Asia Cyprus Cyprus is one of Europe’s ten largest video game industries by revenue, with over 400 companies generating an estimated €3,2 billion in 2025; report by Cyprus Game Makers Association CYGMA says sector is dynamic and largely absent from official statistics
Oceania Vanuatu The country will open borders to fully vaccinated international travellers from 1 July 2022, with no quarantine or limits on arrival - the announcement comes from the Vanuatu Tourism Office
Asia Japan The Anti IUU Forum Japan - a group of NGOs promoting sustainable fishing - issued a statement to government officials suggesting measures to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing
Europe Denmark Although women still lead the way, new data from Danmarks Statistik shows an 18% increase over 2015 in men applying for paternity leave, thanks in part to government measures
Africa Madagascar The poverty rate is dramatically worrying according to recent data from the World Bank : 81% of the population has a daily income of less than 8.600 ariary a day ($2,15), the poverty line that the WB has applied since August
Asia Laos About 7.000 people die every year in Laos from smoking-related diseases, 19 individuals a day, including non-smokers who inhale second-hand smoke, in figures presented by the Minister of Health
Africa Senegal Several Dakar fishermen and restaurateurs are concerned about a seawater desalination plant under construction, fearing the environmental impact that could lead to a shortage of fish for the plant's waste
Europe Belarus The Belarusian public organisation Sister Cities has proposed to organise a meeting between the sister cities of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation in 2023
America Canada Government introduced legislation to cap the number of circulating handguns; the regulations make it illegal to buy, sell, transfer or import handguns anywhere in Canada would be enacted this fall, while a mandatory buyback program should start soon later
Africa Lesotho Soil erosion - increased by overgrazing and climate change - is the direct cause of wetland degradation in Lesotho, according to the latest results of the field survey conducted by FAO in collaboration with the government
Africa Comoros Resident Coordinator of the United Nations System in the Comoros brought together specialists from WHO, UNICEF and FAO, as well as journalists, to take stock of the challenges and risks related to malaria, still a very dangerous disease in the country
Africa Gabon The authorities have launched an anti-poaching operation to search for weapons and game belonging to potential poachers, a response to reports of increased poaching activity in some areas
Africa Libya The first skatepark in Tripoli was inaugurated; funded by the US Embassy it was built by the NGO Make Life Skate Life with the help of volunteers from around the world
Asia Kazakhstan A series of training courses on 'Creating Women's Cooperatives' will be organised with USAID's support; through them, more women entrepreneurs can integrate into local supply chains throughout Central Asia