June 12, 2017 nº 1,874 - Vol. 14

"In spite of all evidence to the contrary, the entire universe is composed of only two basic substances: magic and lies."

Read Migalhas LatinoAmérica in Spanish every Tuesday and Thursday. Visit the website at www.migalhas.com/latinoamerica

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  • Top News

US House votes to lift Wall Street constraints

The Republican-led US House of Representatives voted on Thursday to lift many of the constraints that were put into place following the 2008 financial crisis. This vote is likely the beginning of a debate over deregulation of the powerful banking industry. This bill, supported by the Trump administration, would amend the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act to spur economic growth by easing banking regulations. The bill is likely to face resistance in the Senate. Democrats and other progressive groups, who believe the banking industry requires tougher regulations, disapprove of the bill. These groups point out that banks reported record profits last year, despite the tough Dodd-Frank Act rule. The Act is part of the broader GOP plan to reduce the size and influence of the federal government on everyday life. (Click here)

  • Crumb

1 - 'Facebook blasphemer' given death penalty - click here.

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  • MiMIC Journal

Survey finds 70% of Chinese firms break regulations

An inspection of companies based around Beijing found more than 70% were violating air pollution regulations. Firms pumped out more emissions than allowed, operated without licenses or had insufficient pollution control equipment. Checks were carried out at thousands of companies at 28 cities in and around the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region. Air pollution in Chinese cities is notoriously bad. The findings appear to confirm suspicions that companies ignore strict environmental protection policies and that officials do not enforce them.

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  • Brief News

Puerto Rico overwhelmingly votes on US statehood in non-binding referendum

The US territory of Puerto Rico has voted to ask Congress to make it America's 51st state. More than 97% of voters favored attempting to join the US over becoming independent or remaining a self-governing territory. However, just 23% of the electorate turned up to cast their ballot amid an opposition boycott, and its results are non-binding. The final decision is also not in their hands but up to Congress. It did not act on the previous referendum's result, which was the first time ever a majority of valid votes were cast for statehood in the former Spanish colony. (Click here)

Senior US prosecutor fired 'after refusing Trump call'

A former leading federal prosecutor in New York has revealed he was sacked by Trump after receiving several unusual phone calls from him. Preet Bharara said he felt the calls from Trump had crossed the usual boundary separating the executive branch and independent criminal investigators. Bharara said he had been fired after refusing to take a third call. The White House did not immediately respond to Bharara's comments. Obama appointee Bharara, who served as the top federal prosecutor in Manhattan, said it appeared Trump had been trying to "cultivate some kind of relationship" after they met in late 2016. But he said he felt this was "inappropriate" after Trump took office.

'Dead woman walking': amid election fallout, Theresa May stands on shaky ground

The British prime minister hopes to form a government with a small party in Northern Ireland. But members of her own party are questioning her leadership, and Labour leaders aren't ready to give up.

Calls mount for rethink of Brexit stance

There are growing calls for a rethink of Theresa May's Brexit stance in the wake of a hung parliament. The Conservatives leader had sought to take the UK out of the single market and end freedom of movement, but her party lost its Commons majority. Former Chancellor George Osborne said he did not believe a majority of MPs now back a "hard" Brexit. The Confederation of British Industry plans to canvas its members regarding the implications for business. In a tumultuous period of political uncertainty, Britain's economy is markedly slowing and consumers are grappling with rising prices.

Brazil top electoral court dismisses case that could have ousted president

Brazil's top electoral court, known as the TSE, dismissed a case on Friday against President Michel Temer for alleged illegal campaign funding in the 2014 election when he was the running mate of impeached president Dilma Rousseff. The TSE voted 4-3 to acquit both Temer and Rousseff, which avoided the annulment of their election and the removal of Temer from office. Though the acquittal gives Temer some breathing room, a separate investigation by prosecutors is underway into Temer, which includes a secret recording of a conversation he had earlier this year with a former top executive of meatpacker JBS SA allegedly condoning paying bribes to an imprisoned former lawmaker to prevent potentially devastating testimony. Temer has denied any wrongdoing and has stated that he will never resign. (Click here)

Japan lawmakers approve changes to century-old rape law

Japan's lower legislative house approved changes to Japan's century-old rape laws on Thursday that would expand the definition of rape, lengthen prison sentences to five years and allow prosecutions to occur in instances where a victim did not press charges. The amendments would redefine rape to include more forms of forced sexual penetration, which would acknowledge male victims. The amendment would also eliminate the requirement for "violence or intimidation" in cases where parents or guardians were sexually abusing minors. The amendments were proposed due to lobbying by victims' rights advocates. According to a 2014 study, only five percent of Japanese female victims went to the police following a rape and only one-third told anyone because of societal pressure. The amendments must now be sent to the House of Councillors (upper house) in the next step of the legislative process. (Click here)

Late Libya leader Gaddafi's son released from prison

Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, son of late Libya leader Muammar Gaddafi, was released from prison Friday, according to the Abu Bakr al-Sideeq militia, which was held him for the past five years. Saif, 44, who was the most high-profile of Gaddafi's children, was expected to lead Libya after his father. Saif was released under a "General Amnesty Law" passed by the Libyan House of Representatives. Saif is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for crimes against humanity. According to Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East and North Africa director at Human Rights Watch, "the reported release of Saif al-Islam Gaddafi based on the Libyan parliament's 2015 flawed amnesty law does not change the fact that he is wanted by the International Criminal Court on charges of crimes against humanity related to the 2011 uprising." Saif's lawyer told media that he will not be turning himself in to the ICC.

Opioid dealers embrace the dark web to send deadly drugs by mail

Anonymous online sales are surging, and people are dying. Despite dozens of arrests, new merchants — many based in Asia — quickly pop up.

New California law could help immigrants clear previous crimes, and avoid deportation

A new California law allows people who are no longer in jail to challenge old convictions, a move that could offer deportation relief to immigrants as Trump’s administration targets those with prior crimes. The law — known as “Criminal procedure: post-conviction relief” — allows people who have claims of innocence, or people whose attorneys failed to warn them about the immigration consequences of a plea deal, a way of challenging those convictions. “Immigrants who have come into contact with the criminal justice system are under unique and enhanced scrutiny. They are looking to what self-defense strategies they can employ now to protect themselves from being targets of immigration enforcement.”

  • Weekly Magazine Review

Time
Donald Trump’s Suite of Power

Newsweek
How Nasa Can Help Solve The Middle East Water Crisis

Business Week
No One Has Ever Made a Corruption Machine Like This One

The Economist
Terror and the Internet

Der Spiegel
Adieu Liebe, Happy end

L'Espresso
Brutta ciao

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