Asia Indonesia After a 7,7 magnitude earthquake hit Flores, the scientific community said consecutive major earthquakes, (like Venezuela, Colombia) are normal: global earthquake rates remain steady, averaging about 16 major earthquakes, magnitude 7 or higher, each year
Europe Iceland More than 500 refugees have arrived since the beginning of the year and an unexpectedly high percentage of them are deaf or hard of hearing, especially among Ukrainian; Icelandic Red Cross says it is hard to find Ukrainian sign language interpreters
Asia Maldives The Maldivian Ministry of Health has launched an investigation into allegations that Iraq-born Dr Mala Ali Mahmud, who claims to heal people with hearing and vision problems, has cured several patients in the country
America Colombia The government has presented a USD$250 billion four-year development plan projecting its social and economic investments, aimed at surrendering deals with armed groups, reducing poverty, improving access to education and protecting the environment
Oceania Marshall Islands Last month, Japan's Ambassador Kazunari Tanaka attended the handover ceremony of two new boats in Likiep, as part of the Japan-funded 'Project for the Improvement of Maritime Transport in Likiep Atoll'
Asia Jordan Ahmad Jubran, an architect and PhD candidate at Waseda University in Tokyo, Japan, launched a community initiative to clean-up and document abandoned heritage buildings in Salt; the first campaign targeted Said Al Bahra School, which opened in the 1950s
Africa Liberia The work of Liberian Sara Beysolow Nyanti, Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary General, Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator in South Sudan, has been recognized by Pope Francis, during his recent visit
America Mexico One of the world’s strictest anti-tobacco laws has been imposed in the country, setting a total ban on smoking in public places as well as its promotion, advertising and sponsorship
Europe Latvia The Latvian Capital Market Forum 2023, organised by Latvia's central bank, Latvijas Banka, will be held today 8 February 2023, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with the title "growth loves those who dare"
Africa Guinea-Bissau Women's organisations in Guinea-Bissau argue that it is urgent that men accept them as partners and assume that equal rights and opportunities are not a favour
Africa Malawi South African Airways will resume direct flights between South Africa and Malawi from 16 March, following an agreement reached in Pretoria with the Malawi High Commission
Asia Israel The Israeli Foreign Ministry is reportedly considering recruiting legendary footballer Cristiano Ronaldo to promote the possibility of normalisation between Israel and Saudi Arabia
Oceania Tonga Tupouto'a College of the Free Wesleyan Church in Nomuka, Ha'apai, has received new school supplies from the Australian Government, after being affected by the Hunga-Tonga Hunga-Ha'apai natural disasters
Europe France The third day of mass strikes and demonstrations against President Emmanuel Macron's unpopular plan to raise the retirement age to 64 took place yesterday, with hundreds of thousands of people taking part in more than 200 street demonstrations