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California high court affirms local right to ban medical pot shops

May 15, 2013 14:33
By Ronnie Cohen SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - The California Supreme Court dealt a blow to the state's faltering medical-marijuana industry on Monday by ruling that local governments may outlaw dispensaries that sell the federally banned drug. The unanimous opinion, which comes as elected officials across the nation grapple with regulating a growing medical pot industry, upheld a ban the southern California city of Riverside enacted on pot shops in 2010.

Healthcare law opponents sue Obama officials over IRS rules

May 15, 2013 12:32
By Patrick Temple-West WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A group of individuals and businesses filed a lawsuit against the Obama administration's healthcare overhaul on Thursday, hoping to stop the law in states that have not set up new insurance exchanges. The complaint filed in the Washington federal court challenges federal rules issued in 2012 for implementing the president's 2010 healthcare law which goes into full force in January 2014.

Macy's 1Q profit up 20 per cent on solid sales; raises dividend, adds $1.5B in buybacks

The Canadian PressMay 15, 2013 09:14
NEW YORK, N.Y. - Macy's Inc. reported a 20 per cent increase in first-quarter profit even though cool temperatures and economic worries dampened some of its shoppers' spending on spring clothes. The company, which also operates the upscale chain Bloomingdale's, is also raising its dividend to 25 cents from the current 20 cents. It also announced an additional $1.5 billion in stock buybacks.

Arab Israeli 'Nakba' descendants return to village

Agence France-PresseMay 15, 2013 05:30
Sixty-five years after their ancestors were driven out during the Nakba, the "catastrophe" that befell Palestinians, Arab Israeli youths are returning to the village of Iqrit in the Upper Galilee. A small Catholic church is all that remains of the village their families fled in 1948 during the conflict that accompanied Israel's declaration of independence. Palestinians and Arab Israelis on Wednesday mark what to them is the Nakba -- Arabic for "catastrophe" -- of the creation of the Jewish state and exodus of 760,000 of them from their homes.

American jailed in N. Korea starts prison term

Agence France-PresseMay 15, 2013 03:31
A Korean-American tour operator sentenced to 15 years hard labour in North Korea for subversion has begun serving his time in prison, state media said Wednesday. Kenneth Bae "started his life at a 'special prison' on Tuesday", the official Korean Central News Agency said in a brief despatch, which reaffirmed that Bae had been convicted of seeking to "topple" the regime in Pyongyang. It did not elaborate on how the prison was "special".

Jurors award Hong Kong businessman $70 million in Las Vegas Sands; casino giant will appeal

The Canadian PressMay 14, 2013 18:16
LAS VEGAS, Nev. - A jury on Tuesday dealt another defeat to casino mogul and GOP mega-donor Sheldon Adelson in his nine-year fight with a Hong Kong businessman, awarding the former consultant $70 million for helping Las Vegas Sands Corp. secure a lucrative gambling license in the Chinese enclave of Macau. But Las Vegas Sands says it won't be paying up anytime soon. Suen claimed he was owed up to $328 million for helping the Las Vegas-based company secure a lucrative gambling license in Macau, the only place in China where casino gambling is legal.

Boxing: Guerrero firearm possession charge dropped

Agence France-PresseMay 14, 2013 15:31
Boxer Robert Guerrero, coming off a loss 10 days ago to unbeaten Floyd Mayweather, had all firearm possession charges against him dropped on Tuesday in a New York State Supreme Court hearing. Guerrero was arrested March 28 for allegedly trying to take a handgun on a plane to Las Vegas at John F. Kennedy Airport. At the hearing, Guerrero pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct and was fined $250 as well as ordered to perform 50 hours of community service, which he will be allowed to do in his home state of California.

Google Street View to collect photos of Canada's national parks

Agence France-PresseMay 14, 2013 14:46
Armchair travelers who’ve always wanted to take in the sweeping views of Canada’s Rocky Mountains, the lush rainforest of the Pacific Rim, or the wild and rugged Maritime coast will be able to do so with the click of a mouse and the help of Google Maps. Parks Canada announced that it’s struck a partnership with the search engine’s Street View service that will bring iconic landmarks, remote national parks and other places of cultural or geographical significance to virtual globetrotters.

Brazilian judiciary recognizes same-sex marriage

Agencia EFEMay 14, 2013 14:45
Brasilia, May 14 (EFE).- Brazil's National Judiciary Council, or CNJ, on Tuesday approved by a vote of 14-1 a resolution amounting to de facto legalization of same-sex unions. The CNJ decision says that civil registrars will be "obligated" to convert stable unions between two people of the same sex into marriages, if that is requested, and that they will not be able to refuse to marry gay couples. The CNJ, headed by Supreme Court Chief Justice Joaquim Barbosa, oversees and regulates the activities of the judiciary.

Google Street View to collect photos of Canada's national parks

Agence France-PresseMay 14, 2013 14:45
Armchair travelers who’ve always wanted to take in the sweeping views of Canada’s Rocky Mountains, the lush rainforest of the Pacific Rim, or the wild and rugged Maritime coast will be able to do so with the click of a mouse and the help of Google Maps. Parks Canada announced that it’s struck a partnership with the search engine’s Street View service that will bring iconic landmarks, remote national parks and other places of cultural or geographical significance to virtual globetrotters.
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