Europe Ireland The number of houses offered for short-term rent in Ireland is almost nine times higher than the number available for long-term rental, according to data from charity Threshold
Africa Mauritius In an effort to support small tea planters, a free fertiliser distribution ceremony was held as part of the Tea Sector Support Scheme
Africa Eswatini In recent years, Eswatini has achieved major milestones in snakebite management, reducing snakebite deaths to zero in the summer season of 2023; results are now threatened by funding cuts, exacerbated by the suspension of US aid
Asia Bahrain Startup Bahrain, a Tamkeen-supported platform for Bahraini start-ups, has kicked off a new season of its StartUp Bahrain Pitch entrepreneurship series highlighting Bahrain's most promising founders
Europe Belgium A new record was set on Friday for the warmest March 7 since measurements began in 1880, the Royal Meteorological Institute confirmed, with 17,7 degrees; the last record was recorded in 1991
Europe Bulgaria Bulgaria had the highest total fertility rate in the EU in 2023 with 1,81 live births per woman, followed by France (1,66) and Hungary (1,55), according to Eurostat data released on Friday 7 March 2024
Asia Japan A bill to tighten regulations on host clubs was approved, aiming to curb abusive practices that force female patrons into prostitution and will now be submitted to parliament; 2.776 official reports in 2024 of such exploitation have drawn public outcry
Europe Bosnia and Herzegovina The political situation has deteriorated in recent days, after the State Court last week found Milorad Dodik, the president of Republika Srpska, guilty of resisting the High Representative's decisions
Europe Albania TikTok will be banned in Albania for 12 months; access to the platform will be cut off within a week, following a decision by the Council of Ministers
Asia Cambodia Defense Minister inspected the construction of the Win-Win Memorial in Pailin, commemorating the end of Cambodia’s civil war; Win-Win Policy, introduced in the 1990s, aimed to reintegrate former Khmer Rouge into society through security guarantees
America Antigua and Barbuda Training sessions for parents on positive behaviour management strategies have started upon initiative of the Ministry of Education following research that revealed significant gaps between disciplinary approaches at school and at home
Asia Nepal Shepherds in Rukum are preserving centuries-old traditions of sheep herding and wool craftsmanship, vital to their culture and economy: men graze flocks in the highlands, women weave durable goods; modern competition challenges this heritage's survival
Europe Andorra To promote the construction of affordable rental flats, the government is working on an 'ambitious bill' for a programme of fiscal, urban planning and economic incentives
Europe Vatican City The England and Wales Cricket Board has apologized after it reposted a message from the account of Pope Francis for the beginning of Lent "The #Ashes remind us of who we are, which does us good" and suggested the pontiff was a fan of the Ashes series