America Grenada Toll-free 988 Suicide Hotline for Crisis Response has been launched to guarantee immediate support for people experiencing suicidal thoughts, emotional distress and other mental health crises; an awareness campaign will start soon
Europe Spain An unusual collection of bison, wild bull, deer and rhinoceros craniums have been found in a cave near Madrid; researchers say they may have served ceremonial purposes and reveal Neanderthal rituals
Europe Albania There have been a total of three anti-government protests so far in the past week, with opposition and supporters calling for the prime minister's resignation and attempting to disrupt the parliamentary session
Africa Algeria The local cosmetics industry is growing and in 2022 over 80 operators started export of various products thanks to regulatory procedures and reduced import bills - reports the Minister of Trade and Export
Asia Jordan The World Bank financed a USD23,6 million project to help 30.000 Jordanian farming families adopt climate-friendly and water-saving agricultural practices; 12.000 job opportunities are expected to be created, particularly for women and young people
America Brazil With an estimated 20.000 illegal miners, the country has undertaken a major operation to drive out such miners from indigenous land by burning their planes and seizing their boats, weapons and petrol
Africa Tunisia The General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation, Irishwoman Esther Lynch, was declared persona non grata in Tunisia by President Kais Saied, who on Saturday gave her 24 hours to leave the country
America Costa Rica The country has eliminated a previously obligatory 10% tax on imported beers, which had been deemed discriminatory towards foreign beers, creating an unequal market that rendered them more costly in comparison to locally-produced beers
Africa Gambia Controversy erupted after one of the contestants at the country's recent beauty contest showed up wearing the typical costume of the kankurang, an initiation rite considered a Unesco World Heritage Site, but linked to male circumcision ceremonies
Africa Chad Approximately 1,8 million children under five will be affected by acute malnutrition between October 2022 and September 2023, according to the latest Ipc analysis
Africa Ghana A $6,3 million project to minimise the use of mercury in mining has been launched in Accra by the government in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme and the United Nations Industrial Organisation
Asia Taiwan Eight hotels and two spas in Taiwan were listed in the 2023 Forbes Travel Guide Star Awards published on 15 February, including the Mandarin Oriental in Taipei, which was awarded its seventh-straight five-star rating
America Bahamas The Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority URCA will undertake a review of its Consumer Protection Regulations this year to determine where the decade-old document is still ‘fit for purpose’
Asia India India reportedly increased its oil purchases from Russia to a record 1,4 million barrels per day in January, 9,2% more than in December