News headlines in April 2014, page 12

WASHINGTON, Apr 09 (IPS) - Three years after Colombia agreed to U.S. demands to better protect labour rights and activists, a "Labour Plan of Action" (LPA) drawn up by the two nations is showing mixed results at best, according to U.S. officials and union and rights activists from both countries.

UNITED NATIONS, Apr 08 (IPS) - When New York City was picked as the location for the United Nations many moons ago, the politically-important decision was followed by the 1947 U.S.-U.N. Headquarters Agreement which obligated Washington to facilitate - not hinder - the smooth functioning of the world body.

IBAGUÉ, Colombia, Apr 08 (IPS) - "Things are getting worse and worse," Enrique Muñoz, a 67-year-old farmer from the municipality of Cajamarca in the central Colombian department of Tolima, once known as the country's breadbasket, said sadly.

MERO, Dominica, Apr 08 (IPS) - Christmas 2013 was the most "dreary and depressing" Don Corriette can remember in a very long time.

KAMPALA, Apr 08 (IPS) - Silence is golden, it is said. But not for Ugandan Constance Nansamba*, who paid a dear price for keeping silent about being HIV positive and pregnant at age 18.  

WASHINGTON, Apr 07 (IPS) - The world's first hospital to be built and run in a developing country under a public-private partnership is taking up more than half of the health budget in Lesotho, according to new estimates, diverting resources from populations outside of the capital.

UNITED NATIONS, Apr 07 (IPS) - When Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas decided to defy the United States and Israel over stalled peace negotiations, he formally indicated to the United Nations last week that Palestine will join 15 international conventions relating mostly to the protection of human rights and treaties governing conflicts and prisoners of war.

MEXICO CITY, Apr 07 (IPS) - Latin America is not taking the new global agreement to limit mercury emissions seriously: the hazardous metal is still widely used and smuggled in artisanal gold mining and is released by the fossil fuel industry.

UNITED NATIONS, Apr 07 (IPS) - Policy uncertainty and plummeting solar prices led to a 14-percent decrease in investment in renewable energy in 2013, according to a report released Monday.

CASTRIES, St. Lucia, Apr 07 (IPS) - Most Caribbean countries are famous for their sun, sand and warm sea breezes. Far fewer are known for their wide use of solar, wind and other forms of renewable energy.