Stories for February 2019

Wednesday, February 6th 2019 - 08:41 UTC
Forty UK trade agreements at risk in the event of a no deal Brexit, warns CBI

The UK risks “crashing out” of 40 trade agreements spanning five continents in the event of a no-deal Brexit, a business organization has warned. The Confederation of British Industry, CBI, said there were “hugely damaging implications” for the UK if it had to leave trade deals it has through its membership of the European Union.
Wednesday, February 6th 2019 - 08:37 UTC
UK's service sector stagnated in January: new orders fell for the first time in 30 months

The UK's service sector stagnated last month, with new orders falling for the first time in two-and-a-half years, according to the IHS Markit/CIPS purchasing managers' index (PMI). The figures showed a reading of 50.1 in January lower than December's 51.2.
Tuesday, February 5th 2019 - 09:40 UTC
Falklands Sao Paulo air link to become operational next October to coincide with tourist season

Argentina and the UK have agreed that the second commercial air link between the Falkland Islands and South America, with a stopover at Cordoba, Argentina, will begin operational next October in coincidence with the South Atlantic summer tourist season, according to Martin Dinatale, an Argentine journalist who specializes in diplomatic affairs.
Tuesday, February 5th 2019 - 09:35 UTC
Trump's pick for the World Bank, a skeptic of multilateral institutions

The Trump administration has notified World Bank shareholders that President Donald Trump intends to pick senior Treasury Department official David Malpass as the U.S. nominee to lead the development lender, people familiar with the decision said on Monday.
Tuesday, February 5th 2019 - 09:29 UTC
Bolsonaro ally to lead the Senate, but his negotiating capacity have yet to be tested

The Brazilian Senate elected a pro-government lawmaker as their chief, potentially boosting President Jair Bolsonaro’s reform agenda but also leaving the administration’s strength in the upper house in question. Bolsonaro congratulated Davi Alcolumbre, saying his challenge is to act on Brazilian voters’ desire for change.
Tuesday, February 5th 2019 - 09:07 UTC
European allies bend to join 'gringo empire' approach

The decision to promote Juan Guaidó as a rival president to Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela was clearly made in Washington, not in Caracas. The speed with which U.S. allies in the Americas and western Europe recognised Guaidó’s claim on Jan. 23 to be the legitimate president of Venezuela would not have been possible without a lot of prior coordination — and a lot of pressure by the Trump administration.
Tuesday, February 5th 2019 - 08:58 UTC
Latin American countries call on Venezuelan military to support interim president Juan Guaidó

A group of Latin American countries and Canada has urged the Venezuelan military to support opposition leader Juan Guaidó as interim president. In a statement, 11 of the 14 members of the Lima Group called for a change of power without the use of force and the urgent delivery of humanitarian aid.
Tuesday, February 5th 2019 - 08:49 UTC
Bolsonaro in semi-intensive care and treated with broad spectrum antibiotics

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro was in semi-intensive care in hospital on Monday following abdominal surgery and was set to stay in the hospital at least another week, his office said. Concerns of potential infection meant the medical team wanted more time to monitor the far-right leader, 63, after the operation a week ago to remove a colostomy bag, the office said.
Tuesday, February 5th 2019 - 07:40 UTC
Falklands' government and BFSAI plan to build 70 new houses in the next three years

The Falkland Islands Government (FIG) with the support of British Forces South Atlantic Islands (BFSAI) are seeking expressions of interest from developers and investors wanting to find out more about an ambitious range of housing development opportunities in the Falkland Islands.
Tuesday, February 5th 2019 - 06:48 UTC
UN chief Antonio Guterres sends Lunar New Year greetings

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday extended his warm wishes for the Chinese Lunar New Year, or Spring Festival. In a video message, Guterres thanked China and the Chinese people for their commitment to the United Nations and called for efforts to build a peaceful and prosperous world.