Stories for March 18th 2015

Wednesday, March 18th 2015 - 13:17 UTC
First call for proposals from Antarctic Wildlife Research Fund

The Antarctic Wildlife Research Fund (AWR) issued this week its first call for proposals, inviting applications from scientific researchers who can aid in determining the impact of the krill fishing industry on the Antarctic marine ecosystem. Such research will serve to ensure ecosystem protection, while improving the management basis for the fishery.
Wednesday, March 18th 2015 - 08:37 UTC
Brazil coordinates efforts to guarantee supply of basic products to Venezuela

Following a request from Venezuela, the Brazilian government has acted alongside Brazilian companies to guarantee supply of basic products during Venezuela's economic crisis, according to diplomatic sources. The request was made by President Nicolas Maduro in at least two meetings with President Dilma Rousseff, in December 2014 and the day after Rousseff began her second term, on January 2.
Wednesday, March 18th 2015 - 08:28 UTC
Rousseff pledges talks with critics and admits government needs to show humility

Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff pledged to hold talks with her growing number of critics and said her embattled government needed to show humility, after the Sunday massive protests erupted across the country.
Wednesday, March 18th 2015 - 08:20 UTC
EU main economies announce plans to join China-led development bank, despite US warning

France, Germany and Italy on Tuesday announced plans to join the Chinese-led development bank AIIB, drawing concern in Washington which views the institution with skepticism. The three European countries want ”to become founding members of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB)”, they said in a statement.
Wednesday, March 18th 2015 - 08:14 UTC
Failure to approve IMF reforms puts “credibility of the US at risk” Lew warns Congress

The credibility of the United States is at risk if Congress fails to approve International Monetary Fund quota and governance reforms, Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew warned on Tuesday. For more than two years the US Congress has prevented the 2010 IMF reforms from taking effect.
Wednesday, March 18th 2015 - 08:07 UTC
Citigroup to exit custodial business in Argentina following ruling from Judge Griesa

Citigroup Inc announced on Tuesday it plans to exit its custodial business in Argentina as soon as possible, after a US judge refused to lift an injunction that blocked the bank from processing interest payments on 2.3 billion of Argentina bonds, issued under Argentine law.
Wednesday, March 18th 2015 - 07:57 UTC
Argentine jurist elected to head the UN Human Rights Committee

Argentine jurist Fabian Salvioli was unanimously elected on Tuesday to lead the UN Human Rights Committee. The 51-year-old lawyer will be presiding over the UN body for one year. Salvioli has been a member of the UN Human Rights Committee since 2009.
Wednesday, March 18th 2015 - 02:03 UTC
Argentine candidate anticipates ‘dollars in excess’ if he is elected president in October

An Argentine presidential hopeful Mauricio Macri has vowed to eliminate the restrictions on the purchase of foreign currency that the Cristina Fernandez has carried out since 2011, and anticipated there will be ‘dollars in excess’ if he gets elected president in October this year.
Wednesday, March 18th 2015 - 01:58 UTC
Angry 23rd anniversary of 1992 bombing of Israeli embassy in Buenos Aires

Victims' families and survivors of the 1992 terrorist attack against the Israeli Embassy in Buenos Aires City have reiterated their demands for justice on the 23rd anniversary of the bombing, pointing out that those responsible have still not been identified two decades later.
Wednesday, March 18th 2015 - 01:52 UTC
Hundreds of sea lion pups stranded in California as nursing mothers can’t find sufficient food

Animal rescue centers in California are being inundated with stranded, starving sea lion pups, raising the possibility that the facilities could soon be overwhelmed, the federal agency coordinating the rescue said.