Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Peru clash over Newmont mine kills three
(Reuters) - Three people were killed and 21 injured on Tuesday when Peruvian police clashed with protesters opposed to a $5 billion gold mine planned by Newmont Mining, officials in the northern region of Cajamarca said.The fatalities were the first in Cajamarca since protests against the mine started there late last year and the government has responded by suspending freedom of assembly to quell clashes between police, soldiers and protesters.
"I don't think we Peruvians should tolerate bad apples who incite violence that ends up causing deaths," Prime Minister Oscar Valdes said.
Most of the victims were being treated in the city of Cajamarca and the town of Celendin - the flashpoint of violence between 2,000 protesters and police and near where the U.S. company plans to build the biggest mine in Peruvian history.
The interior ministry said two of the injured were police officers who were shot by gun-carrying protesters who also threw rocks, damaged public buildings and were repelled with tear gas.
"Unfortunately there are three dead ... from gunshot wounds," Miguel Castillo, a regional judicial official, said on RPP radio. Read More
Amelia Earhart's plane Hunt
July 3 - Seeking to chronicle Amelia Earhart's fate 75 years after she disappeared over the Pacific, the hunt is on to find the wreckage of her plane. Deborah Lutterbeck reports.
Dark economic clouds gather anew over Obama campaign
(Reuters) - After a month in which his re-election campaign picked up momentum, hard economic realities are about to hit President Barack Obama as he takes to the road on a campaign bus trip through the Rust Belt.Poor manufacturing data earlier this week followed by a likely weak jobless report on Friday are reminding Obama that he has a lot of work to do to convince voters he is bringing the economy back to full health.
A Supreme Court victory for Obama on healthcare and a surprise expansion of immigration laws that put Republican opponent Mitt Romney on the defensive on the issue may soon fade from memory.
"By Friday, the Supreme Court will be in the rear-view mirror and everybody will be talking about the state of the economy," said Greg Valliere, an analyst for institutional investors at Potomac Research Group.
"I think the debate on Friday will be whether the economy is still growing or whether we've hit a brick wall," he said. Read More
George Osborne accused of linking innocent banks to Libor scandal
George Osborne last night stood accused of being reckless when he wrongly named two major banks as being under investigation for the Libor rate-fixing scandal.As Barclays' share price plunged more than 20 per cent after revelations of its involvement in the scandal, the Chancellor stood up in parliament and, in what appeared to be a scripted answer to a question from a Conservative MP, named four other banks being investigated in the UK.
The statement was made on Thursday, 24 hours after the Barclays fines were announced, giving the Chancellor plenty of time to get his facts right.
The Independent reported yesterday how HSBC was furious to have been named when it, in fact, was not being investigated by the UK authorities. Now it has emerged that one of the other banks Mr Osborne cited, Citigroup, is also not under investigation. Read More
Note: I would hardly call these banks Innocent, HSBC was fined 10.5 Million in 2011 for ripping of the over 80's
Pakistan agrees to reopen NATO supply routes after US apology
A carefully worded statement from Hillary Rodham Clinton ends a costly, seven-month standoff between two uneasy allies.The U.S. and Pakistan resolved a bitter seven-month standoff when Washington apologized for killing two dozen Pakistani soldiers in errant airstrikes and, in return, Islamabad agreed to reopen crucial supply routes for American and coalition military forces in Afghanistan.
The deal Tuesday ends a diplomatic deadlock that brought U.S. relations with the nuclear-armed South Asian nation to a near standstill, cost the U.S. and its allies $100 million a month in extra transport fees, hindered counter-terrorism operations against Pakistan-based militants and added hurdles to the planned withdrawal of NATO forces from Afghanistan.
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton phoned Pakistan's foreign minister, Hina Rabbani Khar, and said she was sorry for the deaths caused when U.S. combat helicopters and fighter jets mistakenly attacked two Pakistani border posts Nov. 26.
"We are sorry for the losses suffered by the Pakistani military," Clinton said, according to a State Department release that recounted her conversation with Khar. "We are committed to working closely with Pakistan and Afghanistan to prevent this from ever happening again." Read More
Bob Diamond faces showdown with MPs
Former Barclays boss Bob Diamond is to make an explosive appearance before MPs after dragging senior Bank of England and government figures into the rate-rigging scandal.A newly-released record of a phone call has sparked questions about whether the Bank's deputy governor Paul Tucker encouraged improper behaviour. Mr Tucker also allegedly told Mr Diamond "senior Whitehall figures" had suggested to him that Barclays should not be reporting such high interbank lending rates.
The dramatic disclosure came hours after Mr Diamond announced his resignation as chief executive with immediate effect, ending a stellar 16-year career with the bank. The details of his exit package are still being thrashed out - with reports that he will be asked to give up nearly £20 million in unvested shares.
