Oceania Papua New Guinea Machetes and axes are now banned in public, following a court order that also prohibits building roadblocks in an area of Enga province were tribal fights plague the life of communities; the judge cited fundamental constitutional rights to issue the ban
Africa Cape Verde Rapid urban growth and housing shortages have fulled informal neighborhoods in Cape Verde main cities; Experts advocate inclusive solutions with community participation under the slogan "Urban Planning - cities for all, by all"
Europe Andorra The fishing license has been abolished: from now on it will be no longer necessary to hold an authorization to practice fishing as a hobby; the move seeks to simplify administrative procedures, eliminating an obligation that has become obsolete
Asia Kuwait An overhead power transmission line that had been damaged by falling debris from intercepted drones has been fully restored and brought back into service at dawn on the first day of Eid Al-Fitr by teams working despite the holiday
America Cuba The first shipment of international aid arrived in Cuba from Europe, with five tons of medical supplies and international Convoy to Cuba is on the way with more of essential items; meanwhile the energy crisis resulted in the second nationwide blackout
Asia Kazakhstan Nauryz was, the ancient spring festival rooted in the culture of Turkic peoples since centuries, was celebrated yesterday; it had been banned under the Soviet regime and restored again for the first time in the Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic in 1988
Africa Algeria Boxer Imane Khelif said she will undergo genetic testing requirements to be able to participate in competitions as long as the tests are conducted by the IOC; her win in women’s welterweight at the Paris Games 2024 sparked a dispute over her eligibility
Oceania Marshall Islands The RMI EPA Majuro Water Quality Laboratory and its staff have been audited and received full Microbiology re-certification to analyze drinking water under the Colilert® Method and marine and other surface waters under the Enterolert™ Method
Asia Indonesia To limit students’ screen time in schools, reduce digital dependence and support healthier learning habits a new policy is being planned that would guide teachers in integrating devices while encouraging more balanced classroom activities
Europe Latvia The number of particularly serious crimes increased by 19% last year, mainly due to large-scale financial crimes, as well as violent crimes against minors; one of the priorities for 2026 is to ensure quality in the implementation of criminal proceedings
Asia Brunei 5.564 hectares have been developed as forest plantations, 16.291 planted through enrichment programs to ensure a sustainable timber supply and support the long-term growth of Brunei's forestry industry
Europe Italy Italians are going to the polls for a constitutional referendum on the judiciary system that has developed into political polarization; experts say the proposed text would eventually open up to moves that would restrain the autonomy of the judiciary power
Europe Germany Gerd Faltings, a number theorist at the Max Planck Institute for Mathematics in Bonn, has won the 2026 Abel Prize, one of the most prestigious awards in mathematics, for his work on proving that Diophantine equations can have a finite set of solutions
Asia Iran Iran is celebrating Nowruz, the Persian New Year, during wartime for the first time since the 1980s; believed to have been celebrated in ancient Iran since at least the fifth century B.C., it marks the solstice of spring and symbolizes new beginnings