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Widespread anti-graft protests rock Brazil

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 17:37:27 -0400

SAO PAULO, Brazil - Anti-graft protests swept Brazil's main cities as some 200,000 demonstrators marched through the streets against alleged mis-governance, forcing President Dilma Rousseff Tuesday to acknowledge the need for better public services and effective administration. The assurance from Rousseff came a day after biggest protests rocked at least ten Brazilian cities, including Sao ...

No breakthrough in talks between UK and Ecuador over Assange

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 17:37:11 -0400

LONDON - Talks between the United Kingdom and Ecuador have ended without any breakthrough over WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange's fate with the Andean nation. Ecquador said it was vowing not to succumb to diplomatic pressure and was ready to consider any request from Edward Snowden, another whistleblower, for asylum. As the fugitive anti-secrecy advocate marks one year holed up in the ...

Assange to stay in Ecuador embassy even if charges are dropped

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 09:00:01 -0400

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has vowed to remain in the Ecuadorian embassy in London even if accusations of sex crimes are dropped, BBC reported Wednesday. Assange entered the embassy last June last year when his appeal against his extradition to Sweden for questioning was turned down. The WikiLeaks founder has always denied the charges. Assange told journalists at the embassy in ...

Brazil protests will calm down Blatter hopes

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 03:20:02 -0400

FIFA president Sepp Blatter denied that the Confederations Cup and World Cup are the causes for mass protests across Brazil. Demonstrations, which began last week in response to rise in public transport fares, have turned into a nation-wide rally against bad governance and corruption, reports Xinhua. Many marchers expressed their anger at the billions of dollars spent on new football stadiums ...

Brazil to produce H1N1 flu vaccine

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 03:10:01 -0400

Brazil plans to produce vaccines against the influenza H1N1 virus, Health Minister Alexandre Padilha said. Nationwide production of the vaccine will help the country have an easier and faster access to the drug in case of an epidemic, he said Tuesday. "When Brazil has the technology, no economic crisis, exchange rate fluctuations, nor unilateral decision from a company can put patient treatment ...

Protestors hack Brazil World Cup 2014 website

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 02:40:02 -0400

Protestors have reportedly hacked the official website for the Brazil Football World Cup 2014 and replaced the site with a video of a violent police response to a peaceful protest. According to News.com.au, the FIFA website was replaced with an embedded YouTube video, showing protesters marching, before riot police release tear gas and fire on the protesters with rubber bullets. The report ...

Rousseff proposes new regulatory framework for Brazil mining

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 02:20:02 -0400

President Dilma Rousseff has 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 ...

In Germany Obama Defends US Surveillance Programs

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 10:09:35 -0400

U.S. President Barack Obama listens as German Chancellor Angela Merkel addresses the media during a press conference at the chancellery in Berlin, June 19, ...

South Africa to Host Worlds Biggest Telescope

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 10:09:35 -0400

JOHANNESBURG -- South Africa is preparing to host the biggest radio telescope in the world. Along with Australia, the country has been chosen to host ...

Colombia’s April imports up 16.5 on year

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 09:54:57 -0400

According to DANE, total foreign purchases increased from $4.4 billion to $5.7 billion compared to April 2012. The trade surplus was $36.8 million. According to the statistics, manufactured goods accounted for 78.3% of the imports in April, mining products 10.2%, and agricultural products, food and beverages 11.3% . The increase in manufactured goods was mainly responsible for the growth. The ...

Kidnappers tried to sell Spanish tourists to FARC

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 09:54:54 -0400

The kidnappers of two Spanish tourists have tried to sell their victims to left-wing FARC guerrillas before deciding to negotiate a ransom with the families of the hostages, according to reports ...

Freezing Argentina Temperatures below zero as polar wave continues

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 09:53:38 -0400

Today’s has been so far the coldest day of 2013. A polar wave hitting Argentina’s central and south areas for three days has dropped temperatures to below 0 zero in several areas of the provinces of Buenos Aires and La Pampa as well as in the Southern Patagonia region. Scarf, sweaters, woolen hats, gloves; everything you can wear these days will help you battle the freezing ...

Sao Paulo Protests Rage In Brazils Largest City

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 09:39:02 -0400

SAO PAULO -- Tens of thousands of Brazilians again flooded the streets of the country's biggest city to raise a collective cry against a longstanding lament – people are weighed down by high taxes and high prices but get low-quality public services and a system of government infected with corruption. That was the repeated message Tuesday night in Sao Paulo, where upward of 50,000 ...

International Fund for Animal Welfare Penguin Stranding Mystery in Brazil Prompts Rescue Attempt

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 09:27:01 -0400

Penguin Stranding Mystery in Brazil Prompts Rescue Attempt YARMOUTH PORT - August 7 - More than 1000 juvenile Magellanic penguins have washed-up either dead or dying along the Brazilian coast and as far north as Natal in Rio Grande do Norte, 3000 km north of Sao Paulo. IFAW (International Fund for Animal ...

Morsi Critics Demand Early Egypt Elections

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 09:00:15 -0400

An Egyptian signs a petition for Tamarod, Arabic for "rebel", a campaign calling for the ouster of Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi and for early presidential elections in the Shubra neighborhood in Cairo, Egypt, June 2, ...

Senate Includes Foreign Adoptees in US Immigration Reform Bill

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 09:00:15 -0400

The U.S. Senate has voted in favor of automatic citizenship for foreign-born children adopted by American families. The chamber added the measure to landmark legislation to overhaul the U.S. immigration system, a top priority of President Barack Obama’s agenda. Senators have proposed scores of amendments to the immigration bill, and Tuesday the Senate voted on four of them. Democratic ...

Gunmen Kill Dozens in Northern Nigeria Village

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 09:00:15 -0400

Witnesses say dozens of gunmen arrived on motorbikes early Tuesday in the village of Kizara, moving from house to house and shooting at residents. Some of the gunmen climbed on top of a hill and opened fire on villagers who tried to escape the attack. Zamfara state officials say the gunmen were part of a group of cattle rustlers that have been terrorizing the local community. The gunmen ...

Al-Shabab Attacks U.N. Compound in Mogadishu

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 09:00:14 -0400

Militant group al-Shabab has claimed responsibility for what officials are calling a suicide bomb attack on a United Nations compound in the Somali ...

Obama Africa Trip is Effort to Re-engage with Continent

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 09:00:14 -0400

WHITE HOUSE -- U.S. President Barack Obama returns to Africa next week, only the second visit of his presidency to the continent. In Senegal, South Africa and Tanzania, he will stress support for democracies and economic progress, and speak about the importance of human rights. Obama has spent less than 24 hours in sub-Saharan Africa, an all-too short visit to Ghana in 2009. He spoke to ...

Space Africa Looks to the Final Frontier

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 09:00:14 -0400

JOHANNESBURG -- Space, the final frontier, and one that African nations have largely left unexplored. But with the emergence of space agencies around the continent, some intrepid space-gazers are studying ways to boldly go where few Africans have gone before. Observers looking at Africa today will see a new reality. Satellite dishes monitor hundreds of privately owned satellites above ...

Brazils Scolari focusing on Mexico clash – video

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 08:47:52 -0400

Brazil manager Luiz Felipe Scolari says he thinks Mexico will want to prove they are a better team than Brazil when they meet in the Confederations Cup on Wednesday. He refrains from commenting when asked about recent protests in Brazil, timed to coincide with the Confederations Cup and partly prompted by the rising cost of hosting the World ...

Ecuador has a sinister anniversary gift for Julian Assange

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 08:46:13 -0400

A year ago, Ecuador allowed fugitive WikiLeaker Julian Assange to seek refuge in its London embassy. Now its new media law tightens the vice on journalists critical of the South American country's ...

