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 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
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 Bulgaria The shadow economy remains high, at 33% and Bulgaria shows the highest tolerance for the shadow economy compared to the rest of the European Union according to a study by the Institute of Philosophy and Sociology of Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
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
America Barbados The Eco Fit Youth initiative, a programme dedicated to sustainability and a healthy lifestyle, having involved over 3.000 students in 20 primary schools in Barbados, will now expand to the Caribbean
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
Europe United Kingdom 176 World War II unexploded bombs were discovered under a children's playground in Wooler, Northumberland, and it is feared that more will be unearthed; it is believed that the area was used as a Home Guard training camp
Europe Poland A Polish couple, devoted to the Virgin Mary, is building a large statue of the Mother of God near the Shrine of Our Lady of Sorrows in Konotop; it will be a total of 55,6 metres high and will be the higher in Europe when it wiil be finished in half 2026
Africa Seychelles Nature Seychelles gave two local companies, Titan Plant Hires and D&S Equipment, 'Friends of Cousin Island' award for contribution to marine conservation for equipment and services to assist the installation of large coral nursery tubes on land at Amitié
Europe Kosovo In the parliamentary elections, the ruling party Vetevendosje!, 'Movement for Self-Determination!', led by outgoing Prime Minister Albin Kurti, won a relative majority of seats
Africa Madagascar A Central Information and Documentation Desk was established at the Ministry of Industrialisation and Trade to promote food autonomy and bring together all industrial and commercial players
Africa Ivory Coast To better plant health and promote resistance, the Regional Centre of Excellence for Virus Epidemiology in West and Central Africa signed partnership agreements in Abidjan in collaboration with the Interstate Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel
Africa Kenya The most reviewed tourist site in Kenya is the Animal Orphanage in Nairobi, according to a Google Maps report, followed by culture preservation initiative Bomas of Kenya, Pembe za Ndovu monument over Moi Avenue in Mombasa and Thompson Falls in Nyahururu