America Panama A tanker paid a record $5,3 million for priority passage through the Panama Canal before the number of daily transits will be reduced due to the El Niño weather phenomenon; rainfall deficits and drought deplete water reserves needed to operate the canal
Africa Madagascar Out of fears over the vote exacerbating popular anger in a difficult socio-economic situation, the President of the National Assembly, i.e. the Parliament, called for the suspension of the electoral process less than a week before the elections
Africa Tanzania A group of Czech specialists collaborated with the operators of the Mkomazi National Park in Tanzania to track and study the lions' movements by placing trackable collars on selected lions in order to collect data to help conservation workers protect them
Asia Afghanistan Some 200.000 Afghans have fled Pakistan in a month, ahead of the deadline announced by Islamabad, which has issued an ultimatum for 1,7 million undocumented refugees from Afghanistan
Asia Kyrgyzstan 85% of women between 15 and 49 suffer from folic acid deficiency, nutrition expert Tursunai Mamyrbaeva said during the budget hearings in parliament, recalling how much this investment is also needed for the health of the children born to such women
Africa Ethiopia The highest number of malaria cases has been recorded in the country in at least seven years; according to the WHO there has been a 25% increase in infections and consequent illness within one month
Asia Laos Members of the National Assembly expressed concern about the rising dropout rate and acute teacher shortage plaguing both Vientiane and rural areas; it has also doubled in some places due to economic hardship of families struggling to cover school fees
Asia South Korea Activists, unions, environmental groups will stage protests in Seoul today, as part of a series of demonstrations to demand various concessions from the government, including the resignation of President Yoon Seok-yeol
Europe Portugal Portuguese anti-mining groups urged the government to suspend and review all lithium projects as authorities investigate alleged corruption in the management of 'green' energy deals that led to the prime minister's resignation
Asia Philippines To organize commemoration of 650th anniversary of Philippine Muslim history and heritage a national committee has been formed; Islam arrived in 1380, making it “the oldest monotheistic religion” in the country that has around 6% of Muslims
Asia Bangladesh Up to 25.000 garment workers clashed with police in Bangladesh, officials said, while protests over the refusal of a pay rise offered by the government forced the closure of at least 100 factories outside Dhaka
Africa Somalia Somalia's deputy prime minister praised the crucial role of Somali women in supporting operations against al-Shabaab militiamen
Europe Czech Republic The organising team of the 2024 World Ice Hockey Championships, to be held in Ostrava and Prague next May, is looking for a total of 1.000 volunteers to help co-ordinate the event with an open call for anyone over 17 years of age
Europe Italy The possible agreement to transfer migrants rescued at sea by Italian ships to Albania poses ethical questions as the country is not a member of the EU and is therefore not bound to its human rights respect criteria