Global News headlines and stories about Democracy that you can read over your morning coffee!

The Kingdom of Lesotho, Africa

Culture News: A 910 carat diamond gem has been recovered in a mine in the Kingdom of Lesotho, the size of which makes it the fifth largest gem quality diamond ever found.

Ghana

Culture News: 21-year-old Awuah-Darko and his university friends co-founded a non-profit initiative called Agbogblo.Shine which salvages reusable electronic waste materials and re-purposes them into high-end furniture. Awuah-Darko’s first upcycled work is a grandfather clock, made from a galvanized car axle, aluminium and part of a discarded wall clock. Two high-end hotels in Accra are currently vying to buy the unusual timepiece.

Nigeria

Three women from Nigeria, Seun Adigun, Ngozi Onwumere and Akuoma Omeoga, are set to make history as the first bobsled team to represent Africa in the 2018 Winter Olympic Games.

United States

Politics: White House counselor Kellyanne Conway spoke to reporters about the possibility of a government shutdown at midnight tonight, January 19, 2018 in Washington, DC. Senate Republicans and Democrats blame each other for the looming shutdown.

Politics: President Donald Trump spoke to March for Life participants and pro-life leaders in the Rose Garden at the White House on January 19, 2018 in Washington, DC. The annual march takes place around the anniversary of Roe v. Wade, Supreme Court decision that came on January 22, 1974.

Criminal Justice News: On January 18th the State of California announced the District Attorney will prosecute Louise Anna Turpin and David Allen Turpin on nine counts of torture and 10 counts of child endangerment for holding their 13 children captive. According to Riverside County Sheriffs, David Allen Turpin and Louise Anna Turpin held 13 malnourished children ranging in age from 2 to 29 captive in their Perris, California home. Deputies were alerted after a 17-year-old daughter escaped by jumping through a window shortly before dawn on Sunday morning, carrying a de-activated mobile phone from which she was able to call 911 for help.

Spain

Culture News: King Felipe and Queen Letizia along with Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy inaugurate the FITUR International Tourism Fair 2018 at Ifema on January 17, 2018 in Madrid, Spain. Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy confirmed that Spain became the second most visited country in the world last year, after France, with 82 million visits. A year on year increase of 9% making 2017 the fifth consecutive year of growth. Tourism earnings also grew 12% to 87 billion euros (104 billion US dollars)

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Portugal

Sport News: Portuguese big wave surfer Joao Guedes drops a wave during a surf session in Praia do Norte in Nazare, central Portugal on January 18th.

United Kingdom

Culture News: The city of London kicks off its annual ‘Lumiere London’ festival of light in St James’s Square on January 18, 2018 in London, England. Lumiere London is a four night long light festival spanning the British capital with more than 50 artworks by UK and international aritsts.

The Netherlands

Culture News: A large majority of members of the European Parliament has voted for a ban on the controversial fishing method using electric pulses in European Union waters. Fishermen in The Netherlands using Pulse Fishing with 80 trawlers fear for the future as the new legislation is expected to come into power within a year.

Switzerland

Culture News: In a new law, the Swiss government has banned the common culinary practice of throwing the crustaceans into boiling water while they are still conscious. The move is a response to studies that suggest lobsters are sentient with advanced nervous systems that may feel pain.

Peru

Human Rights News: Pope Francis visits Peru to express concern over their safety. He is greeted by an indigenous woman during a meeting with representatives of indigenous communities of the Amazon basin from Peru, Brazil and Bolivia, in the Peruvian city of Puerto Maldonado, on January 19, 2018. Pope Francis sounded a stark warning about the future of the Amazon and its peoples during a visit to the region on Friday, saying they had ‘never been so threatened.’ In a speech to thousands of tribe members on the edge of the rain forest in Peru, he said the Amazon people’s rights are being threatened.

Germany

Sport News: Janine Flock of Austria competes at Deutsche Post Eisarena Koenigssee during the BMW IBSF World Cup Skeleton on January 19, 2018 in Koenigssee, Germany.

Australia

Sport News: Nick Kyrgios of Australia is interviewed on court after winning his third round match against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France on day five of the 2018 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 19, 2018 in Melbourne, Australia. The champion remarks about seeing American actor Will Smith in the stadium.

Indonesia

Cultural News: Jono Simbolon, an Indonesian Christian, is flogged in front of a crowd outside a mosque in Banda Aceh, Aceh province, on January 19, 2018. Simbolon was publicly flogged for selling alcohol in the conservative Aceh province, a violation of Islamic law, as a crowd of onlookers including children filmed the event.