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
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
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
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
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 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
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
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 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
Africa Botswana Health officials have begun screening travelers for smallpox at entry points in the country after neighboring South Africa recorded deaths
Africa Ghana US$1 billion will be disbursed to Ghana by the World Bank over the next 12 months with the aim of stabilising the economy, supporting private enterprises and financing critical projects
Europe Germany According to Eurostat data for 2023, Germany was the largest producer of ice cream, with 612 million litres, followed by France with 568 million litres and Italy with 527
Asia Brunei It is necessary to encourage greater collaboration between industry and higher education to meet the challenges of the future, the monarch of Brunei said
Asia Georgia The unemployment rate decreased by 3,1% to 13,7%, according to the National Statistical Service; in the second quarter of 2024, the number of persons employed increased by 19,1 thousand (2,1%) compared to the corresponding period of the previous year