Mediator insists Colombia government begins peace talks with ELN

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 08:44:02 -0400

Colombia’s former Inspector General and designated mediator with the country’s second largest rebel group ELN on Tuesday pressed the government to open formal dialogues with the ...

Colombia gets unemployment benefit

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 08:43:56 -0400

The earnings protection law aims to ensure the social security and basic needs of the unemployed are met along with helping them back into employment. Santos said that the bill was ';an important step towards a more just society.'; The new law provides advice and training to the unemployed while offering financial support for job seekers. Santos said the bill would ';take away ...

AFCs President congratulates Asian soccer teams who have qualified for participation in the World Football Cup2014 in Brazil

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 08:42:45 -0400

Kuala Lumpur: June 19 -- (BNA)-- The Asian Football Confederation (AFC)'s President, Shaikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa, congratulated the Asian football teams who qualified for participation in the World Football Cup finals in Brazil in 2014, wishing them success and best of luck in future in order to honor Asian soccer. Shaikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa praised the great standard ...

Violence in Sao Paulo as Brazil protests continue

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 08:38:12 -0400

Thousands of demonstrators have flooded into a square in Brazil's economic hub, Sao Paulo, for the latest in a historic wave of protests against the state of public transport, schools and other public ...

9-cent hike leads to clashes in Brazil

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 08:37:20 -0400

Brazilians took to the streets across the country to protest a 9 cent rise in bus fares. Brazil is building massive stadiums and revamping infrastructure ahead of the soccer World Cup, which it hosts next year. Students took to streets on June 18, 2013 in ...

Mass protests continue in Brazil

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 08:37:18 -0400

Brazilian nationals rally in Mexico City. Protests have spread across Brazil and abroad against the country's heavy tax burden, corruption and woeful public services. The sign at centre translates: "We are fighting for quality in education, heath and transport." (Ivan Pierre Aguirre/Associated ...

Brazil Protests 50000 Take To The Streets

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 08:36:22 -0400

Tens of thousands of Brazilians have once again taken to the streets in Sao Paolo, protesting at the high cost of staging the World Cup next year. The protests followed Monday night's demonstrations in the country's biggest city as residents vent their anger about the high cost of public transport - and its inefficiency - and a government that they see is riddled with corruption. ...

Peru earthquake rattles Lima

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 08:21:00 -0400

A moderate earthquake shook the capital of Peru Tuesday, the second temblor in as many days. The quake struck at 1:40 p.m. local time, with its center about 20 miles south of the capital, Lima. It registered 5.1 on the Richter ...

Argentina warns to bring Ghanas warship seizure to UN

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 08:14:25 -0400

Argentine Foreign Minister Hector Timerman warned Friday that his country would resort to the UN if necessary over Ghana's seizure of its frigate. Ghana's seizure of Argentine warship Libertad is "illegal," because "the warship has immunity established in several international conventions signed by the Republic of Ghana," Timerman said at a press conference. ...

At least 17 missing in Peru landslide

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 08:14:21 -0400

At least 17 people went missing early on Wednesday after a mudslide slammed into a peruvian village, civil defense officials said. The landslide occurred in El Porvenir, a village in the northern department of San Martin in the Amazonian region which was triggered by heavy rains Jorge Rios, chief of the Civil Defense Office of San Martin' s Regional Government (GRSM), said that rescuers ...

Brazil to deploy special police for soccer

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 07:52:05 -0400

Brazil will deploy a special police force to help provide security for the Confederations Cup tournament following mass protests against government spending, the state news agency says.Officers belonging to the National Force, a branch of the federal police deployed in cases of social unrest, will be sent to five of the six cities where the tournament is being played, Agencia Brasil reported on ...

Troops deployed to control Brazil protests

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 07:51:03 -0400

The country's Justice Ministry announced the deployment of troops to reinforce security in cities hosting the Confederations Cup football tournament, government spending on which has aggravated Brazilians frustrated by inequalities and a lack of social ...

Brazils perfect 10 surf pioneer

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 07:46:39 -0400

>CNN's Human to Hero series celebrates inspiration and achievement in sport. Click here for show times, videos and features.(CNN) -- She's a perfect 10; the surfer that other professionals will drag themselves out of the water to watch. But it is the satisfaction of being able to help her family that ranks as Silvana Lima's proudest achievement. The diminutive Brazilian, twice a runner-up on ...

Colombia has 4 of South America’s 25 top travel destinations

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 07:39:25 -0400

Bogota , Santa Marta and Cali. The Caribbean city of Cartagena was ranked Colombia’s number one spot to visit. The city’s excellent beaches, historic old town and architecture was enough to make the city South America’s seventh most recommended spot to ...

Driver charged in death of soccer fan dribbling to Brazil

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 07:33:46 -0400

By Lauren Gambino, Associated Press The driver Oregon police say fatally struck a man trying to dribble a soccer ball 10,000 miles from Seattle to Brazil for the World Cup has been arrested. Scott Van Hiatt, of Neskowin, Ore., was arrested Monday on a charge of criminally negligent homicide, said Lincoln City Police Chief Keith Kilian. Richard Swanson, of Seattle, planned to dribble the ball for ...

Colombia – Imports support recovery in private consumption

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 07:23:05 -0400

A quiet day yesterday, with just import growth in Colombia hinting at a recovery in consumption and investment in 2Q13. Today the focus will be on the components of GDP in Mexico, to check for continued strength in consumption and how weak foreign demand continues to ...

Home bitter-sweet home Assanges one year anniversary in Ecuador Embassy

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 07:21:02 -0400

21/08/2012 11:43 CET WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is celebrating a bitter-sweet one year anniversary at the Ecuador embassy in London. In an interview with Reuteurs, Assange said he would remain in the diplomatic building even if charges against him are dropped in Sweden. His lawyers say he could still face arrest and extradition to the US. The forty-one year-old fled to the Ecuadorian ...

Brazil protesters flood Sao Paulo streets for 2nd night

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 07:19:46 -0400

SAO PAULO Tens of thousands of Brazilians again flooded the streets of the country's biggest city to raise a collective cry against a longstanding lament -; people are weighed down by high taxes and high prices but get low-quality public services and a system of government infected with corruption. That was the repeated message Tuesday night in Sao Paulo, where upward of 50,000 people massed ...

AIRSHOW-HGI orders ATR 72-600s for Brazils Passaredo

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 07:17:20 -0400

PARIS, June 19 | Wed Jun 19, 2013 7:17am EDT PARIS, June 19 (Reuters) - HGI Capital Group said it ordered 10 ATR 72-600 turboprop aircraft for Passaredo Linhas Aereas to help the Brazilian carrier expand its regional fleet. HGI added that it was also taking 10 options on the planes, giving a total value for the deal of $482 million. ATR is a joint venture of EADS and Finmeccanica ...

SAO PAULO Brazil - Tens of thousands of Brazilians flooded the streets of the countrys biggest city Tuesday in a widening protest against a slew of problems from bus fares to government corruption. More than 50000 people massed in front of the cit

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 07:14:09 -0400

By Bradley Brooks, The Associated Press SAO PAULO, Brazil - Tens of thousands of Brazilians flooded the streets of the country's biggest city Tuesday in a widening protest against a slew of problems from bus fares to government corruption.More than 50,000 people massed in front of the city's main cathedral. While mostly peaceful, the demonstration followed the rhythm of protests that ...

61 injured in multiple vehicle crash in Brazil

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 07:07:39 -0400

Sixty-one people were injured, one seriously, in a multiple vehicle crash on early Tuesday in Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, official sources said. The accident involving two passenger buses and a public transportation minivan occurred along the Marechal Fontenelle Avenue, in the Sulacap district of western Rio, the sources said. According to a spokesmen from a local fire ...

