Chavez "stable" after respiratory infection

Venezuelan President and presidential candidate Chavez greets supporters during a campaign rally in the district of Catia in CaracasCARACAS (Reuters) – Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez suffered a respiratory infection but is "stable" again in a Cuban hospital following cancer surgery a week ago, the government said on Tuesday. Chavez, 58, is battling to recover from a fourth operation since he was first diagnosed with the disease in mid-2011. "The general condition of the commander-president is stable after he was diagnosed with a respiratory infection and the medical team treated him immediately," Information Minister Ernesto Villegas said in the latest update on Chavez. "It has been controlled. …

Tobacco companies, 17 states settle over payments

(Reuters) – U.S. cigarette makers including Philip Morris USA and R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co said on Tuesday they reached a settlement with 17 states in a long-running dispute over the amount of payments they are required to make under the 1998 landmark anti-smoking agreement. Under the settlement, the states will receive their share of $4 billion in disputed payments and the manufacturers will receive credits against future payments. The payments resulted from the 1998 national accord that obliges companies to help cover the health bills of ailing smokers. …

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