Oceania Marshall Islands The fish aggregation devices FADs that fishing boats use to make catches easier, lately equipped with satellite communications gear to pinpoint location, are now being built by drug cartels that wrap packs of cocaine and radio transponders to trace troves
Asia Kazakhstan From January to May this year 1,5 million tons of coal have been delivered to EU states, almost twice as much as in 2021, although most of them still have to go through Russian rails or ports to reach European countries
Asia Malaysia The water tariff for the domestic category, or residential premises, in the peninsula and the Federal Territory of Labuan will not be increased, in view of the rising cost of living faced by the people
America Venezuela President Nicolas madero has endorsed the “Organic Law of Special Economic Zones”, which will allow for designated zones with less regulations to attract foreign investments
Africa Malawi The administration proposed a bill to amend the Courts Act and increase the retirement age of judges from 65 to 70; the bill also seeks to create a special financial crimes court and scrape off 4th grade magistrate courts
Asia North Korea The latest addition of a cargo vessel to its merchant fleet once again demonstrates how the country flexes international networks to evade UN sanctions, expert says
America Colombia A 7 million euros grant following a treaty signed with Germany will be destined towards biodiversity protection, especially for the Colombian Amazonia
America Paraguay Ex-President Horacio Cartes has been blacklisted and fined by the US for alleged corruption and links to terrorist groups
Oceania Fiji The first Chinese incentive group with 34 travellers have been welcomed by Tourism Fiji executivesfor a four-day trip to Nadi and the Mamanuca Islands
Asia Philippines The Election Commission stated that voter registration from 4 to 23 July saw 2.936.979 registered voters nationwide, with the 15-17 age group being the most populous
Africa Ethiopia The United Arab Emirates, through the Famine Relief Fund, has made a $6 million contribution to UNICEF’s specific response for children in Ethiopia
America El Salvador The government has extended the State of Emergency for a fourth time to continue its ongoing gang crackdown, however, citizens have taken the streets to protest since already over 46.000 people have been arrested
America Nicaragua La Prensa, a leading national newspaper, has announced on its website that the majority of the staff have been forced to flee the county due to the regime’s journalistic persecution, but will continue working from abroad
Europe Romania A revision of this year’s budget is scheduled in the first half of August; it would need to include a 10% cut to each ministry’s budget, but also the support measures to mitigate the impact of inflation and increasing energy prices