Stories for February 7th 2019

Thursday, February 7th 2019 - 09:57 UTC
Argentine construction industry activity in the doldrums

The construction industry in Argentina ended 2018 with a paltry 0.8% growth, and although taking off at the beginning of last year with a vigorous impulse but beginning May, when the financial situation forced the Peso to lose half of its purchasing power, activity started to freeze ending December with a 20.5% collapse.
Thursday, February 7th 2019 - 09:50 UTC
New Zealand' dairy industry struggling with an outbreak of Mycoplasma bovis

While experts struggle to pinpoint the original source of the Mycoplasma bovis outbreak, New Zealand Agriculture Minister Damien O'Connor says resources may be better spent on bio security systems that prevent similar outbreaks. Last May the New Zeland government announced it would try to eradicate the disease, which can cause mastitis and abortions in cows, ordering a phased culling program that's expected to cost close to US$ 700 million.
Thursday, February 7th 2019 - 09:46 UTC
Tusk's comments on Brexit and hell trigger massive exchange of surprising tweeting

European Council President Donald Tusk has spoken of a “special place in hell” for “those who promoted Brexit without even a sketch of a plan of how to carry it out safely”. He was speaking after talks with Irish leader Leo Varadkar in Brussels.Brexit-backing MPs reacted with anger to the comments, accusing Mr Tusk of “arrogance”.
Thursday, February 7th 2019 - 09:31 UTC
Cristina Fernandez back in court for questioning at the end of February

Argentine ex-president Cristina Fernández de Kirchner has – for the third time – been called for questioning under the framework of so-called “notebooks” graft case. Key business leaders and ex-public officials were also summoned, with prosecutors and judges probing alleged corruption and bribery centred on the ex-head of state's government.
Thursday, February 7th 2019 - 09:23 UTC
Theresa May on “alternative arrangements” mission to Brussels and Dublin

The British Prime Minister Theresa May will visit Dublin on Friday evening for Brexit talks, Ireland's Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said. Mr Varadkar was speaking after his meeting with Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker in Brussels this afternoon.
Thursday, February 7th 2019 - 09:19 UTC
Lula, in a new corruption conviction is sentenced to another 13 years in prison

A Brazilian court on Wednesday handed a near 13-year sentence to Lula da Silva, in a new corruption conviction for the former president already serving a lengthy jail term in a separate case.
Thursday, February 7th 2019 - 09:16 UTC
Last four years the hottest on record, confirms UN's Meteorological Office

The last four years were the hottest since global temperature records began, the UN confirmed on Wednesday in an analysis that it said was a “clear sign of continuing long-term climate change”. The UN's World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said in November that 2018 was set to be the fourth warmest year in recorded history, stressing the urgent need for action to rein in runaway planetary warming.
Thursday, February 7th 2019 - 07:44 UTC
Bank Of America: Oil Demand Growth To Hit Zero Within A Decade

By 2030, oil demand could hit a peak and then enter decline, according to a new report. For the next decade or so, oil demand should continue to grow, although at a slower and slower rate. According to Bank of America Merrill Lynch, the annual increase in global oil consumption slows dramatically in the years ahead. By 2024, demand growth halves, falling to just 0.6 million barrels per day (mb/d), down from 1.2 mb/d this year.