America Guatemala Indigenous communities in Guatemala are facing a high 18% illiteracy rate and have launched initiatives like floating schools—classrooms on boats reaching remote areas—but struggle as many children are pulled from school to work in agriculture
Asia Jordan As the back-to-school season approaches, families across the Kingdom are adjusting their spending habits, prioritising school-related expenses amid strong market competition and a slowdown in other retail sectors, according to traders and analysts
Asia Maldives A maximum prison sentence of three years and higher fines will hit individuals who intentionally fail to submit tax filings for any taxes required or fail to reveal data, if the proposed amendment to the Tax Administration Act passes
Africa Malawi Central Poultry, Malawi’s leading poultry company, provided chicks, vaccines, feed, support to 150 farmers in a pilot project to improve local production; beneficiaries can then sell the chickens to CP or at market price to repay the non-interest loan
Asia Brunei Houselisting was launched by Department of Economic Planning and Statistics; lasting to 24 August, it will build a comprehensive database to support the Labour Force Survey 2025, scheduled for 3 to 30 November and crucial for policy makers
Asia Cyprus MPs are preparing to vote on amendments to the pension reform law that appear to weaken its original provisions with more exemptions, including for state officials; revised proposal sparked criticism and doubts on wether a real reform is still possible
Europe Switzerland The number of catfish caught in Switzerland has increased tenfold in 20 years, as warmer watercourses encourage these predators to reproduce and grow more in size: of the thousands of yearly catches, those above 2m meters are regularly hooked
Africa Zimbabwe A ban on the import and sale of second-hand clothing and on street and night vending has been announced as informal trading practices have harmed formal businesses in Harare
Europe Malta Times of Malta received a court injunction preventing it from publishing an article about an e-money firm just one day after sending questions to the company; union of journalists and Institute for Maltese Journalists are concerned about press freedom
Europe Bulgaria Admirers of traditional Bulgarian carpet craftsmanship gathered for the "Iglika Kilim Fest," a celebration that turned the local meadows into an open-air museum of kilim, antique hand-woven rugs; 965 rugs were displayed across a ten-acre area
Africa Mozambique Education Minister Samaria Tovela acknowledged that the government owes some teachers money for overtime worked accumulated since 2022, explaining that the delay is to serious communication failures as sector lacks consolidated data across Mozambique
Africa Eswatini National Gospel Music Awards saw an overwhelming response from Eswatini’s music community, with over 500 entries from 110 artists within one week of opening nominations; it aim to providing a key platform to talents and reshape the local music industry
Oceania Solomon Islands Students and teachers from Gawa School in the Reef Islands have voluntarily cleaned up the runaway in Lomlom Airport to avoid isolation across Temotu Province, after Solomon Airlines suspended all flights as overgrowth compromised safety of the airstrip
Europe Sweden A month after a law came into effect making insulting a public official a criminal offense, over 170 police reports have been filed from police officers, security guards, public employees and 10 preliminary investigations are underway