Oceania New Zealand 'Our Freshwater 2026' report highlights worsening quality of groundwater, rivers and lakes, with increasing levels of nitrates, E.coli above legal limit, and nearly half of New Zealand's river network unsafe for swimming due to faecal contamination
Asia Bhutan Farmers in Chhudzom Gewog are shifting to organic farming, aligning with the nation’s 100% organic goal; despite lower initial yields and limited bio-inputs, government support, training, and market demand are driving success, boosting profitability
Africa Zambia Ngabwe Municipality has advised to avoid consumption of fish or water-related products from the Kafue River after reports that acid contamination from the Copperbelt has reached the area, causing the death of aquatic life, including fish and crocodiles
Asia Azerbaijan Bloomberg’s correspondent accreditation in Azerbaijan has been revoked, Report news agency states, citing sources
Asia Taiwan A minor planet has been named after Taiwanese artist Chen Cheng-po after approval by the International Astronomical Union that recognised him as one of the 'most iconic figures in Taiwanese art history'
Africa Ethiopia Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed was welcomed in the Somali capital Mogadishu by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud for talks aimed at reaffirming their ties, after tensions escalated last year following an agreement between Ethiopia and Somaliland
Africa Kenya The Garissa High Court issued a ruling ordering the government to issue nationality papers to Kenyan Somali citizens wrongly registered as refugees, thus deprived of access to fundamental rights for years, reported Human Rights Watch and Haki na Sheria
Asia Myanmar Hundreds of people were rescued in recent days from forced-labor facilities that were dedicated to a multibillion-dollar industry of online scams; tens of thousands more remain imprisoned in the fraud factories, lured by false promises of good-paying jobs
Europe Greece Demonstrations were staged across all Greece, including Crete, to mark the second anniversary of the 2023 train disaster that killed 57 people, mainly students; sporadic, provoked clashes occurred between protesters and police
Africa Burkina Faso The country is aiming for the Étalon d'or de Yennenga, the highest award of Pan-African Film and Television Festival in Ouagadougou, where it is competing in the fiction feature film category with two Burkinabe directors, Dani Kouyaté and Chloé Aïcha Boro
Oceania Tonga The project Upgrading Tonga's International Port, a major investment to strengthen the Queen Salote International Wharf, is being supported by Australia through the Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific
Europe Sweden Swegreen has launched its largest vertical cultivation plant inside the Maxi ICA Stormarknad Ängelholm shop, offering a new approach to fresh food production, making it possible to harvest more than 160.000 plants per year with a minimum use of resources
Asia Sri Lanka An event was held to gather international support for the 'Clean Sri Lanka' initiative, a government-led initiative focused on enhancing waste management, promoting sustainability and improving the nation's general cleanliness
Asia Yemen The 4th vascular surgery conference and 2nd cardiac surgery conference, organised by the Yemen Association of Vascular Surgery, kicked off in Sana'a