Stories for February 2024

Friday, February 2nd 2024 - 03:48 UTC
Strong support from IMF to President Milei and his austerity policies

The new government of Argentine president Javier Milei and its austerity policies to try and put the country's economy back on track received a strong boost from the International Monetary Fund, IMF, which approved the disbursement of US$ 4,7 billion.
Friday, February 2nd 2024 - 03:46 UTC
Brazil admits strong deterioration of 2023 government finances: primary deficit 2.1% of GDP

Brazil had undergone a sharp fiscal deterioration during last year with the central government's primary budget deficit reaching 230.5 billion Reais (US$ 47 billion), released data showed this week. The 2.1% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), reverses a 0.5% surplus in 2022 and represents the second-largest ever recorded by the country.
Friday, February 2nd 2024 - 03:00 UTC
Bank of England leaves basic rate at 5,25%; little space for any cuts

The Bank of England Monetary Policy Committee, MPC, at its meeting ending on 31 January 2024, voted by a majority of 6–3 to maintain Bank Rate at 5.25%. Two members preferred to increase Bank Rate by 0.25 percentage points, to 5.5%. One member preferred to reduce Bank Rate by 0.25 percentage points, to 5%.
Thursday, February 1st 2024 - 23:56 UTC
Four years since Brexit, Northern Ireland is led by a Sinn Féin First Minister, Michelle O'Neill.

BBC has recalled that at 23:00 GMT on 31 January 2020 (midnight Brussels time, as January became February there), the EU shrank, the UK was out. Four years later, as the latest solution to one of the knottiest of consequences of Brexit, or at least the flavor of Brexit chosen, is revealed.
Thursday, February 1st 2024 - 23:55 UTC
Ushuaia is talking of a record cruise season and a further 10% annual growth of the industry

Ushuaia is undergoing a very positive and fluid cruise season which could mark a record, with some 590 calls and 250,000 visits between passengers and crew members, was pointed out by Roberto Murcia, head of Tierra del Fuego province ports corporation.
Thursday, February 1st 2024 - 23:44 UTC
Red Sea attacks force vessel with 16,000 live sheep and cattle to return to Australia

A ship carrying 16,000 sheep and cattle to Israel and that had been stranded off the coast of Australia in extreme heat conditions has returned to a Perth port. MV Bahijah abandoned its journey through the Red Sea - where Houthi fighters in Yemen have been attacking ships - leaving the animals stuck on board for weeks.
Thursday, February 1st 2024 - 10:55 UTC
Lacalle praises Milei for acquiescing to further dredging of River Plate

Uruguayan President Luis Lacalle Pou Wednesday praised his Argentine counterpart Javier Milei's willingness to cooperate in further dredging the River Plate at the Port of Montevideo from 13 to 14 meters. The previous administrations of Argentine Presidents Mauricio Macri and Alberto Fernández (2015-2023) considered that these works would leave the port of Buenos Aires in a disadvantageous position. Negotiations in this regard started in 2013 under Presidents Tabaré Vázquez and Cristina Fernández de Kirchner (CFK).
Thursday, February 1st 2024 - 10:51 UTC
Brazil lowers Selic basic interest rate

Brazil's Monetary Policy Committee (Copom) unanimously decided Wednesday to cut down the country's basic interest rate known as Selic by 0.5 percentage points to 11.25% per year, Agencia Brasil reported.
Thursday, February 1st 2024 - 10:41 UTC
Peru: Montesinos given 19-year sentence concurrent with time served

Former Peruvian strongman Vladimiro Montesinos was sentenced to 19 years in prison Wednesday for his involvement in a 1992 massacre under then-President Alberto Fujimori (1990-2000) who has been banned for 9 months from leaving the country.
Thursday, February 1st 2024 - 10:27 UTC
Police and demonstrators clash outside Argentine Congress

Law enforcement officers and demonstrators clashed outside the Congress in Buenos Aires on Wednesday, while the parliamentary debate on President Javier Milei's so-called Omnibus Law bill was taking place inside.