Stories for May 15th 2019

Wednesday, May 15th 2019 - 09:52 UTC
Ex Lima mayor jailed after admitting benefiting from the Odebrecht corruption network in Peru

A Peruvian judge on Tuesday sentenced former Lima mayor Susana Villaran to 18 months' preventive detention for accepting illegal campaign funds from Brazilian construction firms Odebrecht and OAS. The Odebrecht bribery scandal, which has washed through Latin America, runs deep in Peru, where the country's last four presidents are accused of receiving illegal payoffs.
Wednesday, May 15th 2019 - 09:29 UTC
Guatemala constitutional court bars presidential candidate because she's the daughter of an ex military ruler

The constitutional court of Guatemala has barred Zury Ríos, the daughter of ex-military ruler Efraín Ríos Montt, from running for the presidency. Ms. Ríos was one of the frontrunners ahead of elections on 16 June. The court argued that Guatemala's constitution bars close relatives of coup leaders from serving as president.
Wednesday, May 15th 2019 - 09:20 UTC
WhatsApp calls on users to upgrade the app because of a sophisticated security breach

WhatsApp on Tuesday encouraged its users to upgrade the app to plug a security breach that allowed sophisticated attackers to sneak spyware into phones, in the latest trouble for its parent Facebook. The vulnerability - first reported by the Financial Times - allowed hackers to insert malicious software on phones by calling the target using the app, which is used by 1.5 billion people around the world.
Wednesday, May 15th 2019 - 09:05 UTC
Trump's “little squabble” with China pinching farmers' pockets and his electoral base

US farmers, who are major exporters of pork and soy, are caught in the middle of President Donald Trump's trade wars. And farmers along with the industries that support them, are also key voters.
Wednesday, May 15th 2019 - 08:43 UTC
China reports weaker industrial output and retail sales during April: stimuli round the corner?

China on Wednesday reported surprisingly weaker growth in industrial output and retail sales for April, reinforcing expectations that Beijing needs to roll out more stimulus measures as the trade war with the United States escalates.
Wednesday, May 15th 2019 - 08:21 UTC
Services sector activity in Brazil slides 0.7% in March and 1.75% in the first quarter

Activity in Brazil’s services sector fell 0.7% in March from the month before, government statistics agency IBGE said on Tuesday, a decline far greater than expected and another strong sign that the economy contracted in the first quarter.
Wednesday, May 15th 2019 - 08:10 UTC
Pope Francis advances the sainthood of Sister Dulce , Brazil's “Mother Teresa”

Pope Francis advanced the sainthood causes of Blessed Dulce Lopes Pontes, the “Mother Teresa” of Brazil. The pope signed the decrees on May 13 during a meeting with Cardinal Angelo Becciu, prefect of the Congregation for Saints’ Causes. The Vatican published the decrees on May 14.
Wednesday, May 15th 2019 - 07:47 UTC
One of Monet's “Meules”fetches US$ 110.7 million in New York auction

A Claude Monet painting from his celebrated “Meules” (Haystacks) series drew US$110.7 million in New York on Tuesday in an auction record for the French Impressionist master. The sale at Sotheby's - the first time the work had come to auction since 1986 - fetched one of the 10 highest prices ever seen at auction.
Wednesday, May 15th 2019 - 07:31 UTC
French striker Griezmann leaving Atlético and could move to Barcelona

French striker Antoine Griezmann has told Atletico Madrid he will leave them in the close season, the Spanish club said on Twitter on Tuesday. The 28-year-old Griezmann has a contract until 2023 with Atletico, but has a buyout clause of €120 million and has been the target of several approaches from La Liga rivals Barcelona.