The American banker is now expected to "speak more freely" when he gives evidence to the Treasury Select Committee. His daughter Nell has seemingly vented her anger on Twitter, posting a lewd jibe at Chancellor George Osborne and Labour leader Ed Miliband, who welcomed her father's departure.
Much attention at the Commons hearing will focus on a key conversation between the bank chief and Mr Tucker about Libor rates at the height of the credit crunch in 2008. Read More
Madeleine May Be Alive According to Former Top Detective
A former detective investigates the possible explanations for Madeleine McCann's disappearance.A former top Scotland Yard detective has written a detailed analysis of the Madeleine McCann mystery and explains why he believes there is a good chance she is alive.
Ian Horrocks visited the holiday resort where the toddler vanished and examined police files and media reports.
Drawing on 30 years' experience investigating murder, kidnap and sex crimes he considers all the possible explanations for her disappearance.
He explains why his belief that murder or kidnap by a paedophile ring or individual are less likely and totally rules out Madeleine's parents' involvement or an accident. Read More
Search For Missing Tornado Crew Called Off
Bad weather brings ends the search for two airmen missing after a pair of RAF jets crash off the coast of Scotland.Rescue teams will resume the search later for two RAF airmen who went missing after a pair of Tornado jets crashed off the north coast of Scotland.
Four personnel from RAF Lossiemouth were involved in the incident, in which the Tornado GR4s came down in the Moray Firth on Tuesday.
A rescue helicopter picked up two people who were taken to hospital in Inverness.
A Ministry of Defence spokesman confirmed the search for the remaining airmen had been suspended at around 7.30pm last night.
Aberdeen coastguard contacted the RNLI for assistance at about 1.50pm after reports that the jets came down about 25 miles south of Wick.
About 15 lifeboat volunteers joined the rescue operation in boats from Wick, Invergordon and Buckie, the RNLI said.
The boats headed for the Beatrice oil field area, supported by a helicopter from Stornoway in the Western Isles. Read More
4.6 Magnitude Earthquake KURIL ISLANDS - 4th July 2012
A magnitude 4.6 earthquake has struck the KURIL ISLANDS at a depth of 74.8 km (46.5 miles), the quake hit at 02:37:47 UTC Wednesday 4th July 2012The epicenter was 30 km (18.6 miles) West of Shikotan, Russia
No Tsunami Warning Issued - No Reports of Damage or Injuries at this time
4.2 Magnitude Earthquake RAT ISLANDS, ALEUTIAN ISLANDS, ALASKA - 4th July 2012
A magnitude 4.2 earthquake has struck the RAT ISLANDS, ALEUTIAN ISLANDS, ALASKA at a depth of 55.5 km (34.5 miles), the quake hit at 00:29:46 UTC Wednesday 4th July 2012The epicenter was 86 km (53 miles) SSE of Buldir Island, Alaska
No Tsunami Warning Issued - No Reports of Damage or Injuries at this time
4.8 Magnitude Earthquake WEST OF MACQUARIE ISLAND - 4th July 2012
A magnitude 4.8 earthquake has struck WEST OF MACQUARIE ISLAND at a depth of 10.3 km (6.4 miles), the quake hit at 00:04:00 UTC Wednesday 4th July 2012The epicenter was 1808 km (1123 miles) South from Hobart, Australia
No Tsunami Warning Issued - No Reports of Damage or Injuries at this time
4.4 Magnitude Earthquake LEYTE, PHILIPPINES - 3rd July 2012
A magnitude 4.4 earthquake has struck LEYTE, PHILIPPINES at a depth of 192.4 km (119.6 miles), the quake hit at 21:59:57 UTC Tuesday 3rd July 2012The epicenter was 11 km (6.8 miles) North of Dinagat, Philippines
No Tsunami Warning Issued - No Reports of Damage or Injuries at this time
4.8 Magnitude Earthquake WESTERN XIZANG - 3rd July 2012
A magnitude 4.8 earthquake has struck WESTERN XIZANG at a depth of 10 km (6.2 miles), the quake hit at 19:11:41 UTC Tuesday 3rd July 2012The epicenter was 294 km (182.2 miles) North of Khandbari, Nepal
No Reports of Damage or Injuries at this time
Iran launches dozens of 'Long-Range' missiles, attack 'Mock Enemy Bases'
During what is called "The Great Prophet 7" drills, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) "targeted and destroyed hypothetical bases of ultra-regional forces set up in desert areas," according to Iran's Islamic Republic News Agency. The reports did not identify the "ultra-regional forces" but alluded to the ongoing diplomatic conflict between Iran and the U.S., which has several major military installations in the region.
