Stories for July 30th 2018

Monday, July 30th 2018 - 14:29 UTC
“Immediate beginning” of trade negotiations with EU, announces Trump's chief economic advisor

President Trump's chief economic adviser Larry Kudlow says that trade negotiations with the European Union are set to begin “immediately” following a meeting between Mr. Trump and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker. The two agreed to work toward “zero” tariffs and hold off on additional tariffs at the meeting at the White House on Thursday.
Monday, July 30th 2018 - 12:38 UTC
Thomas Cook will stop selling tickets for Sea World and Loro Parque

Global tour giant Thomas Cook says it will stop selling tickets to “any animal attractions that keep orcas in captivity”. That means marine parks like Sea World in Florida and Loro Parque in Tenerife will be dropped next year.
Monday, July 30th 2018 - 12:23 UTC
The other side of Nicaragua's instability: economic growth could drop from 4.9% to 1%.

Nicaragua's protracted political crisis, which has lasted well over three months, is impairing economic growth, according to the central bank. Central bank chief Ovidio Reyes said the initial 4.9% growth forecast in gross domestic product (GDP) for 2018 could fall as low as 1% if ongoing protests continue to disrupt daily life.
Monday, July 30th 2018 - 09:49 UTC
US congress members denounce “assault on democracy and human rights in Brazil”

In a letter to Brazilian Ambassador in Washington Sergio Silva do Amaral, 29 members of the United States Congress voiced their concerns about “an intensifying assault on democracy and human rights in Brazil,” particularly the incarceration of former president Lula da Silva and the assassination of Rio de Janeiro city councilor Marielle Franco.
Monday, July 30th 2018 - 09:44 UTC
Airlines yield to Beijing and eliminate reference to Taiwan as independent

The Chinese Foreign Ministry said that the move by the three biggest US airlines to change how they refer to Taiwan on their booking websites was a “positive development”.
Monday, July 30th 2018 - 07:01 UTC
UK cabinet on parliamentary recess: Brexiteers choose holidays in UK and US, while Remainers prefer EU countries

British Prime Minister Theresa May has begun a week-long walking holiday in Italy. The Conservative leader is fresh from her key Brexit proposal being rejected by the EU on Thursday.
Monday, July 30th 2018 - 06:53 UTC
Campaign to discredit process leading to Qatar organizing 2022 World Cup

The world's football governing body FIFA has been urged to conduct an “independent investigation” into claims the Qatar 2022 World Cup bid team ran a secret campaign in 2010 to sabotage competing host bids.
Monday, July 30th 2018 - 06:27 UTC
UK Commons blasts tech giants for fake news: they act irresponsibly and must be regulated and accountable

Fake news has plunged democracy into crisis with voters being systematically manipulated by campaigns of hate and disinformation, a Commons committee has warned. In a blistering attack, MPs rounded on tech giants such as Facebook, Twitter and Google, for acting “irresponsibly” over data collection and called for new laws to make them accountable for the content on their sites.
Monday, July 30th 2018 - 06:16 UTC
Support for second Brexit referendum increases; PM May's approval ratings plunge

The proportion of voters who favor a referendum on the final terms of any Brexit deal has overtaken those who do not for the first time, while UK Prime Minister Theresa May’s approval ratings have plunged, according to opinion polls.