America Cuba International investors can now build and fully own tourism facilities: to reverse the dramatic fall in tourism, authorities have eliminated the requirement for foreign groups to form a joint venture with the Cuban state to manage their tourism activities
Asia South Korea Some 40% of South Korean workers who reported workplace bullying said they faced retaliation from their superiors afterward, a survey by local civic group Workplace Gabjil 119 showed, adding the government is not doing enough to face the problem
America Haiti A new Provisional Electoral Council has been created to organise a referendum in spring 2025 and general elections by 7 February 2026, the transitional government officially announced
Oceania Fiji The government intends to raise awareness of sustainable land resource management through education and awareness programmes, enabling communities and land users to actively participate
Europe Czech Republic The biggest Czech festival of illustration and comics, LUSTR, started at the Holešovice market in Prague; it will last eight days and citizens will have the opportunity to visit exhibitions, presentations and meet illustrators and comic creators in person
Europe Finland Almost all Finnish companies have successfully exited the Russian market: only 0,9% are still in the process of withdrawing, but none of them is actively doing business, a recent survey by the Finnish Chambers of Commerce reveals
Asia Indonesia National Library Perpusnas has created 100 comic titles from ancient manuscripts in order to spread their content and messages among the community and attract the interest of young readers
Europe Croatia As of 1 January 2025, lightweight plastic bags, typically found in rolls in the fruit and vegetable departments of shops or market stalls, will no longer be available for free
Europe Spain A new autonomous community, the 18th, is planned by the Minister of Economy to streamline bureaucracy: it will be a legal space where companies register and obtain permits and licences valid throughout the country instead of registering for single regions
Europe Ireland Controversial plan to introduce a hate speech law will be dropped as Justice Minister Helen McEntee said the 'hate speech' element of the bill 'does not have a consensus' and will be dealt with at a later date
Africa Ethiopia Ethiopia became the first country to ban the import of diesel and petrol vehicles as early as 2024, but several practical problems have emerged in recent months that call into question the possibility of replacing all non-electric cars
Europe Montenegro A new report lists Montenegro among the ten countries in the world where the fewest people separate household waste, along with Albania and Kosovo
Africa Niger The start date of the school year will be postponed from 2 October to 28 October due to the adverse weather conditions in the country: several schools were affected by flooding, while others are currently occupied by evacuees
America Dominican Republic Assessments to reduce the seismic vulnerability of buildings and infrastructure have been outlined by he National Office for Seismic Assessment and Vulnerability of Infrastructure and Buildings with the provincial government of San Juan de la Maguana