Europe Luxembourg Luxembourgish Gynecologists's association announced that they are relieved to hear that surgical reconstruction of the hymen and virginity certificates will no longer be allowed; the move is considered a step towards better protection of women's rights
Africa Sudan In the face of the cholera epidemic, with over 2.700 cases reported, UNICEF is stepping up its response to prevent the spread of the disease and protect vulnerable children
Africa Burkina Faso The country is aiming for the Étalon d'or de Yennenga, the highest award of Pan-African Film and Television Festival in Ouagadougou, where it is competing in the fiction feature film category with two Burkinabe directors, Dani Kouyaté and Chloé Aïcha Boro
Oceania Tonga The project Upgrading Tonga's International Port, a major investment to strengthen the Queen Salote International Wharf, is being supported by Australia through the Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific
Africa Ethiopia Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed was welcomed in the Somali capital Mogadishu by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud for talks aimed at reaffirming their ties, after tensions escalated last year following an agreement between Ethiopia and Somaliland
Asia Myanmar Hundreds of people were rescued in recent days from forced-labor facilities that were dedicated to a multibillion-dollar industry of online scams; tens of thousands more remain imprisoned in the fraud factories, lured by false promises of good-paying jobs
Europe Switzerland Cigarette smuggling at Swiss airports increased sharply in 2024 with 880.000 undeclared items, compared to 690.000 in 2023; Geneva airport was the focus point with over 700.000 undeclared cigarettes discovered, mostly probably intended for sale in France
America Uruguay A decade after Uruguay legalized cannabis, strict regulations limiting legal access and excluding tourists have led to a growing gray market, pushing consumers toward informal sources, highlighting the need for policy adjustment to meet demand effectively
America Peru The expansion of agribusiness in Peru’s Amazon is driving deforestation, land conflicts, and environmental damage, with companies exploiting legal loopholes to acquire land, often displacing indigenous communities
Oceania Tonga 25 Tongan police officers successfully completed a two-week leadership training programme for 'emerging leaders' conducted in collaboration with the UK College of Policing
Asia United Arab Emirates The UAE Ministry of Education has designated Friday of each week during the month of Ramadan as a distance learning day for students in public schools, its the exception of students whose exam schedules have been approved for Friday
America Saint Kitts and Nevis The Day of Interruption, a nationwide student action against crime, violence and unsocial behavior at school, was celebrated on 26 February; organized by the Citizen Security Secretariat, it saw a massive participation of volunteers
Africa Togo The University of Lomé will host the African Physics Conference from 14 to 20 September 2025 with international researchers, educators and decision-makers to strengthen scientific cooperation and promote physics research in Africa
Asia Indonesia The free nutritious meal program, a goal of President Prabowo Subianto, again faces reports of food poisoning, undercooked meals and spoiled food in its rollout; authorities are investigating incidents to improve the program's safety and implementation