Stories for January 2019

Tuesday, January 29th 2019 - 10:50 UTC
Argentine navy will incorporate a South Korean frigate for ocean patrolling

The South Korean navy has started the documentation for the transfer of a decommissioned Ulsan Class frigate to the Argentine navy. A delegation of Argentine officers and crew members will be travelling to the South Korean base at Jinhae in the near future, according to Seoul's military attaché in Buenos Aires Lieutenant Colonel Ho Lim.
Tuesday, January 29th 2019 - 10:23 UTC
Falkland Islands Government Representative in London is retiring after forty years service

After forty years in the service of the Falkland Islands, Sukey Cameron, the Falklands Representative in London is to retire in October. The Penguin News chatted with Ms Cameron about her long and distinguished career.
Tuesday, January 29th 2019 - 10:19 UTC
EU quotas for farming produce post Brexit trigger controversy

The European Union on Monday adopted quotas for farming produce it will accept from third countries after Britain leaves the bloc and acknowledged this could happen before it has concluded talks with them on the subject.
Tuesday, January 29th 2019 - 09:31 UTC
African swine fever scare in Europe; Denmark builds a 70km fence in the border with Germany

Denmark has started building a 70km fence along its border with Germany in an effort to control the migration of wild boar. There are fears that African swine fever, which has been found in two dead wild boars in Belgium, could threaten Denmark's huge pig industry. If the disease spreads, it could jeopardize almost US$ 1.7bn in pork-product exports from Denmark.
Tuesday, January 29th 2019 - 09:25 UTC
Rough times ahead: US Justice files several criminal charges against Huawei and the owner's daughter

The United States Justice Department has filed a host of criminal charges against Chinese telecoms giant Huawei and its chief financial officer, Meng Wanzhou. The charges against the world's second largest smart-phone maker include accusations of bank fraud, obstruction of justice and theft of technology.
Tuesday, January 29th 2019 - 09:03 UTC
Venezuela approves a new, privately run, foreign exchange system; dollar sells at 3.200 Bolivars, 34% dearer

Venezuelan authorities on Monday approved a new, privately run foreign exchange system that will operate in parallel to the official currency control system, as an emboldened opposition challenges President de facto Nicolás Maduro.
Tuesday, January 29th 2019 - 09:03 UTC
US tightening the noose: Venezuelan oil proceeds will be withheld from Maduro's government

The US has imposed sanctions on Venezuela's state-owned oil firm PDVSA and urged the country's military to accept a peaceful transfer of power. National Security Adviser John Bolton said President Nicolás Maduro and his allies could “no longer loot the assets of the Venezuelan people”. Efforts by the opposition to unseat Mr Maduro have increased in recent days.
Tuesday, January 29th 2019 - 09:01 UTC
Bolsonaro recovering after a nine-hour operation; General Hamilton Mourao acting president

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has undergone surgery to remove a colostomy bag he had fitted after he was stabbed in the stomach on the campaign trail in September. He is expected to be on strict bed rest for two days after the operation, a presidential spokesman said.
Tuesday, January 29th 2019 - 09:01 UTC
Mrs. May willing to support amendments but insists in no delay for the Brexit withdrawal date

The United Kingdom government will support a backbench amendment to the Brexit deal that calls for the planned Irish backstop to be replaced by “alternative arrangements”. Tory MPs will be told to vote for Sir Graham Brady's proposal when the Commons votes on a series of amendments to Theresa May's plan on Tuesday.
Tuesday, January 29th 2019 - 09:00 UTC
EU mocks UK parliament: withdrawal agreement debate was “uninhibited by any knowledge” of what it actually contained

There is a high risk of the UK crashing out of the EU without a deal by accident, the EU's deputy chief negotiator Sabine Weyand has said. She added there was “full ownership of what was agreed” in the EU, but “no ownership” of it in the UK Parliament. And it was a challenge to see how a majority for any deal could be built among MPs, she added.