Philippines president signs mining policy after delays - Reuters
MANILA |
MANILA (Reuters) - Philippine President Benigno Aquino has signed a new executive order spelling out the government's policy on mining, a move that will influence the development of $12 billion worth of new projects over the next five years, officials said.
The signing ends months of waiting by a mining industry frustrated over a moratorium on new projects imposed since January last year as the government started a review of its mining policy. The government has said the new policy is one step toward the lifting of the moratorium.
Government officials, including Aquino's spokesman, did not give details of the policy but said the environment and natural resources minister would explain in detail the new executive order at a media briefing on Monday.
"This policy aims to bring the mining situation to a middle ground, where the objective of enhancing the economic benefits from the use of mineral resources is attained while not compromising the interest of the environment and communities, including indigenous peoples," Leo Jasareno, head of the state regulator Mines and Geosciences Bureau said in a text message to Reuters on Sunday.
"We see the industry moving forward under the regime of responsible mining."
About $12 billion worth of new projects planned in the next five years will be affected by the new policy, including the $5.9 billion Tampakan copper-gold project in southern Philippines by global miner Xstrata Plc and Australia's Indophil Resources NL.
The lifting of an 18-month moratorium on new mining projects in the country is unlikely to happen immediately after the release of the new EO, as the government wants lawmakers to first pass new legislation seeking more state revenues from mining to offset environmental risks, Aquino told Reuters on Monday.
Aquino also said he wants to see more mineral processing in the country, instead of the current practice of merely shipping ore to China and Japan, among others, due to the lack of local processing facilities.
The new policy would also seek to increase fees related to mineral exploration, as the existing fee structure is outdated, Environment Secretary Ramon Paje told reporters last month.
The Southeast Asian nation sits on an estimated $1 trillion worth of untapped mineral resources - mostly gold, nickel and copper.
(Reporting by Rosemarie Francisco and Erik dela Cruz; Editing by Jeremy Laurence)
Russia flood death toll now 150 - CBC
The death toll from severe flooding in the Black Sea region of southern Russia has risen to at least 150.
Torrential rains dropped more than 28 centimetres of water on the region, flooding more than 5,000 homes.
The water rushed into the area around the hard-hit town of Krimsk in the Krasnodar region with such speed and volume that residents accused local officials of opening a water reservoir in the mountains above.
Federal investigators acknowledged on Sunday that water had been released from the reservoir, but they said it did not cause the flooding.
Local television showed debris scattered across the streets, uprooted trees and overturned vehicles dumped into ditches by the powerful floodwaters.
Speaking on Sunday, Ivan Sengerov, Chief of the Russian Investigative Committee's Krasnodar regional department, said a criminal investigation had been launched to try to determine how rain caused such widespread damage and so many deaths.
Russian President Vladimir Putin flew over the devastation in a helicopter on Saturday.
The interior ministry said Sunday that 150 bodies had been recovered, 139 of them in Krimsk, a town of 57,000 people. Many people were asleep when the flooding hit late on Friday and early Saturday.
No guarantees for Torres at Chelsea - Di Matteo - Football
Published: 08 Jul 2012 - 09:17:17
New Chelsea manager Roberto di Matteo expects a 'buzzing' Fernando Torres to be raring to go when he returns to pre-season training - but warned the Euro 2012 Golden Boot winner there can be no guarantees of being the Blues' number one striker.
The Spain international came off the bench in the final, scoring one and setting up another in a 4-0 win over Italy to help fire them to European glory. The 28-year-old had launched an outburst at the Blues in the wake of their Champions League final victory over Bayern Munich, attacking his treatment and threatening to quit, although he later backtracked.
"There is no concerns about Fernando at all," said Di Matteo. "I did have a chat with him the morning after the final, and have been in touch since as well. It (disappointment) was a feeling he had at the time, but I will continue to speak to the players. I am expecting him here in a good mood, to be buzzing and be very good next season."
Torres enjoyed a successful season with both club and country last term, and Di Matteo added: "Certainly winning the Golden Boot and the Euros, along with the trophies they won with us should give them a lot of confidence. I expect him next season to be a fantastic player with us."
Di Matteo, though, said: "We have three strikers at the moment in the squad, and I would not be saying who is going to be playing. They will all have to fight for their position and there is healthy competition. Whomever is in the best form and can give the best for the team will be playing."
Chelsea may have secured Champions League glory on the back of what were resolute defensive displays to get past Barcelona in the semi-finals, but Di Matteo insists that is not the only way forward for his team.
"Chelsea have never been a defensive side over the years and won't turn into one overnight," the Italian said.
"There may be a tactical situation when you have to play like that but I can't see our club turning into a defensive side. It was successful the way we approached certain games but it was just three games and the rest of the games weren't approached like that."
Di Matteo added: "It is not a question of overhauling the squad it is a question of finding the right players to integrate into the team.
"The team will change face over time as the players move on or retire and new players come into the team."
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I'll get stronger - Brook - The Press in York
I'll get stronger - Brook
9:01am Sunday 8th July 2012 in National Sport News © Press Association 2011
Kell Brook admitted his hard-fought win has left him with him plenty of homework to do after coming through the toughest test of his career to beat Carson Jones in his native Sheffield.
Brook, now unbeaten in 28, endured a harrowing evening against American Jones in their IBF welterweight title eliminator as he ground out a majority decision win. The Yorkshireman had to survive a badly-bleeding nose and relentless pressure from in-form Jones to eke out the victory, with one judge ruling it a draw and two giving Brook the win.
"It was a tough fight but I came through it and got the result after 12 hard rounds," the 26-year-old said. "I think the nose is broken and it affected me. I was tired halfway through. I think I got the diet right but I need to get top men involved so I can sustain it through the whole fight. Things need to be addressed."
He added: "I'll come back stronger. I'm still unbeaten and I proved I've got the heart.
"It did get tough in there but I stood my ground, got through the fight and did what I needed to do to get the win.
"I didn't like Carson in the build-up but he's earned my respect here."
As for his next move - likely to be a final eliminator against Argentinian Hector Saldivia - Brook said: "I'll leave it to (promoter) Eddie Hearn.
"He has guided me perfectly so far, so I'll leave it up to him."
A disconsolate Jones said: "It felt like a close fight. It was a majority decision and one of the judges had it a draw.
"It was close and hopefully we can do it again."
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