Stories for November 2015

Tuesday, November 3rd 2015 - 07:05 UTC
Australia eliminates knights and dames under the country's honours system

Australia will no longer appoint knights and dames under its honours system, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull announced, arguing that the titles were “not appropriate” in modern Australia, and that Queen Elizabeth had accepted the cabinet's recommendation to drop them.
Tuesday, November 3rd 2015 - 06:42 UTC
Petrobras import of US condensate help address refining shortage, but faces tax controversy in Brazil

Petrobras’ move to start buying processed U.S. condensate will help output at its domestic refining network, but the purchases have exposed a wrinkle in Brazilian law that could allow the state-run company to import the light oil duty-free, tax lawyers and traders said. Typically, condensate is considered a very light form of crude found in oil or natural gas wells and in raw form is not taxable in Brazil.
Tuesday, November 3rd 2015 - 06:29 UTC
Brazil and EU agree on biosecurity measures for horse sports in RIO 2016 Games

Brazil and the European Union have reportedly settled biosecurity-related arrangements that will allow the passage of sport horses in and out of Rio de Janeiro for next year’s Olympics. However, details of any deal have yet to be posted on website of the Olympic Public Authority in Brazil, or the main Games website, Rio2016.com. Details of the deal are expected to be released this week.
Tuesday, November 3rd 2015 - 06:20 UTC
Falklands sports clubs receive significant donation from Argos Ltd

Three Falkland Islands sports clubs benefitted from the generosity of local business Argos Ltd with a donation of £25,000 via the Overseas Games Association (FIOGA).
Tuesday, November 3rd 2015 - 06:10 UTC
Baroness Anelay marks Day to end impunity for crimes against journalists

Minister of State of the Foreign Office, Baroness Anelay marks International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists and remembers the threat facing journalists. “A free media plays a vital role in a functioning democracy” said the Baroness in her message.
Tuesday, November 3rd 2015 - 05:38 UTC
Macri accuses the Argentine government of a fear-mongering campaign

Argentine opposition candidate Mauricio Macri accused the ruling party of fear mongering after a weekend barrage of online attack ads warned he would throw people off welfare and reduce living standards by devaluing the currency. The same kind of spots were reiterated during the final match of the Argentine football league.
Tuesday, November 3rd 2015 - 05:08 UTC
UN honors journalists killed in the line of duty for 'reporting the truth'

Marking the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon honoured journalists and media workers who were killed in the line of duty for merely ‘reporting the truth’ and is underscoring the importance of protecting their rights and ensuring they can report freely.
Monday, November 2nd 2015 - 09:51 UTC
Cracks in the incumbent strategy to win Argentina's presidential runoff

Following claims of 'friendly fire', cracks are clearly surfacing in the Argentine ruling coalition strategy to conquer lost ground in the 25 October presidential vote which has forced a runoff on 22 November. Daniel Scioli was expected to beat his runner up by almost ten votes, but this did not happen, in effect Mauricio Macri was defeated by a mere 2.5 percentage points and his PRO party won the governorship of the strategic Buenos Aires province, Argentina's main electoral district.
Monday, November 2nd 2015 - 09:30 UTC
Petrobras largest union on strike protesting sale of company's assets

Brazil's largest oil union began an open-ended strike on Sunday, protesting against attempts by the government to shrink the state-run oil company Petrobras, which is reeling from a corruption crisis and a crash in the oil price.
Monday, November 2nd 2015 - 09:18 UTC
China's Renmimbi has become world's second most used currency in trade finance

As China establishes itself as the world’s second largest economy and top trading nation, its currency, the renminbi (RMB), is also gaining popularity around the world. According to the People’s Bank of China’s 2015 Renminbi Internationalization Report, the RMB was the world’s 5th most used payment currency, the 2nd most used trade finance currency, and the 6th most traded currency in 2014.