U.S. Secretary of State pays official visit to Peru

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 07:07:38 -0400

Photo provided by Peru's Presidency shows Peruvian President Ollanta Humala (R) shakes hands with visiting U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton during a joint news conference in Lima, capital of Peru, on Oct. 15, 2012. Clinton is on a two-day official visit to Peru. (Xinhua/Peru's ...

1972 Uruguay air crash victims ate friends to survive

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 07:07:35 -0400

They survived by eating human flesh when the plane taking them to play a rugby match crashed down amid snow-covered mountains. And 40 years on, their cancelled fixture has finally been fulfilled. Old Christians Club players - from Uruguay - reunited to return to Chile, where they were stranded for 72 days in 1972. They and opponents the Old Grangonian Club lived up to their names - with players ...

Chavez proclaimed as elected president of Venezuela

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 07:07:27 -0400

Image provided by the Venezuelan Presidency shows Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez participating in the ceremony where he was proclaimed as the elected president of Venezuela for the 2013-2019 term by the National Electoral Council, in Caracas, capital of Venezuela, on Oct. 10, 2012. (Xinhua/Venezuelan ...

Venezuelas Chavez names new vice-president

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 07:07:26 -0400

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has named a new vice-president, following his re-election on Sunday for another six-year term. Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro, one of the president's closest advisors, has been appointed for the job. He is a former bus driver who rose through the ranks of Mr Chavez' United Socialist Party. He would replace the president should his battle with cancer ...

Ecuadors Correa to seek reelection

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 07:07:23 -0400

Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa said Tuesday that he was ready to run again as candidate of the ruling Alianza Pais party in next year's presidential elections. "The family supports me and knows that we have a responsibility to the country," Correa told a gathering of the Ecuadorian Association of Radio-broadcasters in the port city of Guayaquil. "Without the support of ...

Voters protest against election results in Venezuela

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 07:07:20 -0400

Supporters of opposition presidential candidate Henrique Capriles hold a protest against election results at Plaza Altamira in Caracas, Venezuela, on Oct. 8, 2012. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez was reelected on Sunday. (Xinhua/David de la ...

Rousseff seeks to calm Brazil protests

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 06:44:34 -0400

The Brazilian army has been ordered into five cities to calm a massive protest movement sweeping the country, after President Dilma Rousseff sought to address demonstrators' anger over social inequality and World Cup ...

Brazil sends force to quell protest

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 06:43:08 -0400

Brazil's government says it will deploy a national security force to five major cities after a wave of protests which has seen almost 250,000 people demand better public ...

Brazil trade looks to score from the World Cup

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 06:39:59 -0400

Brazil is using football, one of its greatest passions to boost trade between the South American nation and Europe. The 2014 World Cup takes place in Brazil next June and July, a few weeks after the European elections and the nation is looking to use the sport to increase trade and investment. As Latin America's top economy, Brazil is also the worlds sixth largest and the fifth largest ...

Brazil UnrestThe Brazilian government has deployed more national security force Latin America News

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 06:39:49 -0400

The Brazilian government will deploy National Public Security Force in five cities hosting the FIFA football tournament in an effort to contain the ongoing protests across the country. The announcement by the Brazilian Justice Ministry comes after a day of violent clashes between protesters and riot police. The ministry decided to deploy the joint federal police force on Wednesday in response ...

Brazil - Investigation needed into use of violence against protesters in Brazil

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 06:36:23 -0400

The So Paulo state government should honor pledges to thoroughly and impartially investigate the legality of force used by security forces during recent crowd-control operations in So Paulo, Human Rights Watch said today.On June 13, 2013, scores of people were injured when police officers used teargas and rubber bullets to disperse demonstrators protesting an increase in bus and subway fares in ...

In pictures Brazil protests continue for another night

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 06:27:19 -0400

Cities across Brazil were rocked by another day of protests against public services, police violence and government corruption. There were clashes between police and ...

Brazil beefs up policing for Confederations Cup

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 06:17:58 -0400

Riot polce take positions during a protest in Sao Paulo, Brazil on June 18, 2013. Brazil will deploy a special police force to help provide security for the Confederations Cup tournament following mass protests against government ...

Protests continue to rock Brazil

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 06:16:10 -0400

14/06/2013 11:16 CET Around 50,000 flooded the streets of Sao Paulo for another night of protests in Brazil. Demonstrators took to the streets in some of the largest protests in 20 years over poor public services and the escalating cost of hosting international sporting competitions like the World Cup 2014. President Dilma Rousseff said she was open to social change, but her words may be ...

One of FBIs most-wanted nabbed in Mexico

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 06:03:06 -0400

Los Angeles to the Philippines in January 2011 to engage in sex acts with two 14-year-old boys he met online in 2010, the U.S. Department of Justice said in a statement Monday. While in the Philippines, Williams allegedly engaged in sex acts with both boys and produced sexually explicit photos of one of the boys. Williams fled the Los Angeles area approximately one week after returning from the ...

SKorea to Buy European Long-Range Missiles

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 05:43:19 -0400

South Korea has decided to upgrade its long-range missile arsenal with European-made weapons, after the Pentagon did not approve the sale of similar U.S. ...

Gunmen Attack UN Compound in Mogadishu

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 05:43:19 -0400

Police say the blast occurred Wednesday at a building close to the main U.N. compound near the airport in Mogadishu. Officials say authorities are engaged in a heavy gun battle with several of the militants. There was no immediate word on casualties. No one has yet claimed responsibility for the attack. The Somali insurgent group Al-Shabab has claimed repeated attacks in recent ...

Julian Assange marks one year in Ecuador’s embassy in London

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 05:40:05 -0400

A year ago, Julian Assange skipped out on a date with Swedish justice. Rather than comply with a British order that he go to the Scandinavian country for questioning about sex crimes allegations, the WikiLeaks founder took refuge in Ecuador's embassy in London.He's still there -- and now says he won't emerge even if Sweden drops the case that triggered the strange diplomatic ...

Protesters out again in Brazil

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 05:38:31 -0400

Tens of thousands of Brazilians again flooded the streets of the country's biggest city to protest over high taxes, high prices, poor public services and corrupt ...

Brazil boosts security for Confed Cup

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 05:31:59 -0400

Rio de Janeiro - Brazil will deploy a special police force to help provide security for the Confederations Cup tournament following mass protests against government spending, the state news agency said on ...

Special cops ready for Confederations Cup in Brazil

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 05:16:35 -0400

(31 mins ago) Brazil will deploy a special police force to help provide security for the Confederations Cup tournament following mass protests against government spending, the state news agency said Wednesday. Officers belonging to the National Force, a branch of the federal police deployed in cases of social unrest, will be sent to five of the six cities where the tournament will be played, ...

Ongoing protests in Brazil and Royal Ascot the best news photographs of the day

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 05:12:47 -0400

Firefighters work to put out a burning vehicle set on fire by protestors in Sao Paulo, Brazil as protests continued overnight. Photograph: Nelson ...

Afghanistan suspends US security talks as Washington readies Taliban peace talks

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 04:19:30 -0400

Afghan President Hamid Karzai has decided to suspend talks on a security pact with the United States, claiming Washington sends mixed messages regarding peace talks with the ...

Brazils president says she is listening as mass protests sweep the country

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 04:06:56 -0400

A call for more protests has been answered with another massive turnout in Brazil’s Sao Paulo as frustration with poor public services has spiralled into widespread anger. In response President Dilma Rousseff has declared her government is listening: ';The voices from the streets need to be heard. They transcend mechanisms of institutions, of political parties, of class and the ...

