Africa Seychelles Parents whose autistic children didn't meet medical assessment criteria for support in November 2024 - June 2026 will now be eligible for assistance under the Children Neurodivergent Disorder Needs Scheme CNDNS, introduced by government in July 2026
Africa Niger To help improve the wellbeing and mental health of the population, the 'development of the National Mental Health Programme' has been launched in the country
Europe Bulgaria After negotiations to form a new government failed, President Radev called early elections for 2 April, 5th in less than two years; inability to resolve the political crisis could jeopardise the country's entry into the eurozone, scheduled for 2024
Europe Finland 2 pandas that China loaned to Finland 5 years ago could have a major impact on trade relations if Helsinki does not find the funds to maintain them, since the pandemic has dashed all hopes of the expensive animals becoming lucrative tourist attractions
Asia Yemen The Kuwait-based Rahma International Charity completed Idris 3 Model School, which will benefit some 500 children of displaced families in southern Yemen’s Lahj governorate, as part of the eight-year ‘Kuwait is Beside You’ campaign
Europe Sweden An awareness campaign to discourage immigrants from coming to Sweden will be launched, with targeted communications to foreign newsrooms and press agencies, as well as foreign embassies in the country
Africa Democratic Republic of the Congo The authorities have declared 1 February a public holiday in the capital Kinshasa, a decision aimed at allowing Catholic citizens to attend a mass presided over by Pope Francis at Ndolo airport
Asia India Applying a 2021 law 'allowing information to be restricted in case of emergency', Ministry of Communications recently banned sharing of excerpts from documentary India: the Modi question, on his rise in power and role in the Gujarat riots in 2002
Europe Belgium The Tihange 2 nuclear reactor - the second largest of the three reactors in Tihange - has been shut down for good after 40 years of operation, making it the second nuclear reactor to be shut down in the country
Europe Slovakia The Climate Act, which for the first time officially enshrines in legislation the goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, was presented by the Slovak Ministry of the Environment on Monday
Africa Namibia The number of rhinos poached in Namibia last year was the highest ever recorded in the country and almost double than previous year: a total of 87 rhinos were killed in 2022 compared to 45 in 2021, according to government figures
Asia Cambodia Mine clearance experts from the Mine-Free Cambodia 2025 Foundation are preparing to carry out operations in various provinces after plans were approved by the national authorities to use Cambodian-trained mine-sniffing dogs
Africa Nigeria At the end of March, the country will begin its first national census in 17 years; Nigeria's estimated population exceeds 200 million; the UN expects it to double by 2050, that would make Nigeria the third most populous country in the world
Europe Andorra The new compensation system for public passenger transport companies will come into operation on 1 February, with an expected public saving of €1 million