Europe Netherlands Equal opportunities are under scrutiny on Women's Day, as government plans to reduce parental leave benefits for higher income earners: the measure would disproportionately affect men, who often earn more than women, discouraging fathers from taking leave
Europe Hungary With the first during of concrete, IAEA officially changed the status of Paks II nuclear power plant from project to under construction; government sees it as a guarantee for reducing ancillary costs, and the "flagship of Europe’s nuclear renaissance"
Asia Jordan The implementation of the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan 2030, in line with global Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework adopted in 2022, has been launched to strengthen biodiversity protection through an ambitious agenda
Asia Turkmenistan Fans who have bought tickets for the Asian Champions League match between Turkmenistan’s Arkadag and Saudi Arabia’s Al-Nassr on February 11 have been informed, that their seats are being changed to make room for “organized support” groups
America Dominica Recent paintings by Dominican artist Francilia Agar make her new solo exhibition titled “I Am Dominica” housed at Vetivert Contemporary Fine Art Gallery; expressive use of color and texture embody the island’s landscapes, cultural memories, identity
America Canada All public servants will be required to be in the office at least four days a week as of 6 July by a new policy issued earlier this week, with all government executives starting on-site presence for five days a week on 4 May
Asia Afghanistan Nearly five million patients with respiratory illnesses were registered in government hospitals over the past three months according to Minister of Health data, a significant surge from around 3 million last year
Europe Belarus Belarusian Health resorts and sanatoriums in 2025 have treated over 1,6 million patients, including approximately 260.000 foreign visitors from 80 countries, an increase on 2024 in terms of geographical expansion (+12) and revenues (+40%)
Asia India A historic Free Trade Agreement was signed in New Delhi with the EU; the "Mother of all deals" took two decades of negotiations, covers 25% of GDP 96% of goods or services, reduces tariffs on import of cars and wines boosting Indian textiles and services
Oceania Micronesia A 'Countdown for Service' ceremony was held for the East Micronesia Cable EMC Project, an undersea telecommunications system that will now provide submarine fiber optic connectivity to Kosrae, completing cable access for all four FSM states
Europe Ireland Imbolc and St Brigid's Day have been celebrated: now a public holiday, they mark a renewed engagement with Indigenous Irish ways of understanding time, land and belonging: Imbolc signaled longer hours of light and the beginning of the agricultural year
Oceania Kiribati Kiribati signed with New Zealand a new partnership agreement, signalling a warming of relations that had cooled last year when New Zealand announced a review of its development program on the Pacific island nation
Europe Sweden 5.300 trees in deciduous forests in various areas in Sweden and Belgium were selected for veteranization: carefully picked, they are carved, burned, and drilled to make them age prematurely and favor biodiversity, most lively in an over-200 year old tree
Europe Luxembourg Plans for unisex toilets and shared changing rooms in schools have encountered the public's resistance and were countered by fourteen petitions to the Chamber of Deputies; following parliament rules mean only one can be formally taken into consideration