Brazil protesters call for time out

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 04:03:19 -0400

>Are you witnessing the protests in Brazil? Share your images and videos with CNN iReport. Sao Paulo, Brazil (CNN) -- Protesters in Brazil called for a "time out" Wednesday, a glaring contrast to the loud, voluminous demonstrations that reverberated across several cities the day before. Crowds originally protesting bus fare hikes have grown into multitudes decrying social injustice as broad ...

Brazil braces for more anti-government protests

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 03:59:53 -0400

Brazil braced for a new round of anti-government protests Wednesday after a violent night of looting and vandalism in Sao Paulo that led to at least 30 arrests. An estimated 50,000 people flooded the city's central Cathedral Square for the second night running, marching through streets and waving banners carrying slogans such as, "The people have awakened." One group tried to ...

Taliban Claim Killing of 4 US Troops

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 03:33:37 -0400

The Taliban has claimed responsibility for an attack that killed four U.S. troops in Afghanistan, hours after the U.S. announced it was opening formal talks with the insurgent ...

Obama to Promote Nuclear-Free World in Berlin Speech

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 03:33:37 -0400

U.S. President Barack Obama is set to lay out his vision for advancing toward a world free of nuclear weapons during a speech Wednesday at the historic Brandenburg Gate in Berlin. A senior administration official says Mr. Obama will propose the United States and Russia cut their number of strategic nuclear warheads by up to one third below the level agreed to in a 2009 treaty. That pact, ...

Most Wanted US Fugitive Arrested in Mexico

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 03:33:37 -0400

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Surveillance Campaign Restricts Tibetans Freedom of Expression Rights Group

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 03:33:36 -0400

A leading human rights group says a Chinese government surveillance campaign is restricting freedom of expression and creating a culture of fear in Tibetan ...

Protesters out again in Brazil

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 03:32:08 -0400

Tens of thousands of Brazilians again flooded the streets of the country's biggest city to protest over high taxes, high prices, poor public services and corrupt government.That was the repeated message on Tuesday night in Sao Paulo, where upward of 50,000 people massed in front of the city's main cathedral.While mostly peaceful, the demonstration followed the rhythm of protests that ...

Protesters flood Brazilian cities over World Cup spending

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 03:30:59 -0400

Protests by a quarter of a million people have swept Brazil as demonstrators express their anger over the amount of money being invested in the World Cup and an increase in bus ...

Brazils mining royalty increase will hurt companies - Vale CEO

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 03:25:36 -0400

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Brazils proposed new mine bill would double top royalty rate

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 03:25:34 -0400

The country unveiled its long-awaited new mining bill on Tuesday which proposes, among other things, a doubling of the top royalty rate and stricter rules for opening new ...

Brazil send troops into the cities to calm protests

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 03:25:11 -0400

Brazil's government says it will deploy soldiers to five cities to quell a wave of protests which has seen almost a quarter of a million people demand better public ...

‘We’re here to demand a better Brazil’

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 03:23:02 -0400

';I am here to demand a better Brazil,'; said 21-year-old student Juliana Alves. ';They are spending billions of dollars on the World Cup, but virtually nothing on education. This is ...

US universities MIT Colombia Duke join new Amsterdam institute bids

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 03:20:06 -0400

Three prestigious US universities have joined consortia bidding to set up a new institute of technology in Amsterdam, Nos television reports on Wednesday. The city council invited applications to set up the new institute at the beginning of April and has now whittled the 13 entries down to a shortlist of five. The city hopes the new institute will boost the economy and lead to significant job ...

Bolivia’s Morales third presidential bid triggers strong controversy involving OAS

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 02:59:16 -0400

Organization of American States, OAS, Secretary General Jose Miguel Insulza apologized to Bolivian president Evo Morales for the disclosure of a letter in which the indigenous leader back in 2008 when the discussion of a new constitution pledged he would not run for a third consecutive ...

45.2 million displaced people worldwide UNHCR report says global forced displacement at 18-year high

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 02:50:43 -0400

WAM ABU DHABI: A report released today by UNHCR, the UN's refugee agency, says that more people are refugees or internally displaced than at any time since 1994, with the crisis in Syria having emerged as a major new factor in global displacement. UNHCR's annual Global Trends report covers displacement that occurred during 2012 based on data from governments, NGO partners, and UNHCR ...

Professor on US FBIs most wanted list nabbed in Mexico

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 02:50:35 -0400

This 2011 image provided by the FBI shows Walter Lee Williams. He is wanted on charges of sexual exploitation of children and traveling abroad for the purpose of engaging in sexual acts with ...

Protesters out again in Brazils biggest city

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 02:48:55 -0400

SAO PAULO (AP) -- Tens of thousands of Brazilians again flooded the streets of the country's biggest city to raise a collective cry against a longstanding lament - people are weighed down by high taxes and high prices but get low-quality public services and a system of government infected with ...

Hundreds of thousands protest throughout Brazil

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 02:29:46 -0400

Part of the demonstration in Rio de Janeiro [Photo: David Cardoso] On Monday, June 17 Brazil saw its largest protests in at least 20 years. Hundreds of thousands marched in Rio de Janeiro, So Paulo, Belo Horizonte and Brasilia, the country's leading cities, while smaller demonstrations occurred in other cities around the country. Estimates of the numbers who took to the streets nationwide ...

Biggest protests in 20 years rock Brazil

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 02:15:11 -0400

In the country's largest protests in 20 years, more than 200,000 people marched across the country to vent their anger at government's lavish spending in demonstrations initially triggered by a hike in bus fares. In Rio de Janeiro, where some 100,000 people marched, riot police were forced to use tear gas and fire rubber bullets to disperse youths who set cars on fire, broke bank ...

US edge Honduras to stay on course for Brazil

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 02:12:24 -0400

Source: Reuters The United States maintained their push for a 2014 World Cup berth with a third straight victory in the final round of CONCACAF qualifying after Jozy Altidore's late strike saw off a stubborn Honduras 1-0 in Utah today. Altidore's 73rd minute goal was the difference between the teams at Rio Tinto Stadium as the home side were rewarded for their domination to complete a ...

Advocacy Groups Welcome New US Great Lakes Envoy

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 01:26:09 -0400

Nineteen advocacy groups and Congo experts are giving the thumps up to President Barack Obama’s appointment of former U.S. Senator Russ Feingold as the new U.S. Special Envoy for the Great Lakes Region and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Feingold is a former chairman of the Africa Subcommittee in the Senate and co-author of several legislations on the Lord’s Resistance Army ...

Confederations Cup David Luiz leads player support for Brazil protests

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 01:24:14 -0400

mass protests in the country that have overshadowed the start of the Confederations Cup . Some 250,000 people took to the streets of major cities on Monday ...

All signs point to Brazil

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 01:18:45 -0400

Reuters With the United States grabbing all three points in Salt Lake City, it’s almost certain they will qualify for the World Cup. With Jurgen Klinsmann’s men atop the group, it’s at this point we start talking about the magic number for qualification, which sits at 7 (6 to go in on goal differential).u00a0 That is the combination of points that the United States can get plus ...

Brazil protests continue as government struggles with how to respond

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 01:14:44 -0400

Brazilians gather at the city hall in So Paulo as part of widespread protests about high costs, poor services and spending on the World Cup. Photograph: Sebastiao ...

Altidore Winner Keeps U.S. on Course for Brazil

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 00:35:17 -0400

(Reuters) - The United States maintained their push for a 2014 World Cup berth with a third straight victory in the final round of CONCACAF qualifying after Jozy Altidore's late strike saw off a stubborn Honduras 1-0 in Utah on Tuesday. Altidore's 73rd minute goal was the difference between the teams at Rio Tinto Stadium as the home side were rewarded for their domination to complete a ...

