Stories for October 2019

Thursday, October 17th 2019 - 09:19 UTC
Spanish King will visit Cuba as part of Havana's 500th anniversary

Spain's King Felipe VI will visit Cuba next month as part of the 500th anniversary celebrations of the island nation's capital Havana, the European country's Foreign Minister Josep Borrell said on Wednesday. “I can confirm it will take place in November” after the Spanish general elections on November 10, Borrell said during a visit to Havana where he met his Cuban counterpart Bruno Rodriguez.
Thursday, October 17th 2019 - 09:05 UTC
Universal Health Coverage passes key global milestone

The World Health Organization welcomed a new Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Resolution on achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by 2030. The resolution, adopted at the IPU Assembly in Belgrade, Serbia, comes one month after heads of state agreed on a high-level United Nations Political Declaration on UHC in New York.
Thursday, October 17th 2019 - 09:00 UTC
Brazil's Tourism Board launches promotion campaign competition with 30 days all expenses covered

The Brazilian Tourism Board (Embratur) launched this week “The King of Rolê”, their newest international promotional campaign. The competition will encourage international visitors to compete to win a trip of a lifetime to Brazil, for 30 days, all expenses covered. “Rolê” is a Brazilian expression that loosely translates to “going for a fun walk.” Going for a “rolê” means to hang out, to make new friends and to enjoy life.
Thursday, October 17th 2019 - 08:54 UTC
PM Johnson's Thursday “dawn dash” to Brussels for a Brexit deal

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will go to Brussels early Thursday in a move to have some useful meetings for a Brexit deal, Beth Rigby, Sky News political editor, said in a tweet on Wednesday. Citing a senior ministerial source, Rigby added that a “dawn dash” is likely and a deal is close but Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party is “still not over line”.
Wednesday, October 16th 2019 - 18:35 UTC
Russia eyeing a controlling stake in lithium project in Chile's Atacama desert

Uranium One Group, a subsidiary of Russia’s state nuclear company Rosatom, may buy a controlling stake in a lithium project in Chile’s Atacama salt flat from Wealth Minerals Ltd, the Canada-listed company said on Tuesday.
Wednesday, October 16th 2019 - 18:28 UTC
Housing disaster in Brazil: seven-story building collapses in Fortaleza

A seven-story building collapsed in northeastern Brazil on Tuesday, killing at least one person, trapping others — and drawing new attention to the unsettling frequency with which buildings in Brazil suddenly fall.
Wednesday, October 16th 2019 - 18:24 UTC
Women's rally in Argentina ends with attacks on churches and a “boob protest”

A rally happening during Argentina’s annual “National Encounter of Women” on Sunday included a topless protest (”Tetazo) against the cathedral of La Plata, the city hosting the event this year. The rally, organized by Argentina’s leading leftwing party, wasn’t officially supported by the organizers of the women’s event.
Wednesday, October 16th 2019 - 18:10 UTC
Brazil following closely the Vatican does Synod fear bad international press

A Brazilian diplomat said last week that the administration of President Jair Bolsonaro doesn’t fear the Synod of Bishops for the Amazon taking place this month at the Vatican, but that the Catholic bishops “involuntarily reinforce the campaign of the European lobbies, who are very afraid of the competition of Brazilian agriculture.”
Wednesday, October 16th 2019 - 17:54 UTC
Brazilians allowed to double purchases in duty free shops to US$ 1.000

Brazilian Minister of Economy, Paulo Guedes, signed a resolution on Monday raising the limit of purchases in duty-free shops from US$ 500 to US$ 1,000. The new value for purchases from foreign and domestic airports and border free shops, starts January 1, 2020.
Wednesday, October 16th 2019 - 17:40 UTC
Brazilian economy still on the takeoff tarmac, lack of confidence blamed

Brazil's economy is on an erratic path, according to economic activity data released for the third quarter of 2019. The economy shows no signs of a consistent recovery, and economic activity still depends on household consumption, trade, and the service sector.