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• Reuters World News Highlights at 0515 GMT, Jun 19 Wednesday, 19 Jun 2013 | 1:57 AM ET

  WASHINGTON/ KABUL- The United States and the Taliban raised hopes for a negotiated peace in Afghanistan with commitments to meet this week after 12 years of bloody and costly war between American-led forces and the insurgents.

• FOREX-Euro in demand as Fed faces crunch time Tuesday, 18 Jun 2013 | 8:21 PM ET

  SYDNEY, June 18- All the major currencies marked time in Asia on Wednesday as investors waited anxiously to see if the Federal Reserve could clarify the outlook for policy without sending markets into a fresh frenzy.

• UPDATE 3-Brazil mine bill would double top royalty rate Tuesday, 18 Jun 2013 | 5:44 PM ET

  RIO DE JANEIRO, June 18- Brazil, a major producer of iron ore, gold, copper and other metals, unveiled a long-awaited bill to reform its 46- year-old mining code on Tuesday, proposing a doubling of the current top royalty rate and stricter rules for opening new mines.

• CORRECTED (OFFICIAL)-UPDATE 2-Brazil mine bill proposes royalty hike Tuesday, 18 Jun 2013 | 5:32 PM ET

  RIO DE JANEIRO, June 18- Brazil, the world's second-largest producer of iron ore, unveiled a long-awaited bill to reform the country's 46- year-old mining code on Tuesday, proposing royalties of up to 4 percent, double the current rate. Murilo Ferreira, chief executive of Vale SA, the world's largest iron ore exporter, said the bill would hit miners hard.

• ANALYSIS-Optimism fading, Brazil protests put leaders on alert Tuesday, 18 Jun 2013 | 4:41 PM ET

  RIO DE JANEIRO, June 18- 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 corruption. Until recently, Brazil was one of the world's most envied economies. But vast economic differences still divide Brazil.

• UPDATE 2-Brazil mine bill proposes doubling top royalty to 4 pct Tuesday, 18 Jun 2013 | 2:43 PM ET

  RIO DE JANEIRO, June 18- Brazil, the world's second-largest producer of iron ore, unveiled a long-awaited bill to reform the country's 46- year-old mining code on Tuesday, proposing royalties of up to 4 percent, double the current rate. Murilo Ferreira, chief executive of Vale SA, the world's largest iron ore exporter, said the bill would hit miners hard.

• UPDATE 1-Brazil mining bill could double royalty to 4 pct Tuesday, 18 Jun 2013 | 11:58 AM ET

  RIO DE JANEIRO, June 18- Brazil, the world's second-largest producer of iron ore, unveiled a long-awaited bill to reform the country's 46- year-old mining code on Tuesday, proposing new royalties of up to 4 percent, double the current rate. President Dilma Rousseff said royalties would be calculated on gross income, rather than net earnings.

• Brazil mining bill could double royalty to 4 pct Tuesday, 18 Jun 2013 | 11:03 AM ET

  RIO DE JANEIRO, June 18- Brazil unveiled a long-awaited bill to reform the country's 46- year-old mining code on Tuesday, proposing new royalties of up to 4 percent, double the current rate, and a new mine regulatory agency.

• Analysts Debate Appeal of ‘Sour’ Brazilian Stocks Tuesday, 18 Jun 2013 | 10:29 AM ET

  

  As widespread demonstrations hit Brazil and the emerging market sell-off continues, analysts are divided on whether the dip in Brazilian stocks has created a buying opportunity.

• NJ approves tuition bill for those in US illegally Tuesday, 18 Jun 2013 | 9:20 AM ET

  TRENTON, N.J.-- New Jersey lawmakers approved a bill Monday that would allow those in the country illegally to qualify for in-state tuition rates at state colleges and universities. To be eligible, a student must have attended a New Jersey high school for at least three years and have a diploma from a state high school or the equivalent.