Ecuador to promote coffee products in Haikou

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 00:23:18 -0400

Yesterday at a promotional event titled "Flavour of Ecuador: Products Promotion and Tasting," fine coffee and other Ecuadorian food debuted at the Macao Ideas exhibition hall, located at the Tourism Activities Center. 2012 Ecuador Barista Champion, David Mino, made fine organic coffee and presented latte art to guests. Coffee has been produced in Ecuador since 1860. According to the ...

Ecuador Hosts Journalism Summit

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 00:16:11 -0400

Quito, Jun 19 (Prensa Latina) Delegates from 10 countries will attend the First International Summit for Responsible Journalism (CUPRE), said the organizers. Near 10,000 delegates will arrive in Guayaquil city, from Brazil, Venezuela, United States, Spain, Mexico, Great Britain, Iceland, Argentina, Uruguay, Bolivia and Colombia. The Guayaquil Historical Park will be the venue of panels, forums, ...

Brazil set to change mining rules

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 23:54:18 -0400

BRAZIL President Dilma Rousseff has proposed a new regulatory framework for mining in in the country, one of the world's biggest producers of iron, bauxite, gold, nickel, manganese and other ...

S. Sudan Could Drop Austerity Budget as Oil Flows

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 23:16:02 -0400

JUBA, SOUTH SUDAN -- South Sudan’s Council of Ministers has submitted a $5.6 billion dollar national budget to parliament for the new fiscal year, more than double the country’s current austerity budget. But officials warned that they are prepared to slash spending if oil production is shut down again over a new row with Sudan, which has accused Juba of backing rebels in the north ...

Hulk determined to win over Brazil fans

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 23:03:34 -0400

Brazil forward Hulk insists he is unaffected by jeers from the stands and has vowed to win over the hearts and minds of Brazilian supporters during the Confederations Cup.The Zenit St Petersburg star was booed during Brazil's friendlies against England and France earlier this month as fans called for him to be replaced by Paris Saint-Germain winger Lucas.But the 26-year-old saw a shift in ...

No clear signal on Paraguays reentry into Mercosur FM

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 23:03:25 -0400

Paraguay's Foreign Minister Jose Felix Fernandez Estigarribia said he has yet to see a "clear signal" from the South American Common Market (Mercosur) for his country's reentry a year after it was suspended from the trade bloc, local media reported Tuesday."The member countries said the sanctions against Paraguay would last until new elections are held. Elections have ...

Bolivia mulls state of emergency for drought

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 23:03:25 -0400

The Bolivian government on Tuesday discussed whether to declare a state of national emergency due to drought in the departments of Chuquisaca, Santa Cruz, Tarija and Cochabamba.The drought has caused the loss of 84,000 hectares of crops and affected 16,000 families.Deputy Minister of Civil Defense Oscar Cabrera said this week that a state of emergency would be based on the evaluation of ...

Samsung offers subsidies Asustek cuts prices to promote tablet sales in Brazil say local channels

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 23:01:43 -0400

To boost tablet sales in the Brazil market, Samsung Electronics has offered subsidies to its local sales agents to cover 30% of sales prices on average, while Asustek Computer has lowered retail prices by 15%, and possibly further to 30%, industry sources in Taiwan cited retail channels in Brazil as ...

4-year-old girl mauled by dog in Bolivia to fly to Boston for reconstructive surgery

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 22:42:16 -0400

Rosalia lies in a hospital bed in intensive care at the Children's Hospital in La Paz, Bolivia, Monday, June 17, 2013. The four-year girl who was attacked by a Rottweiler about 4 months ago, came out of her coma and will be transferred to a U.S. hospital in Boston for reconstructive face surgery. (AP Photo/Juan ...

Brazil congressional panel approves controversial bill that would allow gay cure treatments

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 22:42:10 -0400

BRASILIA, Brazil - A Brazilian congressional human rights committee on Thursday approved legislation that would allow psychologists to treat homosexuality as a disorder or pathology. The commission is led by evangelical pastor Marco Feliciano of the Social Christian Party, who has been accused of homophobia and enraged activists by calling AIDS a "gay cancer" in a tweet. His ...

Study Homosexual Community at Increased Risk for HIV

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 22:09:57 -0400

One of the challenges of fighting HIV around the world is the difficulty of reaching those at risk. A new study from South Africa indicates that the homosexual community is at increased risk for HIV, and that widespread homophobia may keep these men from receiving the information and care that they need. Gay men in Africa face extreme homophobia and violence within their communities, and in ...

New Head For US Central Bank

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 22:09:56 -0400

WASHINGTON -- U.S. President Barack Obama says Ben Bernanke has done an "outstanding" job leading the central bank and coping with the worst recession in decades. But some analysts say Obama is likely to appoint someone else to head the Federal Reserve in a few months. analysts have mixed opinions about Bernanke's efforts. President Obama praised Ben Bernanke during a recent ...

NASA Humans Could Visit Asteroid in 2021

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 22:09:56 -0400

The U.S. space agency says its proposed asteroid capture mission takes several of NASA's ongoing initiatives and aligns them for one major mission. These chunks of ancient space rocks hold clues about the formation of the universe, pose threats to our planet, and present new territory for explorers. NASA's proposed asteroid mission is a logical next leap for the space agency, says ...

Turkeys PM Hits Back at International Critics of Crackdown

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 22:09:56 -0400

LONDON -- The U.N. Commissioner for Human Rights has strongly criticized Turkey's crackdown on anti-government protests, joining the European Union in condemning the police response. But Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has hit back, defending the security forces and questioning the democratic legitimacy of his European critics. After weeks of anti-government demonstrations in cities ...

Blatter Brazil asked to host World Cup

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 21:58:01 -0400

FIFA president Sepp Blatter denied Tuesday that the Confederations Cup and World Cup are the causes for mass protests across Brazil.Demonstrations, which began last week in response to rises in public transport fares, have turned into a nation-wide rally against bad governance and corruption.Many marchers expressed their anger at the billions of dollars spent on new football stadiums for next ...

Cuban womens judo team to compete in Russia Brazil

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 21:57:59 -0400

Cuba's four-member women's judo team, led by Olympic champion Idalis Ortiz, will compete in Russia and Brazil, sports news website JIT said Tuesday.The women will first compete at the World Universiade of Kazan, Russia in July, then travel to France for training before attending the World Championship next August in Brazil, coach Ronaldo Veitia said."We will attend the 27 ...

Peru Earthquake 5.6 Magnitude Quake Shakes Lima

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 21:54:32 -0400

People look the "Christ of the Pacific", which overlooks Lima from the top of Morro Solar hill in Lima's district of Chorrillos. The 37-meters tall statue, partly funded by Peru's President Alan Garcia personal savings with the support of Brazilian entrepreneurs, was built to promote ...

Obama to Speak at Berlins Brandenburg Gate

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 21:02:57 -0400

BERLIN -- U.S. President Barack Obama is in Berlin, where he will speak Wednesday at the historic Brandenburg Gate and meet with German Chancellor Angela Merkel. The president arrived in Berlin after two days at the Group of Eight summit in Northern Ireland, where the leaders focused much of their attention on efforts to end the bloody conflict in Syria. Obama and six other world leaders ...

Berlins Brandenburg Gate Backdrop to Decades of US-Europe Ties

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 21:02:56 -0400

U.S. President Barack Obama is visiting Berlin this week, where he will speak at the historic Brandenburg Gate. The gate is not just one of Germany's emblematic symbols; it also chronicles the recent history of the European relationship with the United States. It has been the backdrop of U.S. presidential speeches in Germany for decades. The Brandenburg Gate is one of Berlin's ...

