SAN JOSÉ, Sept. 2 - From Guatemala down to Panama, Central America has become the world's first region to declare itself free from cluster bombs, officials said Tuesday. The weapons, which eject explosive bomblets, have killed some 55,000 people worldwide in the past five years, experts say. Belize's accession to the treaty banning them means they join the rest of Central America -- Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama. "With Belize joining in, Central America becomes the first region in the world free of cluster munitions," Christian Guillermet, a Costa Rican diplomat working with UN bodies in Geneva, told reporters. Central America was rocked by several civil wars in the 1970s and 1980s. "So it's important for us as a region that has been victim of wars to send such a clear message about our commitment to peace and development," Guillermet said. Norway led the effort to get countries to agree to ban the highly destructive weapons. The treaty took effect in August 2010 with signatories opting not to make, store or use them.
More
![](https://ttnfly.tuoitrenews.vn/325/0/ttnew/r/2024/07/25/bankruptcy-1721900724.png)
Vietnamese court starts bankruptcy proceedings against firm that built almost 500 houses illegally
Phuc Thuan Phat Trading and Construction JSC, headquartered in District 12, Ho Chi Minh City, had previously sent a request to the provincial court, asking for bankruptcy proceedings against LDG
Read more
![](https://ttnfly.tuoitrenews.vn/185/0/ttnew/r/2024/07/26/arson-1721996256.png)
French rail network hit by 'sabotage' on eve of Paris Olympics
A fourth attempted act of vandalism south-east of the capital was thwarted by rail workers who spotted intruders in the early hours of Friday
13 hours ago![](https://ttnfly.tuoitrenews.vn/185/0/ttnew/r/2024/07/26/yqoxnyesnzn3xbsvlnmzfhr364-1721976895.jpg)
OpenAI enters Google-dominated search market with SearchGPT
Shares of Google's parent company Alphabet ended three percent lower on Thursday after OpenAI's announcement
19 hours ago![](https://ttnfly.tuoitrenews.vn/185/0/ttnew/r/2024/07/18/es3cmusps5ixddppfwb7ekepk4-1721283141.jpg)
BYD sets sights on aggressive expansion in Vietnam
Thirteen BYD dealerships will open their doors to the Vietnamese public on Saturday and the automaker hopes to boost that number to about 100 by 2026
1 week ago![](https://ttnfly.tuoitrenews.vn/185/0/ttnew/r/2024/07/25/w2afcp2f3nj7lf6lz4vm53qb2a-1721889702.jpg)
Japan's Honda to close China plant, halt production at another factory
Honda will close a plant operated through its joint venture with Chinese state-owned automaker Guangzhou Automobile Group in October
1 day ago![](https://ttnfly.tuoitrenews.vn/185/0/ttnew/r/2024/07/25/afp4049757352477505537121703927355768066931-1-1721897962.jpg)
World's richest 1% gained $40 tn in a decade: Oxfam
Despite this windfall, taxes on the rich had plummeted to 'historic lows'
1 day agoHighlights
![](https://ttnfly.tuoitrenews.vn/325/0/ttnew/r/2024/07/26/1-png-1721983057.png)
Vietnamese man collects nearly 1,000 antique teapots
He has spent great efforts and money purchasing the teapots over the past 12 years
Photos
![](https://ttnfly.tuoitrenews.vn/185/0/ttnew/r/2021/04/25/mural-1-1619343370.jpg)
Artist paints murals on house to raise awareness of COVID-19 prevention in Hanoi
He drew the virus, vaccine, and earth on the exterior walls of a house
Latest news
![](https://ttnfly.tuoitrenews.vn/185/0/ttnew/r/2024/07/26/1-png-1721983057.png)
Vietnamese man collects nearly 1,000 antique teapots
He has spent great efforts and money purchasing the teapots over the past 12 years
![](https://ttnfly.tuoitrenews.vn/185/0/ttnew/r/2024/07/27/tuong-nu-than-3-17219600096111229519720-1722043103.jpg)
Breakfast @ Tuoi Tre News — July 27
Good morning from Vietnam!
![](https://ttnfly.tuoitrenews.vn/185/0/ttnew/r/2024/07/26/1-1721996519.jpg)
Vietnam's Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong laid to rest in Hanoi
Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong entered into eternal rest at Mai Dich Cemetery in Hanoi on Friday
![](https://ttnfly.tuoitrenews.vn/185/0/ttnew/r/2024/07/26/arson-1721996256.png)
French rail network hit by 'sabotage' on eve of Paris Olympics
A fourth attempted act of vandalism south-east of the capital was thwarted by rail workers who spotted intruders in the early hours of Friday
![](https://ttnfly.tuoitrenews.vn/185/0/ttnew/r/2024/07/26/stock-png-1721979683.png)
Vietnam state securities commission proposes allowing foreign investors to trade stocks without full deposits
If foreign investors fail to make full payments, securities companies through which foreign investors make transactions will take responsibility for the payment
![](https://ttnfly.tuoitrenews.vn/185/0/ttnew/r/2024/07/26/z566878121414872ae13dec484da0b0bedf6c4e4f7941d-17219546456022046076025-1721981603.jpg)
Fire destroys 21 electric sightseeing cars in Vietnam’s Hoi An
The blaze broke out at around 4:30 am on Friday
![](https://ttnfly.tuoitrenews.vn/185/0/ttnew/r/2024/07/26/longan-png-1721980373.png)
Long An seeks to build 3 bridges to enhance connectivity in southwest Vietnam
As proposed, Provincial Road 827E will feature three new bridges over the Can Giuoc, Vam Co Dong and Vam Co Tay rivers
![](https://ttnfly.tuoitrenews.vn/185/0/ttnew/r/2024/07/26/drug1-png-1721979173.png)
19-year-old girl detained for transporting 15kg of illicit drugs from Laos to Vietnam
The provincial border guard teamed up with the police in Savannakhet, Laos to arrest two more Vietnamese people for their involvement in the cross-border drug trafficking ring
![](https://ttnfly.tuoitrenews.vn/185/0/ttnew/r/2024/07/26/9-png-1721977891.png)
Thousands of residents queue up for hours to pay tribute to Vietnam’s Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong
Over 5,600 delegations, comprising 252,000 people, paid their final respects to Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong
![](https://ttnfly.tuoitrenews.vn/185/0/ttnew/r/2024/07/26/yqoxnyesnzn3xbsvlnmzfhr364-1721976895.jpg)
OpenAI enters Google-dominated search market with SearchGPT
Shares of Google's parent company Alphabet ended three percent lower on Thursday after OpenAI's announcement