Asia China “Bone ash apartments" will be illegal after new law prohibits use of residential properties to store ashes or bury remains outside dedicated areas; scarce space in cemeteries, low house prices made more affordable to entomb remains in an empty apartment
Europe Estonia A national designated spatial plan for a defense industry park has been approved in a government session; it will cover a 204-hectare site in the Ermistu village, Pärnu city, and a 141-hectare site in Varinurme village, East Viru County
America Bahamas A week before schools reopen, VAT exemption allows families and educators to purchase school items, PCs, stationery, clothing, bags, hair accessories, free of VAT; the Consumer Protection urged retailers not to inflate prices, parents to shop essentials
Europe Slovenia A national test of a new emergency alert system will be run: all mobile phone users connected to wireless networks will receive a push notification from Civil Protection/Disaster Relief, also in English; message in Italian, Hungarian in minority areas
Africa Liberia 30 institutions participated in a comprehensive legal assessment that examined constitutional, statutory, customary laws through a gender lens identifying direct or indirect discriminations against women or girls, also comparing to international standards
Asia Azerbaijan Innovation and Supply Center, a public legal entity has reportedly opened the due procedures for the procurement of medicines to ensure the supply of essential drugs for patients belonging to socially vulnerable groups for a value of 13,4m manats, €6,7m
Asia India Nearly 30% of private cars taking the Delhi-Chandigarh highway have chosen the FASTag annual pass, though much more expensive than the average toll, a higher percentage compared to other areas; 1 million users are expected this year
Asia Bangladesh Stone looting incidents at the Sada Pathor tourist site, in Bholaganj, Sylhet, have been more frequent and bolder in the past months, occurring in daylight, changing the landscape; reported by media, started investigation into local and national officials
Europe Latvia Riga Vice Mayor Edvards Ratnieks announced to the press that he is urging illegal immigrants to leave Riga and Latvia in a month, as citizens reportedly feel less safe; migration was one of the issues highlighted in the campaign this year
America Guatemala Temporary humanitarian status has been granted by authorities in Guatemala to 161 Mexicans, mostly families with children, who have fled Frontera Comalapa escaping cartel violence despite official denials from Mexico
Europe Norway 34-year-old woman from Ethiopia who was working at a youth welfare institution in Oslo was murdered on the job by 18-year-old resident with history of right-wing extremism; he’s also been charged with terrorism as he said attack was politically motivated
Europe Czech Republic Registration period for Czech expats wishing to vote by mail in the upcoming parliamentary elections has closed and first figures report over 24.000 people listed; it is the first time that citizens abroad can vote and it follows a reform passed in 2023
Asia Myanmar Ministry of Information signed a $3 million-per-year lobbying contract with Washington-based DCI Group; The deal comes amid the transition to a nominal civilian interim government, though military chief Min Aung Hlaing remains in powe
Asia Vietnam Plans have started for the evacuation of over half a million people and all boats are ordered to stay ashore as Vietnam braces for an intensifying Typhoon Kajiki