August 26, 2015 nº 1,663 - Vol. 13
"The hardest thing in life is to know which bridge to cross and which to burn."
David Russell
Read Migalhas LatinoAmérica in Spanish every Tuesday and Thursday. Visit the website at www.migalhas.com/latinoamerica
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Federal appeals court: FTC has power to regulate corporate data-security practices
The US Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit on Monday upheld a ruling against defendant Wyndham Worldwide Corporation, essentially granting the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) the power to regulate corporate cybersecurity. In 2012, the FTC filed suit against Wyndham in the US District Court for the District of Arizona, alleging unfair and deceptive practices in relation to three data breaches in 2008 and 2009 that led to more than $10 million in fraudulent charges. The case was transferred to the US District Court for the District of New Jersey, where the court denied a motion to dismiss filed by Wyndham on the basis that the FTC lacks the power to regulate cybersecurity, or in the alternative that Wyndham was not given fair notice that their actions were in violation of 15 USC § 45(a) as deceptive or unfair trade practices. Despite ruling, the district court certified the question of fairness to the appeals court. Writing for the appeals court, Judge Thomas Ambro stated, "we have little trouble rejecting Wyndham's fair notice claim" after considering Wyndham's failure to use available cybersecurity measures even after being the victim of hacking on multiple occasions. The case will now continue in the district court, where Wyndham has vowed to continue to challenge the FTC's exercise of power.
UN special rapporteur urges EU to create new migration policy
UN Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Migrants François Crépeau on Tuesday urged the European Union (EU) to create a new human-rights-minded migration policy to empower migrants and solve the issue of human smuggling in the Eurozone. Crépeau said he believes that the EU has not been handling the current migration issues properly and that more needs to be done as movement of individuals across Eurozone borders will inevitably continue. He also criticized many of the methods currently used by the EU,"[b]uilding fences, using tear gas and other forms of violence against migrants and asylum seekers, detention, withholding access to basics such as shelter, food or water and using threatening language or hateful speech will not stop migrants from coming or trying to come to Europe." Crépeau said that in order for the EU to control its borders more efficiently, it must accept the migration issue and work to help those who are seeking asylum. Crépeau also noted the need for countries to combat the discrimination against migrants as well as their exploitation in underground labor markets.
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Will China's economic slowdown solution work?
China's stock market fell sharply and the country's central bank has reduced interest rates to try and help the situation. Growth in China has been fuelled for many years by rising levels of debt and of a slowdown in growth has led to market turmoil. The lack of large, experienced and professional organizations as investors means that the market can be much more volatile.
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Venezuela - China
Debido a la caída de los precios del petróleo, el Gobierno de Venezuela se ve obligado a enviar más barriles a China, para cubrir el saldo de la deuda que mantiene con ese país a través del Fondo Conjunto.
(Presione aquí)
Tren
Con un comercio anual de casi US$ 600.000 mlls., México y Estados Unidos inauguraron la primera conexión férrea entre ambos países en más de un siglo en Brownsville, una ciudad en la frontera de Texas. El Paso Ferroviario Occidental (West Rail Bypass International Bridge) conectará a Brownsville, en Estados Unidos, con Matamoros, su vecina al otro lado de la frontera, y a través de la vía se transportará carga entre los dos países. El proyecto se concretiza después de cinco años de su diseño.
Minería
La minera de cobre chilena Antofagasta Plc buscará recortar costos por alrededor de US$160 mlls. este año e informó que sus gastos de capital probablemente serán menores de lo estimado, dado que la caída de los precios de los metales impactó sus resultados semestrales. (Presione aquí)
Ventas
Anglo American vende dos minas chilenas de cobre a la firma de inversión Audley Capital en una operación por US$ 300 mlls. Así la minera pretende bajar el endeudamiento en su hoja de balance para combatir un retroceso global en los precios de las materias primas. Orion Mine Finance Group es el principal co-inversor de Audley en las minas a tajo abierto Mantos Blancos y Mantoverde.
California lawmakers approve drone trespassing bills
California lawmakers on Monday approved two bills intended to regulate drones. The Assembly voted 43-11 in favor of a bill that would make it a crime to fly a drone over private property without permission. The Senate voted 40-0 to approve a bill targeted a paparazzi that would make it a crime to use a drone to take pictures or video on private property. Both bills return to the other chamber for a final vote.
Global selloff puts a record year for deal making under threat
The global stocks selloff could find its next victim in this year's booming market for mergers and acquisitions. Deal making activity, which was on track to pass $3 trillion this year and potentially surpass 2007's record, may slow down as the wave of selling erodes executives' confidence in pursuing growth via M&A or initial public offerings. Deals with some stock component, which account for more than half of all pending takeovers, could be particularly at risk. "The huge stock market selloff and concerns about China's actual growth rates will likely have an adverse effect in forthcoming M&A deals and IPOs," said Richard Cranfield at law firm Allen & Overy LLP in London. "Those deals that are being negotiated but aren't public yet will become vulnerable." As companies' stock market valuations fluctuate, all-share proposals -- or those expected to be paid for predominantly with stock -- may be most vulnerable.
