International

• Wednesday, July 5th 2023 - 09:49 UTC

  Netherlands bans mobile phones and tablets from classrooms: follows France and Finland

  

  The Education Ministry of the Netherlands said on Tuesday the ban on cellular phones in classes will be enforced starting January 1, 2024. Exceptions will be made for lessons on digital skills, or if students with disabilities or other medical conditions need the devices.

• Tuesday, July 4th 2023 - 10:39 UTC

  Great performance of Falklands' Team at the Golden Shears Championship in Scotland

  

  Falkland Islands shearers and wool handlers performed superbly and were excellent ambassadors for the Islands at this year’s shearing and wool-handling Golden Shears World Championships which was featured at the Royal Highland Show in Scotland.

• Tuesday, July 4th 2023 - 10:27 UTC

  Yellen travels to China to restore a healthy economic relation, “destabilization punishes both countries”

  

  United States Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen will travel to China this week to restore ties, the Treasury Department announced. Yellen, who will be in Beijing from July 6-9, will meet with high-ranking representatives of the Chinese government but not China's President Xi Jinping.

• Tuesday, July 4th 2023 - 10:12 UTC

  Significant Caricom summit underway with an eye on Haiti

  

  The 45th Meeting of Heads of State and Government of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) began Monday at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, marking the 50th anniversary of the signing of the bloc's foundational Treaty of Chaguaramas. The event was also attended by United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

• Tuesday, July 4th 2023 - 08:37 UTC

  China's downturn and youth unemployment, cutting down marriages and new families

  

  A report published by China's Ministry of Civil Affairs in June shows the number of marriage registrations across the country was the lowest in 37 years, following eight years of decline. Only 6.83 million couples tied the knot in the Asian nation last year.

• Monday, July 3rd 2023 - 10:55 UTC

  Uruguay's Navy rescues sick Chinese sailor

  

  After receiving a request for help from the Chinese freighter “Sumatera Express,” the Uruguayan Navy evacuated a crewman who had suffered convulsions and loss of consciousness, providing him with the necessary medical assistance, it was reported Sunday in Montevideo.

• Monday, July 3rd 2023 - 08:12 UTC

  MSC and Maersk alliance to end 2025; MSC investing in new vessels, Maersk in logistics

  

  Mediterranean Shipping Company and AP Møller-Maersk that since 2015 set aside their rivalry and shrugged off opposition from regulators to form a capacity-sharing alliance have now agreed to part, with different focus in the future of the industry.

• Monday, July 3rd 2023 - 08:11 UTC

  Guterres says Haiti needs international help

  

  United Nations (UN) Secretary-General António Guterres Saturday called for international help to support local police efforts in crisis-torn Haiti.

• Monday, July 3rd 2023 - 07:08 UTC

  Orkney Islands councilor feels Scotland has failed them dreadfully and suggests joining Norway

  

  The Orkney Islands could change their status in the UK or even become a self-governing territory of Norway under new proposals. A motion will go before the council next week to investigate “alternative forms of governance”. Council leader James Stockan said Orkney does not get fair funding with its current relationship with the UK.

• Saturday, July 1st 2023 - 07:03 UTC

  Fearing forest fires and bad air quality, Canada cancels fireworks display.

  

  Persistently bad air quality over North America and worries about sparking more fires has led to the cancellation of some Canada Day firework displays. There were also concerns over air quality around next week's Fourth of July celebrations in the US.