Stories for June 1st 2015

Monday, June 1st 2015 - 23:00 UTC
RSF writes to Dilma Rousseff asking for an end to murders and impunity against media personnel

Appalled by the brutal murders of two Brazilian journalists in the space of a few days, Reporters Without Borders has written to President Dilma Roussef asking her to end the prevailing impunity for crimes of violence against media personnel in her country.
Monday, June 1st 2015 - 22:48 UTC
Falklands announces program to mark liberation anniversary from Argentine occupation

The Falkland Islands will be marking the anniversary of the liberation of the Islands from Argentine occupation with a vast program scheduled for Sunday 14, June, 2015, in the capital Stanley.<
The program includes a religious service, a ceremony at Liberation Monument and later a reception hosted by Falkland Islands governor Colin Roberts. MLA Ian Hansen will be presented with the South Atlantic Medal on behalf of all Islanders.
Monday, June 1st 2015 - 07:47 UTC
Petrobras denies sale of distribution network for much needed investment cash

Brazilian state-controlled oil company Petrobras said that the 13.7bn dollars divestment program it unveiled two months ago does not include plans to sell a stake in its service station network.
Monday, June 1st 2015 - 07:42 UTC
Argentina's soybean crop forecasted to be comfortably above 60m tons

Surprising Argentina: with over 90% of the soybean crop harvested, (approximately 17.2 million hectares), the Buenos Aires Cereals Stock exchange has again risen the total 2014/15 crop estimate to over 60 million tons.
Monday, June 1st 2015 - 07:32 UTC
Cabello denies cocaine trafficking and will file complaints against media reports in Spain and US

Venezuelan parliament chief Diosdado Cabello said in an interview on Sunday that he plans to file lawsuits in Spain and the United States following media reports that link him and other top officials to cocaine trafficking and money laundering.
Monday, June 1st 2015 - 07:25 UTC
Argentine oil-crushing industry unions back to work after 26-day strike

Argentine oil crushing industry workers reached over the weekend a much disputed salary agreement, ending a 26 day strike, and hopefully resuming activities which have paralyzed the Rosario cereals and oilseeds stock market and forced a queue of over 140 vessels and barges along the Paraná river.
Monday, June 1st 2015 - 07:20 UTC
South Africa admits paying 10m dollars, but it was not a bribe “to secure 2010 World Cup”

South Africa did pay 10m dollars to a football body led by Jack Warner, a figure at the centre of FIFA corruption allegations, local media say. Danny Jordaan, head of South Africa's FA, is quoted as confirming that the amount was deducted from a FIFA payment to the country in 2008.
Monday, June 1st 2015 - 07:09 UTC
Blatter a victim of conspiracy from “behind scenes”, claims daughter Corinne

FIFA president Sepp Blatter is the victim of a conspiracy from “behind the scenes”, daughter Corinne Blatter told the BBC amid the corruption crisis gripping world football. Her comments come as key FIFA officials face a string of bribery charges. Blatter, who has been re-elected as Fifa president, has not been implicated but faces calls to stand down.
Monday, June 1st 2015 - 07:06 UTC
South American relief: FIFA leaves allocation of World Cup slots unchanged

Good news for South America: FIFA will not make any changes to the allocation of World Cup slots among the six continents for the 2018 and 2022 tournaments in Russia and Qatar, president Sepp Blatter said during the first meeting of the new Executive Committee in Zurich.
Monday, June 1st 2015 - 06:50 UTC
US economy shrinks 0.7% in first quarter; harsh winter partly to blame

The US economy shrank 0.7% in the first three months of 2015, compared to the same period last year. The Bureau of Economic Analysis significantly revised down its earlier economic growth estimate of 0.2%.