Brazil President Rousseff Salutes Protests

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 21:02:56 -0400

SAO PAULO -- President Dilma Rousseff on Tuesday sought to defuse a massive protest movement sweeping Brazil, acknowledging the need for better public services and more responsive governance as demonstrations continued in some cities around the country. Speaking the morning after more than 200,000 Brazilians marched in over a half-dozen cities, Rousseff said her government remains committed to ...

Chinese State Official Accused of Spending Lavishly on Mistress

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 21:02:56 -0400

A Chinese government official is facing accusations of supporting a mistress with extravagant spending beyond his modest salary, in the latest sex scandal to hit the ruling Communist Party. The scandal erupted Friday, when a 25-year-old female presenter for Chinese state television announced on her blog that she had a four-year affair with the deputy director of China's state archives, ...

Brazil Protests Sparked by Fare Hikes Police Violence

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 20:51:52 -0400

Thousands of protesters rallied across Brazil, demonstrating against issues ranging from higher bus fares to police violence, witnesses said. Organizers coordinated marches Monday in several major cities, including Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte and Brasilia, the national capital where some protesters group shimmied onto the roof of Congress, the Los Angeles Times reported. In ...

Moderate quake rattles Lima Peru

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 20:50:32 -0400

according to Reuters . There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries, but officials last week said Lima has 92 disaster-prone areas should the city experience a strong enough ...

Australia Iran and South Korea head for Brazil

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 20:47:20 -0400

Mehrdad Oladi, Masoud Shojaei, Mohammad Noori and Gholam Raza Rezaei of Iran celebrate qualifying for the 2014 Fifa World Cup following the World Cup Qualifier against South Korea at Munsu World Cup Stadium on June 18, 2013 in Ulsan, South Korea. ...

President salutes Brazil protests cities cut bus fares

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 20:45:08 -0400

Biggest protests in 20 years sweep Brazil President Dilma Rousseff sought to defuse a massive protest movement sweeping Brazil, acknowledging the need for better public services and more responsive governance as demonstrations continued in some cities around the country. Speaking on Tuesday, the morning after more than 200,000 Brazilians marched in over a half-dozen cities, Rousseff said her ...

US man pleads guilty to smuggling snakes on several planes from South America to US

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 20:29:29 -0400

TYLER, Texas - Samuel L. Jackson would have been cursing up a storm. A Texas man has pleaded guilty to smuggling snakes on several planes from South America to the United States. During a court hearing Wednesday in Tyler, William Lamar pleaded guilty to importing wildlife taken in violation of foreign law. Prosecutors say the 63-year-old eco-tourism guide bought the seven live snakes in August ...

Brazil lawmakers OK bill for treatment of gays

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 20:17:24 -0400

BRASILIA, Brazil (AP) -- A Brazilian congressional human rights committee on Thursday approved legislation that would allow psychologists to treat homosexuality as a disorder or ...

Pentagon to Allow Women in Key Combat Roles by 2016

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 19:56:53 -0400

PENTAGON -- The U.S. military says that within the next three years, it will put women in key combat roles from which they were previously excluded. American women have been serving in combat roles and hundreds have been killed on the front lines for years, but they have been excluded from key positions in areas including Special Operations and infantry. In January, then-Defense Secretary ...

US senators urge Kerry to review Honduras aid

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 19:52:28 -0400

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras -; U.S. senators are urging Secretary of State John Kerry to order a review of aid for Honduras' police and military amid allegations of abuse and human rights ...

Jamaica eyes expatriates as source of investment

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 19:52:27 -0400

KINGSTON, Jamaica -; In a bid to kick start Jamaica's chronically stagnant economy, the Caribbean country is wooing its citizens living abroad to invest in the island of their ...

Brazil rage spills onto the streets LIVE UPDATES

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 19:38:39 -0400

Violence Brazil has entered a second week of mass protests, with hundreds of thousands turning out in Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte, Brasilia and elsewhere. Unrest across the country has injured at least 100 and resulted in over 250 ...

Brazil seeks to take advantage of desperate Mexico

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 19:25:40 -0400

FORTALEZA, Brazil - Brazil wants to use Mexico's desperation to its advantage when the teams meet in the Confederations Cup on Wednesday.While Brazil opened with a convincing win over Japan, Mexico lost to Italy and needs a good result against the hosts to keep alive its hopes of advancing in the World Cup warm-up tournament.Brazilian players are hoping the Mexicans come out attacking at the ...

US Postal Service Unveils Music Icon Stamp Series

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 18:53:24 -0400

WASHINGTON -- Earlier this year, the U.S. postal service revealed plans for a new stamp set called Music Icons. The series shines the spotlight on three American originals. The first issue in the Music Icon series honored Lydia Mendoza, a pioneer of Tejano music, the style that comes from the Texas-Mexico border area. Lydia Mendoza was 18 years old when she walked into a San Antonio studio ...

Turks Embrace Silent Protests

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 18:53:22 -0400

Turkish anti-government demonstrators adopted a new type of protest Tuesday - silence. Hundreds of people joined performance artist Erdem Gunduz, who stood still and silent in Istanbul's Taksim Square for hours. Demonstrations in Istanbul and Ankara have for weeks been marked by violence, with police using tear gas and water cannons against demonstrators throwing rocks and gasoline ...

Pablo Milanes Returns to Argentina

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 18:47:37 -0400

Buenos Aires, Jun 18 (Prensa Latina) Cuban singer songwriter Pablo Milanes, one of the mainstays of the Nueva Trova movement, return to Argentina after two years to perform on September 26 at the Gran Rex theater in the capital. Milanes will presented to the Argentine public the CD "Renaissance", an album that offers a musical exploration around various Cuban rhythmic which has not been ...

Colombia Congress Approves Law Extending Military Privilege

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 18:37:25 -0400

Military forces of Colombia (Photo: Wikimedia) The House of Representatives adopted a controversial law on Monday 17th June which critics say will provide impunity for the army in cases of violence and human rights abuses. The law was adopted with a large majority after an eight hour debate. The law increases the scope of the military courts to includes cases of crimes against humanity, rape, ...

Thousands protest in Brazil over price hike for WC

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 18:28:16 -0400

Students attempt to enter the Government Palace, in Sao Paulo, Brazil on June 17, 2013. Tens of thousands of people took to the streets of major Brazilian cities protesting the billions of dollars spent on the Confederations Cup --and preparations for the upcoming World Cup-- and against the hike in mass transit fares. Photo AFP/Lehtikuva Hundreds of thousands of people demonstrated across Brazil ...

President to listen to Brazil protests

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 18:26:10 -0400

PRESIDENT Dilma Rousseff has vowed 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 ...

Confed Cup gets going in lively Brazil

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 18:22:10 -0400

With good spirit in the stadiums and protests outside, the Confederations Cup is underway in Brazil.It's a been long way from perfect but the first round of matches ended on Monday with favorites Brazil, Italy and Spain winning and the host nation getting an idea, in organizational terms, what it will have to improve on for the rest of the tournament - and for the World Cup a year from ...

Argentina Supreme Court rejects law that would put judicial system control up for popular vote

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 18:21:37 -0400

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina - Argentina's Supreme Court has struck down key elements of a judicial reform the government hoped would rapidly make the courts more responsive to majority rule. The court says it's unconstitutional to require direct popular elections for an expanded magistrates' council that hires and punishes judges. The law would have expanded the council from 13 to 19 ...

