Stories for April 2019

Wednesday, April 17th 2019 - 09:54 UTC
Five years to rebuild Notre Dame, says Macron: “people will join to repair the national symbol”

President Emmanuel Macron pledged on Tuesday that France would rebuild the fire-devastated Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral, saying he hoped the work would be done in five years and the French people would pull together to repair their national symbol.
Wednesday, April 17th 2019 - 09:53 UTC
Another scandal brewing in Brazil? Supreme Court silences critics: search and seizure in a news website

Brazil’s Supreme Court drew fire on Tuesday for silencing its critics with a confidential criminal case targeting the press, pundits on social media and even a retired Army general close to President Jair Bolsonaro.
Wednesday, April 17th 2019 - 09:49 UTC
Dissident Labour and Tory MPs register as “Change UK”, and plan to participate in EU elections

The Electoral Commission has approved The Independent Group's application to register as a political party. The group - made up of 11 former Labor and Tory MPs who their parties in February, will become Change UK. The approval means they can put forward candidates in the European elections due to take place on 23 May - if the UK has not left the EU by then.
Wednesday, April 17th 2019 - 09:44 UTC
Far right Vox party banned from the only electoral debate in Spain ahead of 28 April

Spain's election board has banned the far-right Vox party from participating in the only confirmed debate for the April 28 election. The controversial, anti-immigration party achieved a surprise victory in recent regional elections.
Wednesday, April 17th 2019 - 09:40 UTC
Brazil announces financial package to avoid a truckers' strike

The government of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro announced on Tuesday a financial package aimed at staving off a potential truckers' strike. Chief of Staff Onyx Lorenzoni said the Brazilian Development Bank will be providing US$ 128 million in credit to truckers and that the Ministry of Infrastructure will spend US$ 514 million on improving roads.
Wednesday, April 17th 2019 - 09:39 UTC
EU approves rules to protect workers in the “gig economy”

The European Parliament has approved new EU rules to protect workers in the so-called “gig economy”(*). The law sets minimum rights and demands increased transparency for those in “on-demand” jobs, such as at Uber or Deliveroo.
Wednesday, April 17th 2019 - 09:36 UTC
EU passes legislation protecting whistleblowers to encourage wrongdoing

Whistleblowers across the European Union have won greater protection under landmark legislation aimed at encouraging reports of wrongdoing. The new law, approved by the European Parliament on Tuesday, shields whistleblowers from retaliation. It also creates “safe channels” to allow them to report breaches of EU law.
Wednesday, April 17th 2019 - 09:32 UTC
UK's employment and hiring remains strong in the three months to February

Unemployment in the UK fell by 27,000 in the three months to February to 1.34 million, official Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures show. The number of people in work was also virtually unchanged at a record high of 32.7 million, with a jump of 179,000.
Wednesday, April 17th 2019 - 09:20 UTC
English farmer becomes winner of top shearing contest in New Zealand, the first since 1991

A late change of plans to fly home in England in mid-March was just the ticket for Dorset farmer's son Henry Mayo on Friday as he became the first overseas shearer in 28 years to win a New Zealand Shears title in Te Kuiti.
Wednesday, April 17th 2019 - 07:15 UTC
International conference for peace development held in Romania

In Romania where discussions for peace and security of the international community have been actively operated as the presidency of EU in 2019, a peace conference took place for 2days from April 1st with the presence of the heads of state, governments, civil society, and international NGOs registered under the United Nations.