Oceania Marshall Islands The fish aggregation devices FADs that fishing boats use to make catches easier, lately equipped with satellite communications gear to pinpoint location, are now being built by drug cartels that wrap packs of cocaine and radio transponders to trace troves
Asia Kyrgyzstan First phase of the country's Renewable Energy Development Project, which aims to increase renewable energy production and promote private sector participation, will be supported by the World Bank and Green Climate Fund
Africa Nigeria Five Nigerian stars of the Nollywood film industry have been selected to become members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the US organization for the Oscar prizes
Asia Iraq Up to 4 million mangrove trees will be grown in the Khor Al-Zubair mudflats region; the joint project of government and UN agencies is inspired by successful mangrove forest rehabilitation activities in neighbouring Kuwait and the UAE
Africa Ghana Ghanaian photographer Prince Gyasi, known for his hyper-realistic style, has been chosen to create the famous Pirelli calendar for next year, promising that part of the project will take place in his country
Asia Syria 90% of Syrian population lives below the poverty line has warned the UN Humanitarian Chief Martin Griffiths; millions face cuts in food aid next month because of a funding shortfall - the $5,4 billion UN appeal for Syria is only 12% funded
Asia North Korea ‘We have neither been informed […] nor known about it and we have no intention to examine it’ would reportedly be the official the answer to the request of the chief of South Korea's Hyundai Group to visit the North's Kumgangsan next month
Europe Slovenia A new national spatial planning strategy, which explicitly paves the way not only for the expansion of the country's only nuclear power plant, but also for the construction of small modular reactors, has been approved in Parliament
America Jamaica The Jamaica Constabulary Force, Jamaica's national police force, will receive a major boost to its mobility with the disbursement of JMD428 million in grants (over €2,5 million) from the Japanese Government
Europe Netherlands Dutch King Willem-Alexander issued a historic royal apology for the Netherlands' involvement in slavery, saying he felt 'personally and intensely' affected, in a speech with thousands of descendants of slaves; many state they still want compensation
Asia South Korea Workers at medical institutions will be required to register newborns starting a year from now; at least 2.236 children born 2015-2022 in medical institutions haven’t been registered by parents and went therefore totally ‘invisibile’
Asia Thailand The session of the Thai parliament where the new prime minister will be elected opens today, 3 July; the vote is scheduled for 13 July
Africa Liberia Cuttington University, Sub-Saharan Africa's oldest private university, has now obtained 24-hour electricity after years of limited supply, with students hitherto forced to interrupt their nightly studies and other social activities
Africa Kenya An online registry of convicted sex offenders has been created; with data on each one and easily accessibile and sharable information it 'should improve justice for victims'