Stories for October 31st 2011
US stops funding of UNESCO following admission of Palestine
United States said on Monday it had stopped funding UNESCO, the U.N. cultural agency, following its vote to grant the Palestinians full membership.
Palestine becomes full member 195 of UNESCO (14 against, 52 abstentions)
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization UNESCO voted on Monday to admit Palestine as a full member of the Paris-based agency.
Over 23 million Europeans unemployed; inflation reaches 3% in October
Over 23 million are unemployed in the 27 countries of the Euro zone, the statistical office of the European Union Eurostat informed Monday.
For Euro aid package to work “all elements must be implemented” says Germany
The package of measures agreed by European leaders this month to stem their debt crisis will only work “if all elements are implemented”, German Deputy Finance Minister Joerg Asmussen said in an interview Monday.
Brazil is again a country of immigrants: two million expats returned in five years
Millions of foreigners have moved into Brazil attracted by the economic expansion of recent years, while the number of Brazilians leaving the country has dropped dramatically, according to official data released last week.
Argentina drastically limits the purchase of ‘cheap dollars’ fuelled by inflation
Argentine Vice-president elect and Economy Minister Amado Boudou reiterated Monday that the new rules for foreign currency purchase in effect as of today are aimed towards discovering the “origin” of funds as opposed to the “destination” of the money.
Brazil awaking to the possible prospect of political life without Lula da Silva
Brazil's popular former President Lula da Silva started chemotherapy treatment for throat cancer Monday with his doctors voicing confidence in his chances of being cured within four months.
Sometime Monday we’ll be seven billion people in the world, says UN division
With more than two babies born every second, the arms on the world population clocks are whirling round so fast that no-one really knows how many people there are on Earth.
Former guerrilla elected Bogotá mayor says reconciliation and peace are possible
Colombians elected one-time guerrilla Gustavo Petro as Bogotá mayor, the country’s second most powerful post after the presidency, in a poll on Sunday devoid of the bloodshed that marked campaigning.
Argentina could finally decide to name ambassador in London, says Clarin
While Argentina’ Foreign Affairs ministry prepares for a renewal of its main officials, according to Buenos Aires daily Clarin, among the possible policy changes beginning December 10, is naming ambassador in London, a post which remains vacant since 2008 when Federico Mirré period was over.