Ferguson judge orders substantial changes to court system
A new Municipal Court judge in Ferguson, Missouri, on Tuesday ordered sweeping reforms of courtroom practices following a damning federal report of racial bias. Judge Donald McCullin handed down an order to withdraw all arrest warrants issued before December 31, 2014, as well as modifications to the city's pre-trial release conditions. Under the new system, defendants going through pre-trial release will be given new court dates with alternative arrangements, such as payment plans or community service. In the event of arrest warrants resulting from minor traffic violations, defendants will not be incarcerated, but will instead be given another court date. The move comes after a critical Department of Justice (DOJ) report that accused the city's police and courts of racial bias by disproportionately burdening African-Americans with the use of excessive force, jail terms, traffic stops, and fines.
Carbon credits undercut climate change actions says report
The vast majority of carbon credits generated by Russia and Ukraine did not represent cuts in emissions, according to a new study. The authors say that offsets created under a UN scheme "significantly undermined" efforts to tackle climate change. The credits may have increased emissions by 600 million tons. In some projects, chemicals known to warm the climate were created and then destroyed to claim cash. As a result of political horse trading at UN negotiations on climate change, countries like Russia and the Ukraine were allowed to create carbon credits from activities like curbing coal waste fires, or restricting gas emissions from petroleum production. Under the UN scheme, called Joint Implementation, they then were able to sell those credits to the European Union's carbon market. Companies bought the offsets rather than making their own more expensive, emissions cuts. But this study, from the Stockholm Environment Institute, says the vast majority of Russian and Ukrainian credits were in fact, "hot air" - no actual emissions were reduced.
Syria 'confident' of Iranian and Russian support
The Syrian President, Bashar al-Assad, has said he is confident he has the continuing support of key allies Iran and Russia. A fresh push is under way to resolve Syria's four-year conflict, leading to speculation Assad could be forced out to reach a settlement. But Assad said Russia and Iran did not abandon their friends. Meanwhile France has said that that the "neutralization" of the Syrian leader was essential to ending the crisis. Francois Hollande said: "We must reduce the terrorist influence without maintaining Assad. The two are bound up together."
Illegal workers 'may face six months' jail'
People who work illegally in England and Wales will face up to six months in prison, under proposals to be included in the forthcoming Immigration Bill. The bill, to be introduced in the autumn, will also contain measures against takeaway restaurants and off-licences which employ illegal migrants. Penalties will also include an unlimited fine and wages being seized. Immigration Minister James Brokenshire said the government "would continue to crack down on abuse" of the system.
Ashley Madison: 'suicides' over website hack
Two individuals associated with the leak of Ashley Madison customer details are reported to have taken their lives, according to police in Canada. Ashley Madison's Canadian parent company Avid Life Media is offering a C$500,000 reward for information on the hackers. Details of more than 33m accounts were stolen from the website, which offers users the chance to have an affair. Addressing the hackers, known as The Impact Team, acting staff superintendent Bryce Evans of the Toronto police said: "I want to make it very clear to you your actions are illegal and we will not be tolerating them. This is your wake-up call." The breach was "very sophisticated", said Detective Menard from the technological crime unit of Toronto Police.
Why your doctor won't friend you on Facebook
Physicians generally draw a line: Public professional pages – focused on medicine, similar to those other businesses offer – are catching on. Some might email with patients. But doctors aren't ready to share vacation photos and other more intimate details with patients, or even to advise them on medication or treatment options via private chats. They're hesitant to blur the lines between personal lives and professional work and nervous about the privacy issues that could arise in discussing specific medical concerns on most Internet platforms. The American Medical Association notes social media can be a valuable way to spread health information, but urged doctors in its 2010 guidelines to separate their personal and professional online identities to "maintain professional boundaries."
Why phone fraud starts with a silent call
According to the Federal Trade Commission, these robocalls are on the rise because Internet-powered phones make it cheap and easy for scammers to make illegal calls from anywhere in the world. That initial call you get, with silence on the other end, is essentially the first of the reconnaissance calls that these fraudsters do.. They're trying to see: Are they getting a human on the other end? You even cough and it knows you're there. The next step is gathering information about your bank or credit card account. You get a call with a prerecorded voice that tells you, for example, "we're]calling with an important message about your debit card. If you are the cardholder please stay on the line and press 1. Otherwise please have the cardholder call us at 1-877..." If you're thinking about ignoring it, the message tries to scare you into paying attention with a warning: "A temporary hold may have been placed on your account and will be removed upon verification of activity." That number leads to another automated system that prompts you to share personal details like your date of birth, your card number and secure PIN, the expiration date, your Social Security number. It can be tricky because many real banks have a similar system. The FTC is trying to combat the rising number of illegal automated phone calls. The FTC recommends that consumers "just hang up" on the robocalls.
