Over the past 12 years, the world has made stunning progress toward the goal of having more children attend primary school. In sub-Saharan Africa, enrollment in primary school is up 18 percent; and globally, the number of young children not attending school has been cut by 35 percent -- a huge achievement.
He watched the piles of feces go up the conveyer belt and drop into a large bin. A few minutes later, after a machine boiled and treated it, Bill Gates took a taste and proclaimed it, "Delicious -- as good as any I've had out of a bottle." The self-powering machine produces water and electricity (plus a little ash), and no nasty smell.
On May 7, 2000 the Irish Republican Army made its most groundbreaking pledge since its cease-fire six years ago: to put IRA arms beyond use and allow independent inspections of its hidden arsenals.
London's homicide rate has fallen steadily over the last decade, dropping 47 percent since 2003. Figures from the Metropolitan Police showed 117 murders recorded in the capital last year, down from 222 in the year 2011.
In the UK, the world's second oldest animal welfare organization said it was shocked by the scale of organized badger persecution it has uncovered in Northern Ireland. But now, operatives working for the USPCA are using an aerial drone with a camera onboard to film gangs, and chase them away, as they prepare to attack badgers.
The Irish Republican Army-linked Sinn Fein party says one of its leaders, Martin McGuinness, will meet Queen Elizabeth II next week, a once-unthinkable symbol of progress toward peace in Northern Ireland.
A mosque has been praised for serving tea and biscuits to English Defense League supporters after the far-right group arranged a demonstration there. About six people turned up to protest at the mosque in Bull Lane, York, on Sunday and were invited inside to play football with Muslim worshippers.
The Norfolk area of Broadland has been named the most peaceful area of the UK. The tranquil district, which has a population of about 125,000, had only eight violent crimes reported in 2012 -- about a third of the national average.
The UK is becoming a more peaceful place with rates of violent crime and murder falling more rapidly in the past decade any other Western European country, researchers say. Violent crime overall was down by a quarter in the decade ending in 2012, and murders were cut in half.
British manufacturing grew much more strongly than expected in June, suggesting the country's recovery is broadening. Car sales also rose and house prices continued to climb.
Lifeboat crews have rescued a Labrador dog that was believed to have drowned off the Norfolk coast in eastern England, after she was swept away on Sunday morning.
Since 1893, the English charity, Manchester & Cheshire Dogs' Home, has provided shelter and veterinary care, and overseen the adoption of more than one million dogs. Now it's people who are stepping up to rescue the animal shelter, after their kennels in Manchester burned to the ground last evening, as a result of arson, killing 53 dogs.
A 21-year-old beautician was so upset last week after hearing about a disabled elderly man injured in a mugging that she started an online campaign to help him. Donations for the Englishman surged when the campaign went viral and so far has raised more than $474,000 (£316K).
A world away from the chaos, violence and abuses of elections under Hosni Mubarak's rule, Egyptian voters queued in huge, orderly lines on Monday, many still in disbelief that they could now play a part in shaping their nation's future.
Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy has claimed a landslide victory in a series of election contests in Burma. The Nobel Peace Prize winner won her own election contest with 99 percent of voter support in the poor Kawhmu township she sought to represent.
Canada's economy created a surprising 95,000 jobs in May, the biggest monthly gain in 11 years, and most were full-time positions and in the private sector, Statistics Canada said on Friday in a report showing the economy may be gaining momentum.
Increased demand boosted global manufacturing activity last month as U.S. factories expanded at their fastest pace in 2-1/2 years and Chinese output suggested improvement in the world's second largest economy. The 17-country euro zone's manufacturing sector also showed improvement in November, as did Britain's.
In America these days, if you are watching too much news, you're not getting the truth about the economy as much as political messaging and strategy. The truth is that the U.S. still has the strongest economy on the planet. America's performance should be measured against the current competition, not against the records it set in the 1990s or 2000s.
Just two years ago, Greece was on the ropes. Today, investors are increasingly confident of the nation's ability to pay its debts. Rarely has a country repaired its image with creditors so quickly.
A baby in Kenya needed life-saving heart surgery, but it would cost $23,000 and the family couldn't afford it. Enter a 5-year old Canadian boy from Waterloo who heard the story and marched to his bedroom to empty his piggy bank. After seeing their boy Cameron's heartfelt gesture, the parents decided that maybe they could help him inspire friends, family and strangers to kick in the extra funds needed to reach the goal.
Recent Stories
A Heartfelt Reminder to Appreciate the Ones We Love
Cherish the Woman Who Stands by You
Breaking Generational Cycles of Pain
Living by Your Own Values, Not Others' Approval
When Life Brings Rain, It’s Okay to Rest
Before You Judge Someone's Life, Take a Moment to Walk in Their Shoes.
A Friend Who Spreads Gossip is Not a True Friend at All
The Value of Human Connection Over Digital Convenience
The Quiet Kind of Love
One Day, Your Mom Won’t Call You Anymore
I’ve reached a point in my life...
Happiness is a mindset, a conscious choice we make every day