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Rousseff proposes new regulatory framework for Brazil mining

Agencia EFEJune 18, 2013 20:32

Brasilia, Jun 18 (EFE).- President Dilma Rousseff on Tuesday proposed a new regulatory framework for mining in Brazil, one of the world's biggest producers of iron, bauxite, gold, nickel, manganese and other minerals. Rousseff said her plan calls for a new government agency that would regulate mining activity and create a new concessions regime. The new concessions "will run for 40 years, extendable for another 20," and the concession holders must comply with "clear legal obligations, with an emphasis on protecting the environment," she said.

Argentine court throws out key part of judicial reform law

Thomson ReutersJune 18, 2013 18:32

BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) - Argentina's Supreme Court on Tuesday struck down a key part of a judicial reform law championed by President Cristina Fernandez that would have mandated the election of members of the board that chooses federal judges. The reform - which Fernandez said was needed to "democratize the judiciary" - passed Congress last month and has been a lightning rod for criticism of the president as talk swirls of a possible bid by her supporters to seek a constitutional change to allow her to seek a third term.

Treasury unveils Secretary Lew's improved signature for nation's currency

The Canadian PressJune 18, 2013 15:02

WASHINGTON - Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew won't win any prizes in penmanship, but his official signature which will go on the nation's currency is at least a slight improvement over the loopy scrawl he had a few months ago. The Treasury Department unveiled the new signature on Tuesday. It takes the Bureau of Engraving and Printing about 18 weeks to put new engraving plates into production. That means Lew's signature will not show up on the various currency denominations until sometime this fall.

Obama arrives in Berlin for talks with Merkel

Agence France-PresseJune 18, 2013 18:30

Barack Obama arrived for his first visit as US president to Berlin on Tuesday for talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and a major open-air speech at the city's Brandenburg Gate. Obama arrived at Berlin's Tegel Airport from Northern Ireland where he and Merkel took part in a G8 summit dominated by the bloodshed in Syria and a bid by the European Union and the United States to create the world's biggest free trade area.

Iran 'in heaven' as soccer team qualifies for 2014 World Cup

Thomson ReutersJune 18, 2013 18:02

By Zahra Hosseinian and Marcus George DUBAI (Reuters) - Tehran's streets were filled with young revelers for the second time in four days on Tuesday after the Iranian national soccer team qualified for the 2014 World Cup finals in Brazil with a win over South Korea. "I feel like God is answering all of our prayers at once," 24-year-old Nasim said by phone from Tehran. "First a new, different president - and now the World Cup. We're beside ourselves with happiness."

Argentine high court rejects Kirchner bid for elected judges

Agence France-PresseJune 18, 2013 18:00

President Cristina Kirchner suffered a defeat on Tuesday after Argentina's Supreme Court tossed out a bid to select officials to the country's top judicial panel by popular vote. "It is not valid to force judges, attorneys and academics to be selected by popular vote," the court said in part of its 67-page finding. Kirchner had hoped to change rules for how judges are put on the Judicial Council, which is in charge of naming and renewing the posts of other judges.

Brazil's Rousseff vows to heed protests

Agencia EFEJune 18, 2013 17:36

Brasilia, Jun 18 (EFE).- Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff said Tuesday "the voice of the street must be heard" and that large crowds of protesters demanding better public services have "sent a direct message" to the nation's leaders. Despite isolated episodes of violence during the demonstrations, which on Monday brought some 250,000 people out on the streets of dozens of cities, Rousseff said the rallies "show the value of democracy."

Optimism fading, Brazil protests put leaders on alert

Thomson ReutersJune 18, 2013 17:33

By Paulo Prada RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) - When more than 200,000 protesters took to the streets across Brazil on Monday night, they demanded a dizzying array of improvements - from halting the fast rise of prices to cleaning up government corruption. If one message stood out, it was that Brazilians are no longer willing to accept the rosy outlook that politicians in Latin America's biggest country have been painting for years.

Bulgaria's opposition boycotts parliament as protests rage

Agence France-PresseJune 18, 2013 17:02

Bulgaria's biggest political party said Tuesday it was boycotting parliamentary sittings amid unrelenting public outrage over the appointment of a media magnate to a top security post. The decision by the conservative opposition GERB party added pressure on the three-week-old ruling coalition, and fuelled fears of a new political crisis as anti-government street protests stretched into a fifth straight day across Bulgaria. "We will not show up in parliament anymore," GERB leader and former prime minister Boyko Borisov said.

Rousseff vows to listen to Brazil's angry protesters

Agence France-PresseJune 18, 2013 16:31

President Dilma Rousseff vowed Tuesday to listen to youths staging Brazil's biggest protests in 20 years in an outpouring of anger over the huge cost of staging events like the World Cup. More rallies were scheduled for Tuesday, a day after more than 250,000 people took to the streets of major cities in mostly peaceful rallies, although there were some clashes with police and acts of vandalism.