Asia Laos About $12 million in digital taxes from global technology companies have been collected under new law: foreign providers of online services must register with Lao tax authorities regardless of whether they have a physical presence in the country
America Brazil Amazon Indigenous leader Chief Raoni Metuktire has urged President Lula da Silva to protect Indigenous rights by removing "invaders" from Indigenous territories and including Indigenous people in discussions on carbon credits
Asia Syria Over 23.000 Syrian refugees will be supported in Jordan thanks to Japan's allocation of $2,5 million for a specific UNHCR project
Asia China Duan Weihong, one of the richest women in China who apparently disappeared six years ago, reappeared in public recently; word goes it is a sign that authorities may have closed an investigation against her for links to a former Politburo member
Africa Zambia President Hakainde Hichilema embarked on a historic three-day state visit to Israel at the invitation of Israeli President Isaac Herzog
America Belize This past July 31, Belize commemorated the 189th anniversary of the abolition of slavery and the 185th anniversary of the termination of the apprenticeship system; this Emancipation Day is marked as a public and bank holiday for the third consecutive year
Asia Japan High winds cut power lines in Okinawa Prefecture, leaving over 200.000 households without electricity, Naha airport closed and hundreds of thousands of people were advised to evacuate as Typhoon Khanun neared, threatening torrential rains
Europe Sweden In the wake of repeated anti-Muslim provocations in Sweden, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson announced plans to expand police authority at the borders, fearing an increased risk of attacks
Asia Israel The Supreme Court stated that, for the first time, all 15 judges will participate in a hearing on the arguments against a law passed by PM Netanyahu's coalition as part of an overhaul of the judicial system
Africa Liberia About 500 rice farmers in six of Liberia's fifteen counties are expected to benefit from the Scaling Up Climate Resilient Rice Production in West Africa project that aims to increase rice production in the region
Europe Switzerland Beginning today thru 12 August 2023, 76th edition of Locarno Film Festival will be Marco Solari's last as president, with 214 films on the programme, including 110 world premieres and six international premieres
Africa Nigeria The Catholic Bishops' Conference of Nigeria has sounded the alarm about the move to remove the fuel subsidy that could bring the country to the brink of collapse
America Jamaica Andre Wilson, founder and executive director of Youth for Development Network, believes it is useful to use sport as a development tool to empower and create peace for individuals affected by violence
Africa Zimbabwe Exports to China have reached a high of $585 million, registering an increase over the past five years