Stories for February 2017

Thursday, February 16th 2017 - 11:31 UTC
Trump on the phone with Macri; invitation to the White House

United States president Donald Trump was on the phone on Wednesday afternoon to speak with his Argentine peer Mauricio Macri. The five minute talk, according to Argentine sources, addressed the bilateral agenda, the Venezuela situation and an invitation for Macri to visit US sometime in April/June.
Thursday, February 16th 2017 - 10:59 UTC
Brexit Minister admits some parliamentary “ping pong”, but March timetable stands

British ministers are braced for a parliamentary battle and are prepared for the Article 50 legislation to be rewritten by the House of Lords, David Davis has indicated. The Brexit Secretary said he expected some parliamentary “ping pong”, with the Bill being sent back and forth between the Commons and the Lords, suggesting he expected peers to defeat the Government and make changes to the tightly-worded legislation.
Thursday, February 16th 2017 - 10:43 UTC
Thirty tons of Venezuelan currency are seized in Paraguay; smuggled from Brazil

Central Bank employees will count about 30 tons of Venezuelan currency seized in a private house in Paraguay, while officials try to figure out why the vast quantity of 50- and 100-bolivar bills was brought into the country. The cash was discovered in Salto del Guaira, a city about 370 kilometers northeast of the capital of Asuncion, on the border with Brazil in a region known for the contraband trade.
Thursday, February 16th 2017 - 10:27 UTC
Yellow fever vaccination recommendations for international travellers to Brazil

As of 13 February 2017, yellow fever virus transmission continues to expand towards the Atlantic coast of Brazil in areas not deemed to be at risk for yellow fever transmission prior to the revised risk assessment published by WHO in the Disease Outbreak News of 27 January 2017, and supported by the scientific and technical advisory group on geographical yellow fever risk mapping (GRYF).
Thursday, February 16th 2017 - 10:13 UTC
Red Cross completes Phase 1 of mission to identify Argentine soldiers in Darwin cemetery

Laurent Corbaz of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), said on leaving the Falklands that Phase 1 of the mission to identify Argentine soldiers buried at the Darwin Cemetery had taken place during the week spent in the Islands with his team mate Patrick Sherry.
Wednesday, February 15th 2017 - 09:44 UTC
Comodoro/Falklands air link awarded by Argentina to Neuquen airline

Argentina's Air Transport Advisory Agency has approved the flights' program of an airline from the Patagonia province of Neuquén which includes an air link between Comodoro Rivadavia and the Falkland/Malvinas Islands, reports this week the local Neuquen media.
Wednesday, February 15th 2017 - 09:34 UTC
Brazilian Judge reinstates top ally of President Temer to a ministerial post

A Brazilian judge reinstated the nomination of a top ally of President Michel Temer to a ministerial post, but ruled he could not receive the legal protections other high-ranking politicians enjoy.
Wednesday, February 15th 2017 - 09:24 UTC
Argentina's ex intelligence chief indicted; prosecution requests his arrest

Prosecutors have requested the arrest of Argentina's intelligence chief under former president Cristina Fernandez over murky accusations he shielded a fugitive drug trafficker from arrest. The request came a day after ex-spy chief Oscar Parrilli was indicted on charges of hiding information on the whereabouts of the man who was formerly Argentina's most-wanted fugitive.
Wednesday, February 15th 2017 - 09:18 UTC
Argentine prosecution accuses President Macri of conflicts of interest

An Argentine prosecutor on Tuesday demanded a judicial investigation into alleged financial conflicts of interest by the country's President Mauricio Macri and family. Macri is accused of a conflict of interest in overseeing a deal as president to settle debts incurred by the postal service in a period when it was controlled by his father's business. His government has denied any wrongdoing.
Wednesday, February 15th 2017 - 09:12 UTC
Brazilian currency at its strongest against the US dollar since July 2015

The Brazilian real gained on Tuesday to its strongest level in more than a year and a half, following a rise in capital inflows and after the central bank resumed currency intervention following a two-week pause. The real firmed 0.45% to 3.096 real per dollar, its strongest showing since July 2015.