Europe Malta The heating debate on overtourism must not become an argument against tourists or the tourism industry, Prime Minister Abela warned, or the sector would risk "a mortal blow"
Asia Taiwan Employees received an average year-end bonus of more than NT$70.000 (US$2.400) for their work in 2021, with those working in shipping receiving the largest payment, according to the Directorate-General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics (DGBAS)
Africa Republic of the Congo After Congolese Rumba was inscribed on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list in December, the director general of the French Institute in Pointe-Noire stressed that the creation of infrastructure can only bring added economic value
Africa Sudan Sudanese artist Mutaz al-Fateh has been using special recipes to create his unique paintings for years, using natural ingredients such as ground coffee, tea leaves and fruit peel shavings
Africa Morocco The Moroccan ceramic city of Safi is planning a candidacy for UNESCO intangible cultural heritage status; the National Museum of Ceramics has helped to highlight the craft and also the city on a national and international level
Africa Malawi The country will launch malaria vaccine for children between five and 22 months by the end of this year
Asia Iraq Iraq's water resources have declined by 50% since last year due to successive droughts, low rainfall and falling river levels; the country is one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change and desertification
Europe Germany The return, between 17 September and 3 October, of the much-loved Oktoberfest in Munich has been announced (6,3 million visitors in 2019); the mayor has specified that the event will be unrestricted, but may see price increases due to inflation
Africa Namibia Namibia's hunting season begins today: game birds, the big game species of kudu, oryx and red elk, the smaller springbok and warthog species can be hunted
Asia Vietnam The glass-bottomed Bach Long pedestrian bridge suspended 150 m above the jungle has been opened; the building company claims it' the longest glass-bottomed bridge in the world and Guinness World Records officials are expected to verify it next month
Europe Bosnia and Herzegovina The authorities have decided to suspend the issuing of licences for the construction of small hydroelectric power plants following several campaigns launched by national and international environmental groups
Asia South Korea From today schools will resume normal operations under new guidelines; schools will adapt “normalcy attendance” measures: face-to-face classes will be held and online classes will be reserved for special circumstances
Europe Bulgaria A regional coordination centre will be set up in Bulgaria to manage the overall use of gas and electricity infrastructure and additional gas purchases for the Balkans and Italy
Africa Benin In the W National Park in the north of the country, rangers who are supposed to exclusively protect wildlife and carry out anti-poaching activities are increasingly involved in anti-terrorism activities, Reuters reported