Some Aid Programs in Sahel Prefer Cash to Food

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 17:48:58 -0400

DIOURBEL, SENEGAL -- Humanitarian agencies in Africa's Sahel region are struggling to deal with a cycle of chronic food crisis. Some are moving away from traditional food aid in favor of "cash for work" programs that pay villagers to work on community improvement projects. The U.S. government is considering shifting as much as 45 percent of its $1.4 billion of traditional food aid ...

UN Says Libya Continues to Face Difficult Transition

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 17:48:57 -0400

NEW YORK -- A senior United Nations diplomat says Libya continues to face a difficult transition from the regime of Moammar Gadhafi, whose 42-year rule ended in ...

Analysis - Optimism fading Brazil protests put leaders on alert

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 17:47:25 -0400

Reuters © Brazil's President Dilma Rousseff speaks during a ceremony announcing Brazil's new mining bill at Planalto Palace in Brasilia June 18, 2013. REUTERS/Ueslei ...

Brazil Protests Continue Over Rising Public Transportation Costs and Government Spending on the World Cup Olympics

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 17:47:09 -0400

Protests continue in Brazil over the rising cost of public transportation and over the government’s massive spending to prepare venues for upcoming sporting events. While some of the protests have turned violent, many eyewitnesses say police have been using unnecessary force to crack down on the demonstrators. Anchor Marco Werman speaks with one of the protesters in Rio, attorney Marcia ...

Chile to Extradite Ex Judge Linked to Argentina Military Regime

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 17:43:09 -0400

Santiago, Chile, June 18 (Prensa Latina) Chilean Magistrate Sergio Muñoz authorized today the extradition to Argentina of ex judge Otilio Romano, accused of violating human rights during the military dictatorship of the late Gen. Jorge Rafael Videla (1976-1981.)The ruling of Munoz, a member of the Supreme Court of Justice, must be ratified now by the Fifth Criminal Court of the top ...

Argentina Goes to UN to Claim Sovereignty Over Falklands

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 17:43:07 -0400

Buenos Aires, June 18 (Prensa Latina) Argentinian Foreign Minister Hector Timerman will travel to New York Thursday to attend the session of the UN Special Committee on Decolonization, in which he will claim again his country's sovereignty over the Falkland Islands. Timerman will put forward his country's stand, ratifying its full willingness to find a peaceful solution to the dispute, ...

Colombia approves $583M for low-income housing

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 17:34:15 -0400

Colombia’s housing minister on Tuesday announced the government will invest $583 million for the building of 100.000 homes for low-income ...

CORRECTED OFFICIAL-UPDATE 2-Brazil mine bill proposes royalty hike

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 17:32:20 -0400

(Government corrects royalty figure to say it will be up to 4 percent with some exceptions in 8th and 9th paragraphs (not 0.5 percent to 4 percent) * Bill to require rights to be developed or lost * Introduces auction system for some mining prospects * Vale CEO says would have "major impact" on companies By Jeb Blount RIO DE JANEIRO, June 18 (Reuters) - Brazil, the world's ...

365 days on ice Assange still holed up in Ecuadors London Embassy

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 17:30:12 -0400

WikiLeaks Wikileaks founder Julian Assange took shelter in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London one year ago Wednesday, sparking a standoff with UK authorities that could leave the world-renowned whistleblower cooped up for years to come. When Assange first made his asylum bid 365 days ago, the tense standoff that ensued seemed likely to ignite an international incident. British authorities ...

Analysis-Optimism Fading Brazil Protests Put Leaders on Alert

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 17:23:50 -0400

RIO DE JANEIRO -- 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 ...

Brazil protesters keep up pressure on government

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 17:23:11 -0400

SAO PAULO (AP) -- Protest leaders called for another huge demonstration in Brazil's largest city Tuesday, building on historic turnouts spawned by widespread frustration over decades of government red tape, high prices and shoddy services even as the nation's economic fortunes have ...

Sao Paulo mayor meets with protest leaders says bus fare hike stays

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 17:10:04 -0400

The mayor of Sao Paulo Tuesday tried to defuse protests that started with a complaint a week ago against city bus fares and blossomed into a national movement. In an attempt to head off another round of anti-government protests in Brazil's largest city Tuesday night, Mayor Fernando Haddad met during the morning with representatives of the protest movement, but said revoking the 10-cent ...

Brazils urban young get their Anna Hazare moment

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 17:05:45 -0400

Anna Hazare was making headlines with his fast at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi, a group of Brazilians, wearing Gandhi caps, appeared on the Copacabana beach here in support of India's fight against corruption. It was not just an act of solidarity with a fellow emerging country, it was also an indication of things to come. On Monday, two weeks of protests against the 20 ...

Red Cross Guantanamo reports sought in 911 case

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 17:04:06 -0400

GUANTANAMO BAY NAVAL BASE, Cuba (AP) -- The International Committee of the Red Cross urged a military judge Tuesday to refuse a request to open its confidential communications with U.S. officials about conditions at Guantanamo Bay to the lawyers for the prisoners charged in the Sept. 11 terror ...

US House Wont Consider Immigration Bill Unless Republicans Back It

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 16:42:33 -0400

People shout out against the Strengthen and Fortify Enforcement Act in the hall outside the House Judiciary Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, June 18, ...

US Agriculture Industry Opposes Changes to Food Aid Program

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 16:42:32 -0400

CAMBRIA, WISCONSIN -- The Food for Peace program costs about $1.5 billion annually and provides U.S.-grown food to countries in need. But President Barack Obama’s proposed 2014 budget includes changes to the 59-year-old program - replacing some commodity shipments with direct cash purchases in foreign countries. While some aid agencies welcome the proposed changes, farmers and millers in ...

Iranians Observers Wonder How Rowhani Was Allowed to Win

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 16:42:32 -0400

W hen tens of thousands of Iranians took to the streets to celebrate Hassan Rowhani's presidential victory last weekend, one chant stood out: "Dictator! Thank you!" In the back of their minds, the protesters must have been asking themselves the same thing surprised Iran observers are wondering: Why would Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the "dictator" who has ...

More than 500.000 Tourists Visited Colombia This Year

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 16:36:36 -0400

Bogota, Jun 18 (Prensa Latina) More than 534.000 tourists, mostkly from the United States, Argentina, and Venezuela, visited Colombia from January to April, 2013, announced the Minister of Trade, Industry, and Tourism. According to the minister, Sergio Díaz-Granados, the amount of travelers exceeded 3.9 percent in relation with the same period of 2012. This increase, he said, demonstrates ...

UPDATE 1-Brazils Votorantim Cimentos scraps IPO as market conditions sour

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 16:31:51 -0400

Tue Jun 18, 2013 4:31pm EDT * Brazilian cement maker's offer was expected to raise $4.8 bln * Shareholders were unwilling to sell stock at discount By Guillermo Parra-Bernal SAO PAULO, June 18 (Reuters) - Votorantim Cimentos SA, Brazil's largest cement producer, and shareholders canceled a $4.8 billion initial public offering, a source with direct knowledge of the situation said on ...

Colombia’s gay population has no right to marriage or family Catholic Church

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 16:28:05 -0400

Gay couples can not claim a right to family or marriage as these are ';based on fundamental laws of nature,'; Colombia’s Catholic Church said Tuesday in a fierce attack on pending gay rights ...

Socceroos Brazil-bound after late goal secures World Cup spot

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 16:25:48 -0400

Sydney 2000 Socceroos coach Holger Osieck has described qualifying for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil as a "beautiful feeling" and vindication of his methods.Australia beat Iraq 1-0 in a tense, nervy affair at Sydney's Olympic stadium last night thanks to an 83rd-minute headed goal from substitute Josh ...

Quake shakes Perus capital of Lima

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 16:11:39 -0400

LIMA (Reuters) - A moderate earthquake shook buildings in Peru's capital on Tuesday but there were no reported injuries or damage, Reuters witnesses and safety officials ...

