Stories for October 3rd 2019

Thursday, October 3rd 2019 - 09:58 UTC
British/Argentina AMR research partnership programs with £5 million of UK aid

The UK government has provided £5 million of aid as part of an Argentine program to manage antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in agriculture and its impact on the environment. The funding will go to five research partnerships between the UK and Argentina.
Thursday, October 3rd 2019 - 09:54 UTC
Developing nations foreign debt reaches US$ 7.8 trillion, World Bank report

Total foreign debt held by developing nations jumped more than 5% to US$7.8 trillion, driven by a surge in Chinese debt, the World Bank said in a report on Wednesday.
Thursday, October 3rd 2019 - 09:51 UTC
Brazil's landmark pension reform bill closer to its final approval

Brazil’s Senate on Wednesday approved a landmark pension reform bill in the first round of voting, in relief for far-right President Jair Bolsonaro, although senators voted down an amendment in a move that dilutes the reform’s projected savings. The bill will now pass to a second and final voting round.
Thursday, October 3rd 2019 - 09:50 UTC
US will impose 10% tariffs on Airbus planes and 25% on French wine and Scotch

United States on Wednesday said it would enact 10% tariffs on European-made Airbus planes and 25% duties on French wine, Scotch and Irish whiskeys and cheese from across the continent as punishment for illegal EU aircraft subsidies.
Thursday, October 3rd 2019 - 09:49 UTC
Operation Weak Flesh: Brazilian meat packer admits to bribing food inspectors

Brazilian meatpacker BRF SA has admitted to bribing food inspectors with bank deposits and health benefits, police said on Tuesday, although the company itself avoided raids as it was cooperating with the latest phase of the corruption probe.
Thursday, October 3rd 2019 - 09:43 UTC
Brazil's ex richest man receives additional sentence for inside trading

Eike Batista, formerly Brazil’s richest man, was sentenced to an additional eight years and seven months of prison time this week for insider trading. Batista, 62, had already been convicted for paying US$ 16.6m to get government contracts as part of a sprawling corruption probe known as Carwash and sentenced to 30 years, which he is serving under house arrest.
Thursday, October 3rd 2019 - 09:35 UTC
Cool reception from Brussels to UK's new Brexit plan: “a lot of work needs to be done”

Britain's new Brexit plan got a cool reception on Wednesday in Brussels, where European officials highlighted problems and their chief negotiator warned it left “a lot of work” to be done.
Thursday, October 3rd 2019 - 09:24 UTC
Honduran president brother accused of receiving bribes from “El Chapo”

United States prosecutors alleged on Wednesday that convicted Mexican drug lord Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán personally gave US$1 million in bribes to the brother of Honduras' president to pass on to the Central American leader, who swiftly denied wrongdoing.
Thursday, October 3rd 2019 - 09:20 UTC
Colombian imprisoned ex senator escapes during a visit to the dentist

Colombian officials have ordered a probe following the daring escape in Bogota of an imprisoned ex-senator from a medical center where she had gone to see a dentist. Aida Merlano managed to slip away from her escorts, climbed out a window, and slid down a cord, landing heavily on the sidewalk before calmly escaping on the back of a waiting motorcycle.
Thursday, October 3rd 2019 - 09:18 UTC
China's hog herd drops to half because of the African swine fever

China's hog herd fell by half in the first eight months of 2019 due to a devastating outbreak of African swine fever and will likely shrink by 55% by the end of the year, analysts at Rabobank said on Wednesday.