Stories for December 2019

Monday, December 23rd 2019 - 22:37 UTC
Airbnb is an “information society service” rather than a property broker, rules Europe's top court

The accommodation-booking service Airbnb does not need an estate agent's license to operate in France, Europe's top court has ruled. The French tourism association had complained that Airbnb did not comply with French property laws.
Monday, December 23rd 2019 - 21:44 UTC
US Environment agency reaffirms glyphosate does not cause cancer; contradicts California court verdict

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Justice Department said a federal appeals court should reverse a lower court verdict finding Bayer AG liable in the case of a California man who blamed its Roundup weed killer for his cancer.
Monday, December 23rd 2019 - 19:50 UTC
Arrest of Mexican ex security minister by US officials shocks both countries

Business ties between former U.S. officials and an ex-Mexican security minister charged with taking bribes from a drug cartel have raised questions about what U.S. law enforcement knew about him before his arrest this month.
Monday, December 23rd 2019 - 10:35 UTC
Argentine individuals and corporations hold some 322.3 billion dollars outside the domestic financial system

Argentines ever so suspicious of their currency and so fully confident in the all mighty US dollar, they have some US$ 322 billion hidden in the “mattress”, which means mostly overseas in bonds, shares, real estate, according to the latest figures released by the country's stats office, Indec.
Monday, December 23rd 2019 - 10:30 UTC
Approval rating of Bolsonaro steadily dropping and negative rating climbing

The approval rating of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro's government is dropping steadily and its negative rating is climbing, a CNI/Ibope poll showed on December 20, as his combative political style and a weak recovery weigh on his popularity.
Monday, December 23rd 2019 - 10:29 UTC
Cuba names a prime minister for the first time in decades, to decentralize administration

Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel on Saturday named tourism minister Manuel Marrero Cruz as the country’s first prime minister in decades, under a new constitution that seeks to decentralize former leader Fidel Castro’s job.
Monday, December 23rd 2019 - 10:26 UTC
Carnival Cruise apologizes for the “allision” at Cozumel between two of its vessels

In a letter sent to guests on Friday, Carnival Cruise Line apologized for an earlier accident in Cozumel, Mexico, during which the Carnival Glory came into contact with the Carnival Legend while docking, resulting in six passengers sustaining minor injuries.
Monday, December 23rd 2019 - 10:20 UTC
Five get death sentences in Saudi Arabia over Khashoggi's assassination

Five people have been sentenced to die by Saudi Arabia's judiciary system while the other three were handed down jail terms for the assassination of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, Chief Prosecutor Shalaan al-Shalaan announced Monday.
Monday, December 23rd 2019 - 09:04 UTC
Hundreds of children sexually abused by priests from ultra conservative branch of Mexican Catholic Church

At least 175 children were sexually assaulted by priests belonging to an ultra-conservative Mexican branch of the Roman Catholic Church, according to an internal report published over the weekend.
Monday, December 23rd 2019 - 08:55 UTC
Bolivia's interim government decides to join the Lima Group to address the Venezuela situation

Bolivia on Sunday announced its entry into the Lima Group regional bloc that was set up to find a way out of the Venezuelan crisis. The Bolivian foreign ministry said in a statement that it hoped to “contribute to a peaceful, democratic and constitutional solution to the crisis in Venezuela, which must be guided by the Venezuelan people.”