The Italian economy loses 236 billion euros a year to corruption, which is about 13 percent of gross domestic product, or equal to 3,903 euros per inhabitant. The figure is twice as high as that of France, where it’s equal to 120 billion euros and 6 percent of GDP, and that of Germany, where corruption costs 104 billion euros (4 percent of GDP). The analysis was conducted by the American NGO RAND for the European Parliament. 89 percent of Italians think that corruption is “extremely widespread” in their country, with 84 percent convinced that it is “part of the business culture” of Italy. The study highlights how, in Italy, the wasted money could resolve all of the country’s major social problems, Repubblica writes. Photo: DepositPhotos The cost of corruption in Italy is more than one and a half times the national public health budget. It's also 12 times bigger than the funding for the country’s police force, 16 times the funding … [Read more...] about Italy has the highest levels of corruption in Europe, study shows
Poorest country in europe
More creches and €1 school lunches: Here’s Macron’s plan to fight poverty in France
All eyes in France were on the president on Thursday as Macron, dubbed "the president of the rich" by his critics, presented his plan to combat poverty in France. Initially the plan was due to be unveiled in April before it was postponed until July and then it was famously (and controversially) delayed again due to the World Cup. But there is an urgent need to tackle poverty in France, which spends more on social benefits than any other country in Europe and yet nine million people live below the poverty line, surviving on around €1,000 ($1,160) a month. "I'm here to launch a new fight, crucial for our country, to see that no-one gets forgotten," he said, adding that the "scandal of poverty" had become normalised in France. "There is a Mozart in every child, including a child born into a poor family," Macron said. But that potential was being snuffed out "because we decide that there is no … [Read more...] about More creches and €1 school lunches: Here’s Macron’s plan to fight poverty in France
The first app to get approved as birth control in Europe has now been green-lit in the US, despite controversy
Erin Brodwin, provided by Published 12:51 pm CDT, Friday, August 10, 2018 Natural Cycles Birth-control app Natural Cycles has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration — the first app to be approved for contraception in North America. The app uses an algorithm to tell women when they have the highest and lowest chances of getting pregnant, but it ultimately relies on men and women changing their behavior. The app recently came under fire in Sweden when 37 women reported getting pregnant while using it. A birth-control app called Natural Cycles has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration, marking the first time an app has been approved for contraception in North America. Recommended Video: Now Playing: Already one of the poorest countries in the world, conflict has been raging in the Central African Republic since 2013. To date, up to 6,000 people have been killed in executions and mutilations. Around half the population … [Read more...] about The first app to get approved as birth control in Europe has now been green-lit in the US, despite controversy
The US is fighting one of the world’s poorest countries over trade
Second-hand clothes donated by Americans have sparked a bitter trade dispute between the United States and one of the world's poorest countries. The obscure conflict is playing out in the apparel markets of Rwanda, where the government has increased import duties on used clothing from the United States from $0.25 to $2.50 per kilogram. The tax hikes, which were imposed in 2016, are designed to encourage domestic clothing production in a country that still bears the scars of a horrific genocide 24 years ago. But they have provoked a backlash from the Trump administration. Used clothes, many of which start as US charity donations, have long been a staple of wardrobes in Rwanda. Yet their abundance and popularity have stalled development in the local clothing industry. Rwandan President Paul Kagame has said the duties are needed to boost local producers and prevent his country from being used as a "dumping ground" for used American clothes. He has proposed banning imports by 2019. … [Read more...] about The US is fighting one of the world’s poorest countries over trade
RANKED: The 28 poorest countries in the world — where people live on less than $1,000 per year
Will Martin, provided by Published 1:00 am, Friday, June 1, 2018 REUTERS/Afolabi Sotunde African and Middle Eastern countries ravaged by war and famine remain the poorest in the world, according to data published by the International Monetary Fund. Twice a year the IMF releases a huge dump of data about the economic power of the world's nations, with gross domestic product (GDP) per capita a key statistic. The IMF ranks the world's countries according to purchasing power parity (PPP) per capita. Recommended Video: Now Playing: Global deaths of newborn babies remain alarmingly high, particularly among the world's poorest countries. UNICEF has issued a hard-hitting report about infant mortality. Where are the best and worst places in the world for newborns? Babies born in Japan, Iceland and Singapore have the best chance at survival. Newborns in Pakistan, the Central African Republic and Afghanistan face the worst odds. The report also says eight out of … [Read more...] about RANKED: The 28 poorest countries in the world — where people live on less than $1,000 per year