Stories for October 2014

Monday, October 20th 2014 - 08:17 UTC
Dilma admits Petrobras funds were illegally diverted to finance political parties

Brazilian President and candidate for reelection Dilma Rousseff admitted that funds were illegally diverted at the state-run oil firm Petrobras, allegedly to benefit political parties allied with the government, and she promised to seek reimbursement of that money.
Monday, October 20th 2014 - 08:02 UTC
Catholic synod reveals deeps divisions on gays and divorce: strong conservative resistance

Pope Francis closed on Sunday an assembly of Catholic bishops that revealed deep divisions on how to reach out to homosexuals and divorced people, saying the Church should not be afraid of change and new challenges.
Monday, October 20th 2014 - 07:54 UTC
Cruise passenger suspected of possible contact with Ebola patient tested negative

A Dallas hospital lab worker who spent much of a cruise holiday in isolation after possible exposure to Ebola has tested negative for the disease, and in Texas some of the dozens of people still being monitored were expected to be cleared by Monday.
Monday, October 20th 2014 - 07:47 UTC
Switzerland and Argentina closer to deal on double taxation and sharing tax information

Switzerland took a step forward on implementing its double taxation agreement (DTA) with Argentina as the Federal Council adopted the dispatch on the deal and submitted it to parliament for approval. Meanwhile, in Argentina the agreement has already been passed by the Foreign Affairs and Budget Committees of the Lower House and was cleared for debate.
Monday, October 20th 2014 - 07:30 UTC
WHO admits full-scale battle with tobacco industry, which appeals to 'devious channels'

The sixth session of the Conference of the parties (COP6) to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) concluded in Moscow. Several landmark decisions were adopted in the course of the six-day session, regarded as one of the most successful in the WHO FCTC’s history.
Monday, October 20th 2014 - 07:25 UTC
Number of homicides in Argentina again on the rise, indicate Healthcare stats

The number of homicides per year in Argentina dropped from a peak of 4.630 back in 2002, but this did not impede that in the following decade that figure totaled, 31.992, according to official stats from the country's Healthcare ministry.
Monday, October 20th 2014 - 07:15 UTC
China's leadership meets to crack down on 'abuse of power' and promote 'rule of the law'

Leaders of China's ruling Communist Party opened a highly-anticipated meeting Monday, as state media emphasized the need to tighten control over the country's legal system. Known as the Fourth Plenum, it brings together the party's 205-strong Central Committee and around 170 reserve members, along with officials from bodies including its much-feared internal watchdog, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection.
Monday, October 20th 2014 - 07:08 UTC
Argentine Central bank chief downplays any chance of devaluation of the Peso

Argentina's newly-appointed Central Bank (BCRA) governor Alejandro Vanoli claimed a “devaluation attempt” by 'concentrated powers' and rejected any official plans to downward the value of the country’s currency. He pledged to discourage speculation and to “put an end to abuses from financial institutions.”
Sunday, October 19th 2014 - 07:59 UTC
Chile exports 154m dollars of mussels in eight months; Galicia still out of the market

In the first eight months of the year, Jan-August, Chile exported 52,077 tons of mussels (Mytilus chilensis), a rise of 1.8%, compared to the same period a year ago. However in dollars the result was 154.3 million dollars, up 5.9% compared to the 145.7 million dollars of the eight months of 2013, reports InfoTrade. Meanwhile northeast Spain mussel farms continue ravaged by the red toxin algae.
Sunday, October 19th 2014 - 07:39 UTC
The Royal Navy with more admirals than surface warships?

London's Daily Mirror had taken on the Royal Navy arguing that the shrunken service now has nearly twice as many admirals as surface warships. In effect despite destroyers and frigates being cut to a paltry 19, the Senior Service still boasts 33 admirals on £100,000 a year.