• Spain's credit squeeze thwarts small companies' export plans Tuesday, 18 Jun 2013 | 8:36 AM ET

  Jose Posada, owner of Galicia-based Posada Marron Glace, which last year sold 1 million euros of delicacies, mostly abroad to countries like Japan, Russia and Angola, wants to push into China and Central America.

• Ahead of the Bell: Sanderson Farms Tuesday, 18 Jun 2013 | 7:15 AM ET

  NEW YORK-- A KeyBanc Capital Markets analyst lowered Sanderson Farms' rating on Tuesday, citing the chicken producer's stock price. Shares of Sanderson Farms closed at $68.85 on Monday.

• UPDATE 1-Maersk plans alliance with two biggest shipping rivals Tuesday, 18 Jun 2013 | 6:02 AM ET

  *Teams up with MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company, CMA CGM. Maersk Line, the world's biggest container shipping operator, a unit of Danish shipping and oil group A.P. Moller-Maersk said on Tuesday it has agreed an operating alliance with its two biggest rivals, Switzerland- based MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company S.A. and France's CMA CGM.

• AIRSHOW-UPDATE 2-Embraer launches next E-Jets to strong demand, SkyWest orders up to $9.4 bln Monday, 17 Jun 2013 | 2:56 PM ET

  *Embraer shares up 5.87 pct, highest in 6 years. PARIS, June 17- Brazilian planemaker Embraer SA launched a bigger and more efficient lineup of commercial E-Jets at the Paris Airshow, with a robust show of demand as it pushed deeper into a segment that rival Bombardier had staked out with its new narrow-body CSeries.

• UPDATE 3-Big investor urges Smithfield breakup over buyout Monday, 17 Jun 2013 | 1:03 PM ET

  *Starboard: Selling pieces could net $44- $55/ shr. June 17- Starboard Value LP revealed a major stake in Smithfield Foods Inc on Monday and urged the world's largest pork producer to explore a breakup rather than go ahead with a planned $4.7 billion takeover by Chinese meat company Shuanghui International.

• Ford looks to ride emerging market mini-SUV boom in India Monday, 17 Jun 2013 | 12:18 PM ET

  CHENNAI, India, June 17- Ford Motor Co began shipping its locally-made EcoSport compact SUV on Monday, hoping to share in growing demand in India for mini-sport utility vehicles, which are popular due to heavy traffic, scarce parking and bumpy roads.

• Cane investments, protected prices prolong sugar surplus Monday, 17 Jun 2013 | 12:11 PM ET

  LONDON, June 17- Sugar production looks set to remain stubbornly above demand for at least another 12 months, despite a halving in global prices, as mills in top exporter Brazil are forced to keep supplies flowing to recoup massive investments. No, "said Pierre Sebag of London- based consultancy Sugar K Ltd..

• Spain's obsession with high-speed trains runs into budget reality Monday, 17 Jun 2013 | 10:54 AM ET

  *Spain inaugurates new route between Madrid and Alicante. ONBOARD MADRID- ALICANTE HIGH-SPEED TRAIN, June 17- A one-track dirt road used by local farmers is the main access to a magnificent glass-and-steel train station in the small city of Villena, on Spain's latest high-speed rail route.

• UPDATE 2-India leaves rates unchanged, warns of inflation risks as rupee sags Monday, 17 Jun 2013 | 3:19 AM ET

  MUMBAI, June 17- The Reserve Bank of India kept interest rates unchanged on Monday as expected after cutting them in each of its previous three policy reviews, warning of upward risks to inflation as its currency is among the hardest hit amid a global emerging markets sell-off.

• COLUMN-Is China backtracking on attempts to control iron ore?: Clyde Russell Monday, 17 Jun 2013 | 1:45 AM ET

  --Clyde Russell is a Reuters market analyst. LAUNCESTON, Australia, June 17- It may be too early to start beating the drums of victory for free-market capitalism, but there are signs that China is stepping back from attempts to control the iron ore market.