Stories for April 26th 2017

Wednesday, April 26th 2017 - 12:15 UTC
Bribes in Brazil “institutionalized” since the fifties, reveals Emilio Odebrecht

The former CEO of the huge Brazilian builder at the center of the world's biggest corruption scandal spoke frankly about the billions in bribes and illegal financing that the Odebrecht company put into the pockets and campaign coffers of politicians and public officials.
Wednesday, April 26th 2017 - 11:41 UTC
Brazil and Spain lay direct subsea cable rerouting communications to avoid US bugging

The Spanish and Brazilian governments have teamed up to lay an undersea cable in the Atlantic Ocean to offer fast online and cloud services to citizens of both countries by 2019, underscoring efforts to rout communications outside North America.
Wednesday, April 26th 2017 - 09:13 UTC
US Judge blocks Trump's executive order punishing “sanctuary cities”

A US judge on Tuesday blocked an executive order by President Donald Trump that could deny billions of dollars to so-called sanctuary cities as punishment for harboring illegal immigrants.
Wednesday, April 26th 2017 - 08:48 UTC
China launches its first native totally designed and built aircraft carrier

China has launched its first domestically designed and built aircraft carrier, state media said on Wednesday, as the country seeks to transform its navy into a force capable of projecting power onto the high seas. Adorned with colorful ribbons, the Type 001A ship “transferred from dry dock into the water at a launch ceremony” in the northeastern port city of Dalian, according to official broadcaster CCTV.
Wednesday, April 26th 2017 - 08:39 UTC
Brexit key players: Theresa May, Juncker and Barnier meet at Downing Street

British Prime Minister Theresa May will on Wednesday hold talks with EU Commission head Jean-Claude Juncker and chief negotiator Michel Barnier, ahead of a summit to set the bloc's Brexit “red lines”. In the first such meeting between the three key players, they will discuss the upcoming negotiations on Britain's withdrawal from the European Union over dinner at May's Downing Street residence.
Wednesday, April 26th 2017 - 08:28 UTC
Tribesmen with bows and arrows clash with riot police in Brasilia on “Indigenous Week”

Thousands of Brazilian indigenous tribe members clashed with riot police Tuesday while demonstrating in the capital, Brasilia, for greater rights. Some of the indigenous people were armed with bows and arrows, while police rained tear gas onto the protesters.
Wednesday, April 26th 2017 - 08:20 UTC
EU/Mercosur trade agreement “closer than ever”, says Spanish president Rajoy

The European Union and South American trade bloc Mercosur should intensify talks to reach a trade agreement this year, Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said on Tuesday, urging haste after 18 years of negotiations.
Wednesday, April 26th 2017 - 08:10 UTC
Twelve million penguins in Antarctica, according to the 2017 SOAP report

April 25 is World Penguin Day, timed to coincide with the annual northward march to the sea of Antarctic penguins, as autumn edges toward winter in that part of the world. There are 12 million penguins in Antarctica, according to a new report – the inaugural State Of Antarctic Penguins 2017 (SOAP) report – also released on Tuesday.
Wednesday, April 26th 2017 - 07:45 UTC
On World Penguin Day scientists call for more protection of Antarctic wildlife

The world needs to do more to protect the Antarctic wilderness and its wildlife, scientists warned Tuesday, as they marked World Penguin Day. The flightless seabirds—a favorite with children for their clumsy, waddling gait—offer a useful yardstick for researchers to judge the health of their habitat