WikiLeaks trial focuses on whether Tweets meet evidence standards

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 16:11:39 -0400

FORT MEADE, Maryland (Reuters) - The court-martial of the U.S. soldier accused of providing reams of classified documents to WikiLeaks in a case illustrating the challenge of keeping secrets in the digital age must decide whether tweets and Web pages can be admitted as ...

Brazil disgust as sport spotlights squeezed services

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 16:11:04 -0400

Brazil’s middle class are demanding that public services be given a higher priority than football. The country is gearing up to host a global event for that next year; the sport is one step short of worship for millions of Brazilians; but while hospital and school budgets go hungry, many are furious that 11 billion euros is being spent preparing for the Confederation Cup. What lit the ...

Brazil-Mexico Preview Selecao gunning for semi-final berth

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 16:06:02 -0400

Luiz Felipe Scolari is spoilt for choice ahead of Brazil's second Confederations Cup game against Mexico at the Castelao. With the Selecao in fine form during their comprehensive 3-0 victory in Group A's opener against Japan, and star player Neymar expected to shake off a minor knock picked up in the game, the 64-year-old's main concern is deciding if to change a winning formula. ...

Taliban Opens Office For Talks with US Afghan Government

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 15:36:35 -0400

Muhammad Naeem (L), a spokesman for the Office of the Taliban of Afghanistan, speaks during the opening of the Taliban Afghanistan Political Office in Doha, June 18, ...

Security Transfer Sparks Pride Concern Among Afghans

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 15:36:35 -0400

ISLAMABAD -- Afghans welcomed their national forces taking responsibility of security across the country, ending 12 years of US and NATO-led control. Many are concerned about the Afghan security forces’ logistic capabilities to face down violent militant networks operating in the country. Barely an hour before a simple closed door ceremony was held here in Kabul marking the transfer of ...

Senior US General Encouraged by News of Taliban Talks

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 15:36:35 -0400

PENTAGON -- The White House announced Tuesday that U.S. representatives will open direct talks with Taliban representatives in Doha, Qatar, within the next few days, aimed at finding a political solution to the Afghan war. The announcement is being welcomed by the commander of U.S. and coalition forces in Afghanistan, U.S. Marine General Joseph Dunford. General Dunford said his forces had no ...

Berlin Program Helps Minorities Enter Workforce

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 15:36:34 -0400

BERLIN -- German Chancellor Angela Merkel caused a stir three years ago when she declared the country's integration policies a failure. Since that time, though, several new programs have sprung up with the aim of giving immigrants a fair shot at a career in Europe's largest economy. One such program is called "Berlin Needs You," and it has been successful placing minority ...

HRW Tanzanian Police Abuses Block HIV Progress

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 15:36:33 -0400

a report published Tuesday by Human Rights Watch . According to the new findings, widespread police abuse against sex workers, drug users, and men who have sex with men is a major hindrance in tackling the spread of the deadly virus. "Key populations are not being reached," says Human Rights Watch researcher Neela Ghoshal. "Sex workers are beaten and raped by police, often ...

US-EU Set to Pursue Trade Deal Possibly World’s Biggest

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 15:36:33 -0400

LONDON -- At the G8 Summit in Britain, President Barack Obama and European leaders announced the start of an effort to reach what is being called the biggest trade deal in history. Officials are focusing on regional trade agreements because the long effort to reach a new global trade deal is stalled. British Prime Minister David Cameron stood with U.S. President Barack Obama and European Union ...

Upward Mobility in Brazil and the Quest for Higher Education

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 15:34:40 -0400

The Rio State Rural Federal University campus in Nova Iguacu was built between 2006 and 2010. (Photo: Jason Margolis) Brazil is commonly referred to as an "emerging economy," along with countries like China and India. But to get past that hurdle, Siquera said a better metric of middle class growth is: Can deserving kids go to college? For the vast majority of Brazilians, the answer ...

Confederations Cup Host Brazil not looking back in history Marcelo says

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 15:34:37 -0400

FORTALEZA, Brazil // Brazil left-back Marcelo says his side will not be seeking revenge when they renew acquaintance with Mexico in their second game of the Confederations Cup in Fortaleza on Wednesday. The last encounter between teams representing the two countries saw Mexico shock the five-time world champions with a 2-1 win in the final of the men's football competition at ...

Deals with troubled Brazil firms smell of cronyism

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 15:34:10 -0400

Brazil is keeping its oil troubles a domestic affair. First, struggling local tycoon Eike Batista tapped Sao Paulo-based BTG Pactual for a lifeline. Now, the investment bank led by Andre Esteves has emerged as the unlikely buyer of assets from state-controlled Petrobras. The sketchy details on both deals only add to the unhealthy aura of crony ...

Brazil protests catch authorities on the back foot

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 15:24:24 -0400

New generation radicalised as protests sparked by fury at bus fare hike mushroom into vast rallies against failing public services and cost of World ...

Brazil here we come Iran fans sing

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 15:23:35 -0400

Iran .Footage aired on state television showed similar outpourings of joy around the country.In Tehran, residents waved the green-white-red national flag while motorists honked their horns and bikers sped through the capital to join the ...

Massive Wave of Protestors Flood Brazils Streets

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 15:20:49 -0400

Some of the largest protests in 20 years are breaking out across Brazil as more than 100,000 people took to the streets frustrated by poor transportation, health services, education, and taxes. A hike in bus prices ignited the initial protests, but the flame was fanned after images were released of Sao Paulo police beating demonstrators and firing rubber bullets during a peaceful march Sunday. ...

Magnitude 5.6 quake shakes Perus capital

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 15:18:13 -0400

Source: ISTOCKPHOTO A 5.6 magnitude earthquake has shaken buildings in Peru's capital, local geologists and witnesses report. There were no immediate reports of injuries or damages from the quake centred in the Pacific Ocean about 73 kilometres west of the city. More details to ...

Upbeat Super Eagles Arrive Salvador Ready For Uruguay

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 15:16:42 -0400

African champions Nigeria arrived in Salvador, north-eastern Brazil today ahead of their much-hyped clash with South American champions Uruguay on Thursday. Salvador, the capital of Bahia State, is home to about 2.7 million people and is Brazil’s third most populous city. It was Brazil’s first capital city until 1763. It is also regarded as the black capital of Latin America, as more ...

Brazils Votorantim Cimentos suspends IPO plans -source

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 15:15:37 -0400

SAO PAULO, June 18 | Tue Jun 18, 2013 3:15pm EDT SAO PAULO, June 18 (Reuters) - Votorantim Cimentos SA, Brazil's largest cement producer, and shareholders canceled plans to list shares on Sao Paulo's stock exchange, a source with direct knowledge of the situation said on Tuesday, citing deteriorating market conditions. The source, who declined to be named because the decision has ...

Brazil kicks off World Cup excess draws hundreds of thousands to street protests

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 15:14:59 -0400

When the Fifa president Sepp Blatter announced in 2007 that next year's World Cup would be staged in Brazil, he predicted it would have "a big social and cultural impact". It has, but not in the way he expected. Instead of uniting Brazil in celebration, football's biggest prize, which is returning after 54 years to the country that has won it more times than any other, is ...

Monthly bus fare is 26 of your income if you make minimum wage in Brazil

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 15:08:22 -0400

we noted earlier today , the bus fare hike was merely the last straw in a long list of public grievances about the shaky Brazilian economy. But it’s worth noting that Sao Paulo’s bus riders are being majorly squeezed by fares. A fare price that sounds pretty minuscule in dollar terms actually takes up a huge chunk of Brazilian incomes for those at the bottom (and presumably, those ...