Stories for April 23rd 2014

Wednesday, April 23rd 2014 - 11:40 UTC
Falklands sea lion population recovering, but still a fraction of the 1930s estimate

In the 1930s the Falkland Islands were reputed to hold the largest population of Southern sea lions, with a staggering 80,000 pups estimated to be born each year. However, a census in the 1960s and again in the 1990s revealed the population had declined by more than 90%.
Wednesday, April 23rd 2014 - 09:28 UTC
Argentina's high court rules export levies are unconstitutional; case benefits shrimp exporter

Argentina's Supreme Court ruled as unconstitutional a Ministry of Economy resolution imposing export taxes on the overseas sale of produce from Camaronera Patagonica. Following the ruling the Patagonia shrimp company should be able to recover the levies on exports charged between March and August 2002.
Wednesday, April 23rd 2014 - 08:11 UTC
Brazilian ex president Kubitschek was not murdered by the military regime

Brazil's ex-President Juscelino Kubitschek was not murdered by the country's 1970s military regime despite previous claims, according to a national investigation. The National Truth Commission said the car crash in which Mr Kubitschek died in 1976 was a genuine accident.
Wednesday, April 23rd 2014 - 08:05 UTC
Riots in Rio following death of a dancer allegedly by police; in Sao Paulo 34 buses set on fire

Violent protests broke out in Rio do Janeiro's tourist heart of Copacabana on Tuesday following the death of a professional dancer less than two months before the World Cup.
Wednesday, April 23rd 2014 - 07:57 UTC
Former Menem symbol minister sentenced to four years imprisonment

María Julia Alsogaray, a former official in Argentine ex-president Carlos Menem administration cabinet (1989/99), was sentenced this week to four years in prison for the fraud she committed during the privatization of the state-owned EnTel telecommunications company in 1989. It is the third sentence for Alsogaray in the past few years.
Wednesday, April 23rd 2014 - 07:53 UTC
Argentine economy expands 1.3% in February over a year ago, says government

Argentina's economy expanded 1.3% in February compared with the same month a year ago, the government said on Tuesday, a result that outpaced market expectations. The government's stats office Indec also revised January economic activity to positive 1.4% from a previously reported expansion of 1.2%.
Wednesday, April 23rd 2014 - 05:54 UTC
Madrid trying to block sale of rocks to Gibraltar, according to Spanish media

Spain’s Ministry for Foreign Affairs is urging Morocco and Portugal to block the sale of rocks to Gibraltar, according to the online publication El Confidencial. The website reported at the weekend that the ministry headed by Jose Manuel García-Margallo had initiated contacts with “friendly countries” in a bid to stop Gibraltar’s “expansionist” plans.
Wednesday, April 23rd 2014 - 05:47 UTC
UK Independent party EU election posters considered 'racist'

United Kingdom's Independent Party, (UKIP), Britain's anti-EU party, launched its campaign for next month's European elections fending off accusations from rival lawmakers that its pre-election posters were racist.
Wednesday, April 23rd 2014 - 05:37 UTC
Brazil anticipates lower soy exports because of a weaker Chinese demand

Brazilian soy crushing association Abiove said on Tuesday the nation would export 43 million tons of soybeans from this season's nearly harvested crop, down from its forecast of 44 million tons a month earlier due to weaker Chinese demand.
Wednesday, April 23rd 2014 - 05:23 UTC
Internet governance to be debated at the Net Mundial conference in Brazil

US Commerce Department's decision to ease its governance over the Internet and open it up to other countries will be the subject of much debate in Brazil starting Wednesday. Government representatives from around the world are heading to Sao Paulo for Net Mundial, a two-day meeting to discuss how the future of Internet governance will be handled.