Oceania Palau A historic $15 million financing agreement has been signed with Saudi Arabia, marking a shift in how Palua's National Development Bank will now operate, as the loan will be directly invested into building affordable housing
Europe Luxembourg The government once again discussed the future of Caritas, with a plan to liquidate some of its entities; the new organisations that would replace them could then employ Caritas employees, but under separate management
Asia Turkmenistan The first lesson of the new school year will be dedicated to the theme 'Magtymguly Fragi's fountain of wisdom' and the country's achievements in 33 years of independence
America Argentina Vice President Victoria Villarruel has called for reopening legal cases against leftist guerrilla groups from the 1970s and potentially imprisoning their members today
Africa Madagascar Faced with recurring water supply problems in Antananarivo, Prime Minister Ntsay met with officials from the Ministry of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, but no immediate solution was adopted
Africa Morocco More than four thousand people convicted, wanted or facing prosecution for cannabis-related activities have been granted a pardon by King Mohammed VI, enabling a massive accession of cannabis farmers, producers and cultivators to the regulatory process
Africa Nigeria Interpol arrested more than 300 people as part of an international investigation against one of the world's largest criminal networks, the Nigerian Black axe, seizing $3 million in illicit assets and freezing more than 700 bank accounts
Africa Somalia The militant group Al-Shabaab is now 18 years old, as it emerged in 2006 as an alternative to the degradation of the state; born out of a network of Islamic fundamentalist movements, it joined al-Qaeda in 2012 and counts between 7.000 and 12.000 soldiers
Europe Russia Most of Russia is set to experience prolonged periods of 'high' and 'extreme' fire danger this year, according to forecasts by the State Hydrometeorological Centre based on climate and weather data
Africa Namibia Approximately 400 timber planks were confiscated in the Kavango West region in August according to Kavango West police regional commander Julia Sakuwa-Neo, who said planks were seized after establishing that no permits or authorisation was granted
Africa Tanzania Households that have voluntary moved out of Ngorongoro Conservation Area and set in Msomera Village have been provided with a 3 bedroom house on 2,5 acres of land a 3 acres farm and foodstuff for 18 months, says Supervisor of Voluntary Relocation Exercise
Asia Afghanistan The Taliban have formally codified into law a rule on the propagation of virtue and the prevention of vice that places severe restrictions on the appearance, behaviour and movements of women and also imposes constraints on men
Africa Mauritania PM Mokhtar Ould Ajay met with the Ambassador of Qatar to Mauritania to discuss cooperation actions between the two countries and the means to develop them; diplomatic relations had been re-established last March after a break of almost four years
Europe Denmark €20M in aid for Denmark for better pig welfare have been approved by the EU Commission; the program aims to support farmers to implement preventive measures that reduce the risk of tail-biting