Stories for May 1st 2014

Thursday, May 1st 2014 - 10:10 UTC
Amnesty International accuses Spain of repressive legislation and heavy hand with protestors

The Spanish government is using the full force of the law to suffocate legitimate peaceful protest, Amnesty International in Spain has said. Jezerca Tigani, Europe and Central Asia Deputy Program Director for Amnesty, published a brief report last week in which he said that the excessive use of force by Spanish police and plans to strengthen repressive legislation are a damning indictment of the Spanish government’s determination to crush peaceful protest.
Thursday, May 1st 2014 - 09:52 UTC
EU fishing fleet: balance between capacity and fishing opportunities still distant

The European Commission's annual report on the European fishing fleet shows some progress towards achieving a balance between capacity and available fishing opportunities. However more remains to be done to ensure that stocks are managed in accordance with the objective of Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY) and the Commission considers that there is still a need for active fleet capacity adjustment measures by Member States in order to achieve this.
Thursday, May 1st 2014 - 07:43 UTC
OAS electoral observers arrive in Panama ahead of Sunday's ballot

The OAS Electoral Observation Mission has arrived in Panama, led by former Peruvian Congresswoman and presidential candidate Lourdes Flores Nano, for the final deployment of the 56 international experts and observers ahead of Sunday's general elections.
Thursday, May 1st 2014 - 07:33 UTC
Brazil raises taxes on beer and sodas; primary surplus slightly down in March

The Brazilian government will raise taxes on beers, sodas and other beverages in a move that will raise an extra 1.5 billion Reais (674 million dollars) in revenue to help meet the fiscal savings goal. Earlier this month, the government had already announced a tax hike on beer to bolster fiscal accounts that have been hit hard over the last three years by rising subsidies, higher spending and an economic slowdown.
Thursday, May 1st 2014 - 07:22 UTC
Brazil: Protestors demanding housing block main access routes and camp outside City Council

A demonstration supporting access to low-cost housing on Wednesday blocked several stretches of the Marginal Tiete, one of the main access routes to Sao Paulo, Brazil's largest city and financial capital.
Thursday, May 1st 2014 - 07:08 UTC
Rousseff bids for re-election and announces benefits for her electoral base

President Dilma Rousseff said on Wednesday she will seek re-election in October, even though some are calling for the return of her popular predecessor president Lula da Silva. Rousseff, who belongs to Lula's Workers Party and was his protegée, said she hoped to have the support of all the parties allied with her government.
Thursday, May 1st 2014 - 06:58 UTC
Fed optimistic about US economy; pares securities purchases by another 10bn dollars

The Federal Reserve looked past a dismal reading on first quarter US growth and gave a mostly upbeat assessment of the economy's prospects as it announced another cut in its massive bond-buying stimulus. Latest information indicates that economic activity has picked up after having slowed sharply during the winter in part because of adverse weather conditions, the central bank said on Wednesday.
Thursday, May 1st 2014 - 06:45 UTC
Malvinas issue should be addressed at UN General Assembly suggest Argentine lawmakers

Members from the opposition addressed a letter to President Cristina Fernandez recommending that in the coming UN General Assembly Argentina presents a resolution-draft calling for the Falklands/Malvinas Islands sovereignty claim to be discussed in the assembly and not at the Decolonization Committee or C24.
Thursday, May 1st 2014 - 05:43 UTC
Falklands' new governor mystified by Argentine logic and 'welcomes illumination'

Asked at a press conference on Wednesday why the Argentine Government had appeared to be against his appointment to the Falkland Islands, while also attempting to vilify him as someone who had previously opposed the right to self-determination of the inhabitants of another small island community, the newly-arrived governor, Mr Colin Roberts CVO, said that he was mystified by the logic and “would welcome illumination”.