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
America Cuba The director of the Centre for Demographic Studies at the University of Havana, Antonio Aja, warned of the complex demographic situation, given the strong ageing, as 24,4% of the total population will be 60 years or older at the end of 2023
Asia Cambodia 'Bakong Tourists App' has been launched in Siam Reip to help promote international tourism influx by allowing electronic payments
Africa Guinea Maternal and neonatal tetanus (MNT) has been eliminated in the country, representing a public health milestone; UNICEF and its partners, including dedicated health workers, have joined forces to achieve the goal
Asia Malaysia Penang area continues to draw in more tourists as direct flights increase, especially from China, and more cruise ships make it their port of call, while neighboring Pendang registers the highest substance abuse nationwide, at over one in 100 individuals
Asia Jordan The tourism industry is proving robust, but a slew of cancellations from operators and concern from international travelers is stopping Jordan from seeing its true potential as prospective travelers look at the country fearing the war next door
Europe Albania Last week marked the highest number of flamingos ever observed in in the protected landscape of Vjose-Narte and all of Albania, with over 5.000 individuals, representing about 4% of the European population of this species
Africa Madagascar Jenny Williams, senior space analyst at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew, London, flew over Madagascar with small drones to map its extraordinary biodiversity, also showing if, how and where protected areas are being deforested
Europe Bosnia and Herzegovina Director of the Public Highways Company and the Director of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development Office in BiH signed a €3,5 million Grant Agreement for the supervision of works on the Putnikovo Brdo - Medakovo section
Africa Cameroon Milk production increased by 2% in 2023, attributed to revitalisation policies, including greater involvement of private sector and import of high-yield dairy cows; despite this, there remains a milk production deficit of almost 120.000 tonnes per year
Europe Belgium Single tickets to attend the Eucharist led by Pope Francis on Sunday 29 September at the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels are sold out
Africa Burundi A relentless "wave of repression", according to Amnesty International, is characterizing President Evariste Ndayishimiye rule, despite the hopes for change pinned on his inauguration four years ago
Europe Czech Republic The Czech government intends to start taxing cryptocurrency transactions, with a law aimed at curbing tax evasion and creating a level playing field between cryptocurrencies and standard financial products
Europe Lithuania "Akiplėša" (Toxic) by Lithuanian director Saulė Bliuvaitė has won the Golden Leopard prize of best movie at the 77th Locarno Film Festival; it reflects the dreary lives of girls in an industrial city, which they want to escape with a modeling career