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
Africa Seychelles A team of researchers from the University of Exeter and the Seychelles Islands Foundation has confirmed that Aldabra Atoll has the second largest population of green turtles in the region, still growing thanks to 50 years of enforced protection
America Saint Vincent and the Grenadines In seeking to reduce the Food Import Bill, Government continues to encourage Vincentians to buy and eat local; the Rural Transformation Unit is leading the drive to revive home gardening, traditional method for households supply of nutritious groceries
Oceania Palau A large crowd turned out for the public hearing to oppose the proposed law to reopen the Palau National Marine Sanctuary to longline and purse seine fishing, a possibility being considered by the national congress
America Barbados The sugar harvest season officially begins today; target output for 2022 exceeds 2021 figures, it will satisfy 100% of local consumption needs, favor local rum producers and be exported by local firms
Asia Taiwan Taiwan's longest bicycle path, 87,5 kilometres, was inaugurated; it links Yunlin, Chiayi and Tainan in the south and the Council of Agriculture pledged to plant a total of 100.000 trees along the track
America Belize Investors bought an island off the coast of Belize to start a new country called Islandia, claiming to be the world’s newest micronation - an area that claims national sovereignty; it is not recognized by other sovereign states
Africa Mozambique The President met with his South African colleague Ramaphosa, as part of the SA-Mozambique Bi-National Commission talks, to discuss two pressing issues: the insurgency in Cabo Delgado province and Cyclone Gombe
Europe Portugal The government has approved the strengthening of the financial subsidy for fuel purchases by citizens, which as of March is 40 cents per litre, up to a limit of 50 litres, for a total of 20 euros
Africa Zambia The country mourns the death of former president Rupiah Banda, the fourth leader since independence from Britain, with a three-year term remembered for economic growth, thanks to rising copper prices and Chinese investment, and allegations of corruption
Europe Moldova 300.000 Ukrainians have crossed the country, the poorest in Europe, of whom more than 100.000 have remained in the various reception centres set up by the government or in private homes, also thanks to the extreme efforts of civil society
Asia Thailand The country plans to dam a branch of the Salween River to provide the necessary water to farmers in 27 provinces who are expected to benefit from the project, but communities upriver are united in their opposition
Asia Singapore The Budget 2022 debates saw the highest participation of MPs in five years; despite several members of Parliament being absent for Covid-19, 639 'cuts' filed, 73 hours of debate and 66 speakers were recorded
Europe Romania 4% of the wood used by IKEA in 2020 was from Romania, very rich in primary forests and facing severe illegal deforestation; IKEA is also alleged to have committed irregularities in managing Romania's forests and benefiting from the illegal market