Stories for February 1st 2016

Monday, February 1st 2016 - 09:36 UTC
China's manufacturing contracts for sixth month running in January

Activity in China's manufacturing sector contracted for the sixth month in a row in January - and hit its lowest level since 2012. According to the government's latest factory survey, the Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) showed a reading of 49.4 for the month compared to December's reading of 49.7.
Monday, February 1st 2016 - 07:00 UTC
Spanish scientists analyze European and veined squid diets

A group of Spanish scientists has analyzed for the first time the European and veined squid diet in the Mediterranean. European squid (Loligo vulgaris) and veined squid (Loligo forbesii) are two morphologically nearly identical species that inhabit the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean.
Monday, February 1st 2016 - 06:32 UTC
EU and Cameron optimistic a deal on UK's relationship could be reached this week

European Council president Donald Tusk left a meeting on Sunday evening with Prime Minister David Cameron declaring there is “no deal” yet over a renegotiation of the UK's relationship with the EU. It had been planned that any proposed deal could be put to other EU leaders on Monday, ahead of a February summit.
Monday, February 1st 2016 - 06:22 UTC
Venezuelan lobbying for oil production reduction: tour begins Monday in Russia

Venezuelan Oil Minister Eulogio Del Pino will visit Russia, Qatar, Iran and Saudi Arabia on a tour of OPEC and non-OPEC countries intended to drum up support for action to stem the tumble in crude prices.
Monday, February 1st 2016 - 06:12 UTC
WHO Emergency committee meets in Geneva to address the Zika virus situation

The World Health Organization Director-General Margaret Chan has briefed on the Zika virus situation. In the briefing Ms Chan gave a brief history of the disease and explained why WHO is so deeply concerned.
Monday, February 1st 2016 - 05:48 UTC
Chile to provide gas to Argentina in winter months; Enap and YPF will increase production in Magallanes

The government of Chile will be selling energy-short Argentina 5.5 million cubic feet of natural gas a day starting in May, providing also 200 MW of electricity through the interconnection system between both countries. Chile also committed to invest 200 million dollars in the Incremental Project of the Magallanes Area to boost hydrocarbon production.
Monday, February 1st 2016 - 05:34 UTC
Lula and wife summoned to testify as suspects into money-laundering scheme

Brazil's Attorney General’s Office of Sao Paulo summoned former socialist president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva to testify as a suspect in a investigation into money-laundering in the latest phase of the ongoing Petrobras corruption scandal.
Monday, February 1st 2016 - 05:16 UTC
Bachelet in tears admits 'painful' ordeal after formal tax fraud charges against her daughter in law

A Chilean court Friday brought formal tax fraud charges against the daughter in law of President Michelle Bachelet in a scandal the leftist leader tearfully admitted was a “painful” ordeal. The case first came to light a year ago and has shocked the public in Chile, which is ranked by Transparency International as one of the least corrupt countries in Latin America.
Monday, February 1st 2016 - 05:09 UTC
“Falklands issue was settled” a generation ago says Labour shadow minister Eagle

The sovereignty of the Falkland Islands was “settled” a generation ago, a Labour shadow business cabinet minister Angela Eagle has said despite her leader calling for a new “dialogue” with Argentina on the matter, according to a report in Sunday's editions of The Telegraph.