Stories for 2018

Saturday, April 7th 2018 - 10:54 UTC
UN Mine Awareness Day message: Advancing Protection, Peace and Development

On 8 December 2005, the General Assembly declared that 4 April of each year shall be observed as the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action.
Saturday, April 7th 2018 - 10:49 UTC
The Guernsey house where Victor Hugo wrote Les Miserables will be recovered by art collector

A millionaire businessman has donated 3m Euros to save the home where French author Victor Hugo wrote Les Miserables. The celebrated writer of The Hunchback of Notre Dame lived at Hauteville House in Guernsey from 1856 to 1870.
Saturday, April 7th 2018 - 10:31 UTC
Milestone Colombian ruling orders the government urgent protection of Amazon rainforest

Colombia’s highest court has told the government it must take urgent action to protect its Amazon rainforest and stem rising deforestation, in what campaigners said was an historic moment that should help conserve forests and counter climate change.
Saturday, April 7th 2018 - 10:19 UTC
Falkland Islands establishes Obesity Orientation Day next Monday 9 April

To help people in the Falkland Islands to get fitter and healthier, the local hospital will be running a ‘Falklands Obesity Orientation Day’ on Monday 9 April, it was announced by Gilbert House.
Saturday, April 7th 2018 - 10:07 UTC
OAS observation team will monitor Paraguay general elections

The Organization of American States (OAS) and the government of Paraguay signed an agreement to observe the general and departmental elections of April 22, in a ceremony that took place at OAS headquarters in Washington DC.
Saturday, April 7th 2018 - 08:19 UTC
Lula negotiating his surrender following a Saturday mass for his deceased wife

Ex-president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Brazil's polarizing election frontrunner and leftist icon, was negotiating his surrender after dramatically skipping a first deadline Friday to start his 12-year prison sentence for corruption.
Saturday, April 7th 2018 - 08:11 UTC
Spain hopes to reach an agreement with UK over Gibraltar by next October

Spain hopes to reach an agreement with the UK over Gibraltar by the summer, its foreign minister has said. Alfonso Dastis said Spain would “defend our position” but the two sides were “working towards” an agreement as soon as possible. The UK says “informal” talks are going on about Gibraltar's post-Brexit future with Spain.
Saturday, April 7th 2018 - 07:59 UTC
WHO marks 70th birthday: “Universal health coverage, everyone, everywhere”

On 7 April, World Health Day, the World Health Organization marks its 70th anniversary. Over the past 7 decades, WHO has spearheaded efforts to rid the world of killer diseases like smallpox and to fight against deadly habits like tobacco use.
Saturday, April 7th 2018 - 02:43 UTC
Brazilian judge fines Facebook US$ 34m for failing to cooperate in graft probe

Brazilian judge has ordered that Facebook Inc pay 111.7 million Reais (US$ 33.4 million) for failing to cooperate with a corruption investigation, federal prosecutors said on Thursday, prompting Facebook to say it was exploring “all legal options.”
Friday, April 6th 2018 - 19:47 UTC
Regaining citizens’ trust in public institutions is key to resuming inclusive growth and well-being in Latin America and the Caribbean

Brussels, 09 April 2018 - Three out of four Latin Americans today show little or no confidence in their national governments. Around 80% think corruption is widespread. These levels are both up from 55% and 67% respectively in 2010. Mistrust is rising as in most regions of the world and risks deepening the disconnect between people and public institutions, harming social cohesion and weakening the social contract. Reconnecting public institutions with citizens by better responding to their demands is thus critical for strengthening growth and sustainable development in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) and for the well-being of the region’s citizens, according to the Latin American Economic Outlook 2018, Rethinking Institutions for Development. The region needs more transparent, capable, credible and innovative institutions if it wants to put itself on a higher and more inclusive development trajectory.