Asia Afghanistan Approximately 18.000 carats of emeralds, worth 1,1 million USD, have been sold since the beginning of year 1404, or 20 March 2025, in five rounds of bidding for Panjshir area emeralds and new emerald mine sites were discovered in Pariyan district
Asia Iran Journalists Niloofar Hamedi and Elaheh Mohammadi, who had been convicted for reporting on Mahsa Amini's case, were pardoned; freed on bail after 17 months' imprisonment last January, their sentences were reduced on appeal in August
Europe Estonia The Social Democratic Party wants to limit political donations to €100.000 and intends to change the law before the next election; party chairman Lauri Läänemets stated that political decisions should not be made by a small group of people
Asia East Timor A Special Test will be held to allow teachers hired in 2023 to enter the national education system, following a dialogue with representatives of former teachers and the Ministry of Education
Europe Croatia According to data from the 'Halo, Inspector!' platform, which organised the shop boycott in Croatia, spending in the country fell by a total of €108 million over three weeks, of which €75 million was lost in just three Fridays of the boycott
Europe Denmark Opioids will become the most severely punished drug category in Denmark as the government intends to significantly toughen penalties for opioid-related crimes, increasing sentences by more than 400%, announced Justice Minister Peter Hummelgaard
Asia Brunei The Gotong Royong campaign helps to instil a cleanliness mindset and emphasises the responsibility of all community members to keep the environment clean, said the Village Head of RPN Kampong Panaga ‘C’ Khairul Abidin bin Mohd Yassin
Europe Belgium A digital platform will be available in Flanders to handle administrative tasks after the death of a loved one to significantly reduce processing time and 'ease the burden of bereavement'; use will be mandatory from 1 January 2026
Africa Equatorial Guinea In view of the celebration of 8 March, the First Lady, H.E. Doña Constancia Mangue de Obiang, has made available 62 million CFA francs (almost €95.000) to support the commemoration of International Women's Day and the various planned activities
Europe Luxembourg An increasing number of Luxembourgish teachers are learning Portuguese in order to communicate more easily with Portuguese-speaking pupils and parents as almost all of them teach in classes with pupils of Portuguese origin
Asia China As of 10 February, tourist groups from the 10 ASEAN countries can enter and leave as a group without a visa via the Xishuangbanna Gasa International Airport, Mohan Railway and Mohan Highway
Asia Afghanistan Mahtab Karami, a student at a Scottish university, is creating a digital archive of artworks created by Afghan women artists over the last 20 years so that they are always visible, regardless of where the physical works have ended up
Asia Cyprus Forestry college will reopen after nearly a decade with 20 forestry apprentice positions for the Higher Diploma in Forestry programme, a crucial investment to revive Cyprus’s forestry sector with trained personnel
Europe Moldova The country is preparing to become the world epicentre of viticulture and oenology from 16 to 20 June 2025, hosting the 46th World Congress of the International Organisation of Vine and Wine