America Uruguay To restore police presence on the streets is priority for Montevideo's new police chief, who rejects the idea of heavy hand, defends use of armored vehicles to protect officers, maintains that Uruguay is far from falling into violence as Central America
Africa Democratic Republic of the Congo Since October 20, the rebel armed group M23 has defied the peace agreement in place, continuing to engage in military activities in the North Kivu province, sparking international fears of further instability in the area and worsening civilians' suffering
Oceania Palau A government proposed plan to allow fishing in 50% of Palau waters (now 20%) has heated a debate that is becoming one key issue dividing voters in this year’s general elections, which will take place on 5 November
Asia Singapore Tailored on Asians, the Centre for Advanced Metabolic Imaging is addressing the gap in diagnostics, traditionally based on Caucasian body types; with cutting-edge technology like 320-slice CT scans, it provides more accurate heart and metabolic diagnoses
Africa Zimbabwe Unemployment is the most important problem that Zimbabweans want their government to address, new Afrobarometer survey indicates; citizens’ other top priorities are food shortage, health, education, water supply, corruption and management of the economy
America Saint Vincent and the Grenadines The Degro Trail has officially opened; the project aims to soon become a beloved destination for nature enthusiasts, a mean for local environmental education, and a driver for sustainable tourism
Asia Palestine Pre-Trial Chamber I of the International Criminal Court, in its composition for the Situation in the State of Palestine, unanimously issued a warrant of arrest for Hamas leader Mohammed Diab Ibrahim Al-Masri, for war crimes committed from at least 7 10 23
Asia Laos The government held a meeting in Vientiane targeting Lao diaspora and descendants of Lao heritage; officials urged them to reconnect with their ancestral homeland and explore investment opportunities to support economic growth and strengthen cultural ties
Europe Portugal 70 beaches have been closed this season, 58 of which in the Centre, Tagus and West regions, according to data from Agência Portuguesa do Ambiente published following the official end of the summer season on 31 October in mainland Portugal
Europe Switzerland From January 1, 2025, it will be forbidden to cover the face in public places throughout Switzerland; violations can be fined up to CHF1.000 (about $1.143); the new law does not apply in diplomatic premises and exceptions span from art to health reasons
Asia Turkmenistan In honor of the 300th anniversary of the great Turkmen poet Magtymguly Fragi, an unusual competition of artists was held in Urgench: participants created a portrait of the classic from memory after viewing the original for five minutes
Africa Tunisia Olive oil export revenues in the 2023-2024 season edged up by 50,8% to TND 5.161 billion late October 2024 (1,5 billion), compared with last season, reads the "ONAGRI Vigilance" report; the volume of the exported olive oil rose by 0,4%
America Uruguay Anti-waste sanctions have been imposed on Argentine soybean imports aiming to restore fair competition after an investigation found significant Argentinian soybean waste harming local producers
Oceania Nauru The Asylum Seeker Resource Centre has spoken to almost all the people currently detained on Nauru and, according to its data, almost a quarter of them suffer from serious mental health conditions and one in ten have suicidal ideation