Colombia Army and Rebels Meet in First-ever Peace Talks
Colombian military officers and leftist guerrillas from FARC met face-to-face for the first time in their 50-year war, starting talks on a ceasefire. (Reuters)
Germany Shatters Another Renewable Energy Record
Germany has shattered another record: In the first half of 2014, 31% of the entire country was powered by renewable energy. (Inhabitat)
Shanghai Carbon Emission Market Cut 5Mil Tons of CO2
200 firms in Shanghai's carbon emissions trading scheme cut their CO2 output by 5.3 million tons in 2013, according to state-owned media in China.
Canada’s Crime Rate Down to Lowest Levels Since 1969
Police-reported crime statistics for 2013 show overall declines for most types of crime, including the national homicide rate which fell to its lowest rate since 1966. (Report)
Fewer Australians Reliant on Welfare Since 2001
A report shows working-age Australians are less reliant on welfare than they were a decade ago, with 5% fewer 18 to 64-year-olds receiving payments. (ABC)
Major Democratic Achievement for Afghanistan
Last week's presidential election in Afghanistan marked the first-ever democratic transfer of power from one elected leader to another in Afghan history.
Tesla Gives Away All its Patents To Spur Electric Car Growth
To further advance electric vehicle technology and address the carbon crisis, Tesla Motors has opened all its patents to its competitors, saying it will not initiate lawsuits against any who use their technology in good faith.
California Beaches Were Less Polluted in 2013
95 percent of California beaches earned A or B grades for water quality during the summer of 2013, a 2% improvement over 2012, according to an annual report. (LA Times)
EU to Beat 2020 Climate Change Targets
By 2020, the European Union will have cut its carbon emissions by 20 percent more than it had pledged it would under the Kyoto climate change treaty, according to an announcement made at a meeting of the bloc's environment ministers May 14.
Worldwide Renewable Energy Jobs Hit Almost 6.5 Million In 2013
Global renewable jobs hit almost 6.5 million in 2013, a 14 percent increase over the previous year, driven by the rising solar market and employment in China, says a report from the International Renewable Energy Agency.
More People Living Longer in England, Wales
The number of people over the age of 90 has tripled since 1981 in England and Wales. The population living more than 100 years has quintupled, from 2,420 to 12,320.
26 Million Removed From Hunger Roles in a Year
According to a recent UN report, the number of hungry people in the world has now fallen to roughly 1 in 8— 26 million fewer than a year ago—an astounding achievement.
Violence Against US Children Drops
A comparison of 50 types of violence against American children revealed significant declines of up to 50-63% in 27 of the categories, including assault, bullying, and sexual victimization -- and no increases -- between 2003 and 2011. - Study by Crimes Against Children Research Center. (CNN)
US Finally Regains the Jobs Lost in the Recession
The U.S. economy has reached a milestone: It has finally regained all 8.8 million private-sector jobs it lost during the Great Recession. March 2014 job growth figures also signaled that stronger gains could lie ahead. -AP
No U.S. Forces Die in Afghanistan, First Month in Years
No U.S. military forces died in Afghanistan during the month of March, marking the first such month in more than seven years and the third time since the war began more than 12 years ago, according to the CNN Library, which tallies the casualties.
U.K. Renewable Electricity Generation Rose 28 Percent in 2013
According to the Department of Energy and Climate Change, renewable power generation in the U.K. rose 28 percent in 2013 as more wind farms and solar plants came online. (Bloomberg)
Crime in Colombia is Lowest in 30 Years
Overall crime in Colombia has plunged to levels not seen in more than 30 years, thanks to the efforts of the country’s security forces. (Dialogo-Americas.com)
Brazil Slashes Extreme Poverty by 89% in a Decade
Brazil has reduced the number of its citizens living in extreme poverty by 89% in the last 10 years through the Bolsa Família income support program, with 70% of recipients being the working poor who now buy products and bolster the economy.
Percentage of Californians Walking, Biking, or Using Transit Doubles Since 2000
The percentage of California residents walking, biking, or using public transportation has more than doubled since 2000 -- from 11 percent to 23 percent for the typical daily household trips. (CA DOT survey)
US Factory Output Rose in Feb. by Most in 6 Months
U.S. factory output rebounded strongly in February 2014, surging 0.8 percent, the largest gain in six months, according to the Federal Reserve.