America Ecuador Trade unions in Ecuador have called a national strike against a government labour decree allowing the 40-hour workweek to be reorganised into shifts of up to 12 hours a day, arguing it undermines workers’ rights
Oceania Palau An undersea mountain was discovered 400km north of Palau, rising 4.400 meters from the seafloor, its peak just 240 meters below the surface; the finding was made by Beyond the Blue expedition, mapping unexplored deep-waters of National Marine Sanctuary
America Chile A national registry of victims forcibly disappeared during Pinochet’s dictatorship will be created, recognizing over 1.000 still-missing people and committing state efforts to uncover their fate and honor their memory
Europe Slovenia The wine regions of Brda in Slovenia and Collio in Italy have merged into a dispersed open-air museum showcasing natural-material sculptures by artists from both countries in the spirit of the first ever cross-border European Capital of Culture
Asia Turkey Several digital streaming platforms including Netflix, Prime Video, MUBI, Disney XD, HBO Max, have been fined for violating moral and family values and obscenity by Turkey’s Radio and Television Supreme Council, the regulator for TV and radio broadcasts
Asia Laos Female civil servants are now eligible for maternity leave ranging from 4 up to 6,5 months for mothers expecting twins; miscarriages earn one month of leave, with medical extensions as needed
Asia Oman Muscat Alzheimer's Forum recommended drafting a national Alzheimer's guide, devising science-based diagnostic protocols and establishing a specialised national centre for the treatment of Alzheimer's patients
Asia Cambodia Sides are trading blame over border violations under the current ceasefire; The Royal Thai Navy warned of action if Cambodia fails to remove structures along disputed areas; Cambodia counters that Thailand continues to intrude and escalate tensions
Europe Malta Valletta and Swieqi will benefit from a new tourism community support pilot project providing resources and administrative support to address locality-specific challenges linked to tourism: waste management, public order, regulation of accommodation
Africa Zimbabwe Believe Guta, an entrepreneur and litigation expert in Kadoma, has sent a potion to Parliament calling for mandatory DNA testing in maintenance case, saying paternity must be proven as defaulting fathers face jail if fail to support children
Europe Slovakia Public broadcaster STVR’s newsroom has brought in several new faces, mainly from private TV Markíza and news channel TA3; many among media and public are voicing their concern over the risk or more pro-Russia news or even propaganda
America Saint Lucia The Saint Lucia Electricity Services Limited has begun the final, 10-days phase of its Meter Replacement Programme; it will upgrade the metering infrastructure and ensure continued compliance with the highest industry standards for quality and safety
Asia United Arab Emirates The UAE has joined a group of 14 smaller member of WTO in an international initiative aimed at promoting “open and free” trade as "vital to our stability and prosperity" amid growing risks of rising tariffs and economic fragmentation
Europe Norway The Sami Parliament Sametinget in Northern Norway won’t go through any major leadership changes: Norske Samers Riksforbund remained its biggest party after last week’s election and leader Silje Karine Muotka will remain Sami president