norman arrived in the Falkland Islands to provide an additional resource to the Falkland Islands Government Air Service during the height of the summer season. The plan was to carry out a 100 hours inspection and to fit flotation tyres before the aircraft – registration G-BCEN – would begin to carry passengers.
Thursday, February 7th 2019 - 10:05 UTC
Manufacturing in Argentina was 5% down during 2018

Manufacturing performance in Argentina during 2018 was one of the worst since the 2001/02 collapse and melting of the country's economy according to the latest release from the stats office, Indec. Manufacturing dropped 14.7% in December compared to the same month in 2017, ending 2018 with an overall decrease of 5%.