"The main aim of this drill was to demonstrate the Iranian nation's political resolve to defend [its] vital values and national interests," IRGC Brig. Gen. Hossein Salami said, according to another state-run news outlet, Press TV. Press TV paraphrased Salami's description of the drills as a "firm response to those who threaten Iran with the option of military action."
The United States and Israel have for years been locked in a struggle with Iran over its nuclear enrichment program and the leaders of both the Israeli and American governments have said that any option -- including military action -- was "on the table" should it become clear Iran is pursuing nuclear weapons. Iranian officials have denied the nation seeks nuclear weapons and said Iran is only enriching uranium for domestic nuclear power purposes. more
Cuban cholera outbreak 'kills three'
Havana, Cuba (CNN) -- A cholera outbreak in eastern Cuba has infected 53 people and killed three, according to a Cuban Health Ministry note published by state media Tuesday.Cholera, a bacterial infection of the small intestine, causes severe diarrhea and vomiting in infected people.
The outbreak took place in Granma province, according to the Health Ministry, after approximately 1,000 cases of severe diarrhea were reported there over the last several weeks.
As a result, the ministry said several drinking wells in the area were contaminated.
Of the 53 confirmed cases of cholera, the Health Ministry reported, three people died. The victims were 66, 70 and 95 years old. All three had prior health problems and further tests were being conducted to determine their exact causes of death, the Health Ministry said.
The outbreak was centered in Manzanillo, a city with a population of about 130,000. Read More
Judge orders Twitter to turn over Occupy protester's tweets
(CNN) -- You probably think your tweets aren't of any interest to the government. After all, most 140-character posts are public, often detailing nothing more interesting than snarky jokes or links to adorable cat videos on YouTube.However, courts are increasingly subpoenaing Twitter for data on its users that can be used in criminal and civil cases.
That's what happened to editor Malcolm Harris. On Monday, New York Criminal Court Judge Matthew A. Sciarrino ordered Twitter to turn over Harris' tweets and data from a three-and-a-half-month period, striking down the company's request to quash a subpoena from the Manhattan district attorney.
Twitter claimed that complying with the request would violate United States privacy laws.
The case itself is over a minor charge that normally wouldn't draw much attention. Brooklyn resident Harris was arrested along with 700 other people during an Occupy Wall Street march on the Brooklyn Bridge's roadway on October 1, 2011, and charged with disorderly conduct. Read More
Protest halts construction of copper plant in southwestern China
Beijing (CNN) -- Bowing to intense pressure from local residents, authorities in a southwestern Chinese city abandoned plans to build a controversial billion-dollar chemical plant, the local government announced Tuesday afternoon.Earlier -- defying government orders -- residents of Shifang, in Sichuan Province, continued to rally against the planned construction of a molybdenum copper plant despite an official pledge to halt the project, a protester told CNN.
The crowd on the streets thinned considerably after anti-riot police forcibly broke up thousands of protesting residents Monday afternoon, said the protester, who asked that her name not be used for fear of government reprisal.
Widely circulated images on Chinese social media sites showed police dispersing unarmed protesters with batons and tear gas, and included images of residents -- including women and the elderly -- covered in blood.
In several statements, the Shifang government said 13 residents suffered minor injuries in the clashes Monday but denied anyone had died. Warning residents to end the "illegal protests" immediately, authorities also defended police actions as a last-resort response to an increasingly unruly mob. Read More
IMF warns on U.S. economy
NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- Boost the U.S. economy now and worry about cutting deficits later, the International Monetary Fund recommended Tuesday.The U.S. recovery remains "tepid" and according to the IMF, is expected to grow only 2% this year. Meanwhile, the fiscal cliff looms in 2013, threatening to reduce the economy's growth to only 1% next year.
Meanwhile, the IMF predicts the job market will improve only at a snail's pace. It expects the unemployment rate to average 8.2% this year and 7.9% in 2013.
Amid that weakness and threats from slower growth abroad, the IMF recommended U.S. policymakers spend more on infrastructure, worker training programs, extended unemployment benefits and fixes for the housing market. Read More
Bomb in car kills two policemen in northern Mexico
(Reuters) - An explosive device blew up a car in the northern Mexican city of Ciudad Victoria on Tuesday, killing two policemen and injuring another four in an attack that bore the hallmarks of drug cartels, police said.The improvised bomb, two days after a presidential election, was revenge for recent arrests of gang members, the attorney general's office for Tamaulipas state said in a news release.
It went off shortly after midnight outside the home of the Tamaulipas security secretary, where the policemen stood guard, the release said.
Army bomb experts had sealed the scene and were determining the type of explosive materials used.
The device had been packed into a Ford Focus that had been parked outside for several days and was likely set off by a cell phone, local media reported. Read More
