International
Haitian government and UN sign cooperation agreement
April 21 |
Haiti’s Ministry of Planning and the United Nations (UN) signed on Thursday a Cooperation Framework for Sustainable Development covering the period 2023-2027, as a collective response in support of the 2030 Sustainable Development Commitment agenda, local sources reported.
The agreement offers a comprehensive and holistic approach, focused on promoting long-term governance, security, rule of law, as well as inclusive economic transformation, effective social services and comprehensive environmental protection.
With the agreement, the UN commits to invest about $1 billion over the next five years, of which 40 percent are available resources and 60 percent have not yet been mobilized.
The Special Representative of the Secretary General and Head of the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (Binuh), Madame Maria Isabel Salvador, promised to “play her part in this program aimed at leading Haiti towards prosperity, guaranteeing human rights and gender equality”.
Madame Salvador assured that the plan demonstrates “the strong relationship between the United Nations and the Government. The UN Integrated Office in Haiti (Binuh) is committed to doing its part of the job.
For her part, Ulrika Richardson, UN Resident Coordinator in Haiti, stressed that the agreement marks a new stage in the common history of Haiti and the UN and reaffirmed the commitment to strengthen common approaches based on mutual support between peace, security and sustainable development.
“We have no right to fail, the situation is critical, the stakes are huge, we cannot go it alone,” confessed Richardson, who said he hoped that all stakeholders will be actively involved in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Likewise, Minister of Planning and External Cooperation Ricard Pierre called the signing of the document an act of commitment. “We must all be aware of the challenges ahead of us in the implementation of this new cooperation framework.”
At another point in his speech, he stressed that “Time is critical, frank cooperation, the full participation of stakeholders will be needed if we are to achieve the expected results,” specifying that the estimated budget of the cooperation framework plan is more than US$1 billion.
This pact takes place in a complex scenario for the Caribbean country, which is suffering the consequences of economic recessions and violence and insecurity caused by armed criminal groups, while 5.2 million people are in need of humanitarian aid due to extreme poverty.
International
Man arrested after deliberately driving into seven children in Osaka
Japanese police arrested a man on Thursday after he rammed his car into a group of seven schoolchildren in an apparent deliberate attack in the city of Osaka.
The children, who were on their way home from school, sustained injuries and were taken to the hospital. All seven remained conscious, according to local authorities.
An Osaka police officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the suspect is a 28-year-old man from Tokyo. The officer shared statements the man made after his arrest: “I was fed up with everything, so I decided to kill people by driving into several elementary school children,” the suspect reportedly said.
The man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.
The injured children, aged between seven and eight, included a seven-year-old girl who suffered a fractured jaw. The six other children—all boys—suffered minor injuries such as bruises and scratches and were undergoing medical evaluation.
Witnesses described the car as “zigzagging” before hitting the children. One witness told Nippon TV that a girl was “covered in blood” and the others appeared to have scratches.
Another witness said the driver, who was wearing a face mask, looked to be in shock when school staff pulled him from the vehicle.
Violent crimes are rare in Japan, though serious incidents do occur from time to time. In 2008, Tomohiro Kato drove a two-ton truck into pedestrians in Tokyo’s Akihabara district, then fatally stabbed several victims. Seven people were killed in that attack.
Internacionales
Clashes erupt during may day protests across France amid calls for better wages
May Day protests in France were marked by a heavy police presence and clashes between demonstrators and law enforcement in several cities.
In Paris, Lyon, and Nantes, thousands took to the streets to demand better wages, fairer working conditions, and to voice their dissatisfaction with President Emmanuel Macron’s government.
While the majority of the demonstrations remained peaceful, isolated confrontations broke out in some areas. Protesters threw objects at the police, prompting the use of tear gas and resulting in several arrests.
Videos showing police crackdowns circulated widely on social media, drawing criticism from labor unions and human rights advocates, who denounced the authorities’ response to the protests.
International
Kristi Noem credits Trump for mass migrant deportations by mexican president
U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem claimed that Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has deported “more than half a million” migrants due to pressure from former President Donald Trump.
During a cabinet meeting highlighting the “achievements” of Trump’s administration in its first 100 days, Noem asserted that under the Republican leader’s influence, “Mexico has finally come to the table” to negotiate on migration and fentanyl trafficking.
“The president of Mexico told me she has returned just over half a million people before they reached our border,” Noem stated, criticizing media reports that suggest the Biden administration deported more migrants than Trump’s.
“I wish those deportations were counted,” Noem added, “because those people never made it to our border—she sent them back because you made her.” She went on to thank Trump: “They never made it here because they got the message—because you were so aggressive.”
Noem has made controversial claims about Sheinbaum in the past, prompting the Mexican leader to refute them.
On April 1, Sheinbaum responded to one such statement by declaring, “The president answers to only one authority, and that is the people of Mexico,” after Noem said on Fox News that she gave Sheinbaum “a list of things Trump would like to see” and that Mexico’s actions would determine whether Trump granted tariff relief.
Man arrested after deliberately driving into seven children in Osaka
Clashes erupt during may day protests across France amid calls for better wages
Kristi Noem credits Trump for mass migrant deportations by mexican president
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