El Salvador supreme court rules street gangs are terrorist groups
El Salvador's Supreme Court ruled Monday that the country's street gangs and those who support them financially will now be classified as terrorist groups. The ruling was made as part of a denial of attempts to challenge the constitutionality of the El Salvador's Special Law Against Terrorist Acts. The court defined terrorism as the "organized and systematic exercise of violence," placing any gang which attempts to claim state powers in that category. The freezing of funds belonging to those tied to terrorist groups was also deemed constitutional by the court.
PLO ordered to post $10 million bond in terrorism case
The Palestinian Authority and the PLO were ordered to post a $10 million bond and make monthly payments of $1 million while they challenge a $655 million New York jury award to terrorism victims. Lawyers for the victims had asked a judge to order the Palestinian Authority and the Palestinian Liberation Organization to pay $30 million a month as security until a decision on the appeal is made -- an amount the US warned could bring down the Palestinian government and threaten the stability of the Middle East. On Monday, US District Judge George Daniels imposed the lesser amount of bond suggested by the Palestinians.
Puerto Rico turmoil sinks sewer bond
Puerto Rico will not go ahead with a $750 million bond, just days after asking the US Supreme Court for the right to restructure its huge debt.
Truancy is no longer a crime for students under new law
Soon truancy courts will no longer be treating cases involving students who play hooky from school as criminal cases. Under a new state law taking effect Sept. 1, the cases will be treated as civil offenses under the family code. Juvenile court attorney Leslie Barrows says the controversial change cuts out some of the court hearings and possible jail time students who repeatedly skipped class used to face. Instead, the new truancy law may require them to pay lesser fines. Critics of the change argue that it now puts the burden on the schools to do more to police and help address the problem of those who miss class.
UN: Strategy needed to treat refugees with dignity
Al Jazeera, Doha, Qatar
Palestinians seek to raise flags at UN before pope visit to U.S.
Haaretz, Liberal daily, Tel Aviv, Israel
China shares up amid volatile trade
BBC News, Centrist newscaster, London, England
2 NATO soldiers killed in attack
CNN International, London, England
Kim Kardashian wears low cut exercise gear on hike in St Barts
Daily Mail, Conservative daily, London, England
How woolly mammoth tusks could save the African elephant
Daily Mail, Conservative daily, London, England
France: Baby and policeman among four shot dead at travellers' camp
EuroNews, International news, Ecully Cedex, France
French prosecutor says train gunman had 'terrorist intent'
France 24, Issy-les-Moulineaux, France
Banksy's 'Dismaland' is an escape from mindless escapism
Hurriyet Daily News, (Liberal, English-language), Istanbul, Turkey
Donald Trump kicks out journalist Jorge Ramos from press conference: 'Go back to Univision'
Independent The, London, England
Major Ukrainian TV provider drops Russian channels
Moscow News The, Independent, Moscow, Russia
Napa Valley Wine Train apologises to black women thrown off trip
Telegraph The, Conservative daily, London, England
Benedict Cumberbatch 'a bloody good Hamlet', says his mother
Telegraph The, Celebrity news, London, England
Peace may deteriorate post-Ma: China
China Post, English-language daily, Taipei, Taiwan
Cross-Border Deal Is a Modest Achievement
Chosun Ilbo, Conservative daily, Seoul, South Korea
Typhoon Goni hits western Japan, damages buildings and cars
Hindustan Times, New Delhi, India
At least 75 injured, man missing after Typhoon Goni wreaks havoc across southern Japan
Japan Times, Independent centrist, Tokyo, Japan
Residents of New England town reluctantly reckon with Cosby
New Zealand Herald, Conservative daily, Auckland, New Zealand
Ukraine President cancels trip over protests in eastern Ukraine
Straits Times, Pro-government, Singapore
Beat the post holiday blues
Sydney Morning Herald, Centrist daily, Sydney, Australia
US 'deficit hawks' keep up fight despite fading interest
The Economic Times, Business, Mumbai, India
Trump has Univision anchor removed from news conference
Canadian Broadcasting Centre, Toronto, Ontario
Red Cross halts work in Yemeni city of Aden after gunmen raid office
Globe and Mail The, Centrist daily, Toronto, Canada
Liberty Reserve Brought Down By 'Joe Bogus': How The Feds Arrested Arthur Budovsky
International Business Times, Business news organization, New York, U.S
Oil near six-and-a-half-year lows as China economy fears linger
Reuters, Business News, New York, U.S
Biden fans see him as honest and frank, in contrast to Clinton
Reuters, World News, New York, U.S
Blunt impact projectiles being studied by Toronto's emergency task force
Toronto Star, Toronto, Ontario
UN threatens action on South Sudan
BBC News, Centrist newscaster, London, England
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