America Belize Archaeologists in Belize have unearthed the 1.700-year-old tomb of Maya ruler Te K’ab Cha, marking the first such discovery at the site and revealing rich artifacts that have shed new light on early Maya dynastic history and regional connections
Africa Comoros National Education Minister Bacar Mvoulana visited the construction sites of the Domoni and Mutsamudu schools, as well as the university centre and Entp in Patsi, part of the Profi project to renovate and expand six schools and universities
Europe Vatican City The Vatican has made official the appointment of Sr. Raffaella Petrini as President of the Governorate of the Vatican City State and of the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State: it is the first time that these posts are held by a woman
Asia Jordan An Indian man, victim of a job scam promising work in Jordan, was shot dead by Jordanian security forces while trying to illegally cross into Israel; reports of Indians falling for employment scams have become increasingly common
Asia Kuwait Kuwait has officially raised the minimum age for marriage to 18, following legislative changes aimed at protecting children's rights and strengthening family stability; 1.145 underage marriages were registered in 2024
Asia Indonesia The Indonesian Migrant Worker Protection Agency reported that around 5.300 Riau Islanders were trafficked to Cambodia, forced to work in online scams and gambling operations; many were lured by fake job offers and now face abuse and exploitation
Africa Cape Verde The FIVB Volleyball Empowerment programme successfully implemented a pilot project in Cape Verde, with the aim of strengthening training methods through advanced game analysis tools and training
Africa Ghana Efforts to combat poaching of pangolins are being stepped up by authorities and conservation groups; in Ghana, the three native species - giant pangolin, ground pangolin and white-bellied pangolin - are all at risk of extinction
Asia Cambodia The Kuoy ethnic group is celebrating Bonn Prey Lang, a two-day festival honoring the forest; around 2-300 people take part in religious ceremonies, including ordaining 100+ big trees to promote conservation and preserve their indigenous cultural identity
America Cuba Non-essential educational and work activities have been suspended for two days in order to save electricity; the measure was announced by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security in consequence of the current energy situation
America Bolivia Plan to exploit Bolivia's lithium with Chinese and Russian firms is sparking protests, as citizens are demanding contract annulments over environmental concerns, water use, and low royalties, forcing government officials to suspend the project
Africa Gabon All administrative officials are urged to submit their asset declarations before 20 February to strengthen transparency and fight corruption within the institutions, an initiative of the National Commission for Combating Corruption and Illicit Enrichment
Oceania Palau An innovative genetic study of ancient remains has revealed new insights into the ancestry and migration patterns of Palau's early inhabitants, distinguishing them from other Pacific island populations
Asia Singapore In a recent study evaluating liveability, lovability, and prosperity Singapore has been ranked as the top city in the Asia-Pacific; the study highlighted its dynamic retail and dining scenes and its robust economy as key factors to its leading position