Europe Iceland With the highest show up ever recorded in Reykjavik, 52,8% of 225.031 of Icelanders voted against the government's proposal to resume talks on joining the EU after 13 years; Around 12.600 votes separated the figure from the 47,2% who voted in favor
America Barbados Through the Policies Empowering People initiative, Trident Insurance customers had the opportunity to donate a percentage of their new or renewed premium to one of four chosen charities, with €40.000 raised
Europe Moldova Some 54,5 million lei (€ 2,6 million) will be allocated this year from the National Fund for Regional Development to implement nine infrastructure projects in the Southern Development Region to provide water and sanitation and access to public services
Africa Mauritius The first electric bus of the National Transport Corporation (NTC), was launched by the Prime Minister at the Sir Harilall Vaghjee Memorial Hall, Port-Louis, as first step towards a more modern, safe and environmentally friendly transport system
America Paraguay The government raised the tax on tobacco products to 20%; all revenues from this tax increase will go towards the salary increase for public health workers
America Brazil In January, offshore investors broke records by buying over US$6 billion dollars in local stocks to take advantage of the double-digit interest rates, cheap assets and market drawdowns that recently took place in the country
Africa Madagascar 21.000 tons of rice arrived in Toamasina in a ship received by President Rajoelina, who announced that over 60.000 tons are expected in the 1st quarter of 2022; the decision is not unanimously welcomed by local rice producers who fear damage to the sector
Africa Nigeria The financial crimes agency recovered at least $750 million in local and foreign currency linked to corruption and fraud last year, as announced by the Information Minister
America Chile The nation became the first Latin-American state to offer the fourth dose of the Covid-19 vaccine
Asia Lebanon NGO Salam LADC offers refugee women an income to help restore cedar forests in the country, which hosts more refugees per capita than any other country - now about a fifth of the population
Africa Ivory Coast Monsignor Jean Sylvain Emien Mambé has been appointed apostolic nuncio to Mali by Pope Francis, making him the first Ivorian to be invested with this prestigious papal post
Asia Kyrgyzstan The Ministry of Internal Affairs has developed a draft law proposing to reinforce drivers' liability for serious violations of road rules by stiffening penalties for traffic violations; 86,9% of accidents are committed at the fault of drivers
Asia Brunei According to estimates by the Brunei Darussalam Cancer Registry, the risk for a man to develop cancer is 27%, while it is 29% for women
Asia Cambodia The Ministry of Environment and USAID Greening Prey Lang Project are collecting data on the number of resin tree owners - and the number of their trees - in order to produce an ownership register