Africa Morocco Rivalry between Morocco and Algeria has a new geopolitical battlefield in the Sahel, where they are deploying radically different strategies; the area is under geopolitical reconstruction after the vacuum left by French withdrawal and the rise of Russia
Asia Lebanon Exploratory drilling for oil and gas, organised by the country with international partners, is starting; experts warn that without structural reforms, the new marine gas field will not end country's economic malaise
Oceania Kiribati Tematong Kamarie, a volunteer with UNFPA's partner Y-PEER, runs a programme to prevent unwanted teenage pregnancies in Kiribati, in a conservative environment where many religious leaders condemn birth control
Oceania New Zealand Air New Zealand reported solid customer demand for the 2024 financial year after registering a large annual profit boosted by a recovery in travel and falling fuel prices, sending its shares up more than 3% in early trading
Africa Guinea The National Transitional Council unanimously authorised the ratification of the financing agreement between the International Development Association and the Republic of Guinea
America Costa Rica Costa Rica and the US have jointly introduced the "Together for Limón" initiative, emphasizing prosperity and security for the country's Caribbean coast, with pillars including security, economics, education, culture, governance, and anti-corruption
Europe Russia ours before the accident that allegedly killed General Prigozhin, Sergei Surovikin, commander of the Russian Air Force, had been removed from office; he wasn’t seen in public since Wagner's uprising, to which he was thought to be very close
America Chile Approximately 70% of Chilean universities have implemented measures to address mental health concerns among students, with a new plan aimed at tackling the rising challenges amid the return to in-person education post-Covid
Asia Uzbekistan President Mirziyoyev signed a decree granting the country's tour operators subsidies of $20 to $100 per foreign visitor, starting 1 January 2024, to increase the number of visitors from selected countries
Asia North Korea China continued to openly supply banned goods to North Korea in July, in apparent violation of the international sanctions regime, NK Pro trade data analysis shows, while importing sanctioned ferro-silicon from its neighbour
Oceania Palau Alii Palau Airlines has denied rumours that it lacks Singapore's Foreign Operator Operations Permit to operate commercial air services, despite announcing that it will start a weekly round-trip service between Singapore and Palau in September
Africa Democratic Republic of the Congo Authorities have been targeting leaders of opposition political parties, restricting their fundamental freedoms and arresting party officials since May, Human Rights Watch denounces; the campaign for presidential elections will begin in November
Africa Togo The government has initiated cooperation with the private sector to establish a body against fraudulent imports, to better counter unfair competition and to ensure fair market competition
Asia Japan The release into the Pacific Ocean of radioactive and treated water from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, damaged by the 2011 earthquake and subsequent tsunami will begin today 24 August