Asia Nepal 8K Expeditions, a leading Nepal-based mountaineering company, is tasked with fixing summit routes on Mt. Everest and Lhotse this spring; An eight-member Sherpa team, led by Ashok Lama, will install ropes from Camp II to the summits within early May
America Antigua and Barbuda New traffic management measures in St. John's are being implemented, starting with an experiment in changing traffic lights timing during rush hour to address the capital's growing congestion concerns
America Barbados To strengthen health care and boost digital connectivity, Barbados signed two key agreements with European partners, one focusing on pharmaceutical regulatory cooperation and the other on satellite technology for digital transformation
America Bahamas Almost 500 retired civil servants have been re-employed by the government, Minister of Labour and Civil Service Pia Glover-Rolle confirmed
Europe Andorra According to figures from Europe's top football body, clubs in the Liga Multisegur Assegurances received almost €1 million from UEFA for player loans to the national team in the period 2020-2024
Europe Netherlands 119 Benin bronzes stolen by British forces in 1897 and later acquired by Dutch institutions will be returned to Nigeria; one of the largest repatriations of looted artifacts to date, it shows momentum for restitution efforts continues to grow worldwide
Europe Croatia The number of smokers in Croatia is rising: a new study shows that 37% of people used tobacco products in January, +4% compared to the same month two years ago
Europe Slovenia The Slovenian Forest Service will close pheasant and partridge breeding operations in Beltinci, in the northeast, by May 1, marking the closure of the last such breeding facility in the country
Africa Uganda The last eight patients recovering from an Ebola outbreak declared last month have been discharged; World Health Organisation described the recoveries as a milestone reflecting Uganda's rapid response to the epidemic
Africa Guinea-Bissau The first Art Biennial of Guinea Bissau will take place from 1 to 31 May 2025 in the city of Bissau: with 59 events in 31 days, it will become a hotspot of culture and art
America United States On Inauguration Day, the Senate confirmed Marco Rubio as secretary of state, voting quickly and unanimously (99-0 was the result) to give President Donald Trump the first member of his new Cabinet; Rubio was among the least controversial of nominees
Africa Mali The 65th Conference of the West African Order of Surgeons took place in Bamako with 1.500 participants attending training courses, a free surgery campaign and scientific conferences
Africa South Africa The presentation of the national budget was abruptly postponed due to a dispute within the country's ruling coalition, marking an unprecedented delay in South Africa's in the post-apartheid era
Africa Seychelles The district guidelines for the elderly, launched in 2001 by the Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs, are about to be revised and updated, following a workshop organised by the Seychelles Senior Citizens