Asia Tajikistan An amnesty law signed by President Rahmon to celebrate 35 years of independence will cover 18.038 convicted people, with full release for 11.305 people, reduced terms for 6.733; of 507 women, 248 will be released, of 134 minors, 99 will be freed
Africa Mauritania Fifty thousand fishermen in Nouadhibou depend on the country's octopus trade; in the first quarter of 2023, Mauritanian octopus accounted for almost 40% of Japan's total imports of this delicacy
Asia Maldives Next year's budget will include an allocation to facilitate additional training opportunities for athletes, as part of the government's priority to develop the sports sector
Africa Madagascar The Port of Mahajanga, currently undergoing emergency works, needs rehabilitation and expansion, said the World Bank after a visit on site with Malagasy authorities; works should be undertaken urgently in parallel with the rehabilitation of RN4
Oceania Samoa In an effort to strengthen emergency medical capabilities throughout Samoa, the Emergency Life Support course recently concluded a series of intensive training sessions in both Savaii and Upolu
Africa Sudan Concerns about oil security were at the centre of the meeting between the President of South Sudan and the second-in-command of the Rapid Support Forces, a Sudanese paramilitary group that is a key player in the war
Oceania Palau Delegate Vicky Kanai announced her decision to retire from politics to give opportunity to young Airai citizens, making her the only incumbent legislator to decide not to run again in the next general election in November 2024
Europe Belarus Reports of dead or injured animals on the roads in Belgium reached an all-time high in the first six months of this year, with 10.659 incidents, compared to 9.000 in the same period last year and 7.425 in 2022
America Saint Vincent and the Grenadines A field hospital has been opened on Union Island to meet medical needs; 90% of the houses on the island in the southern Grenadines have been seriously damage or destroyed by Hurricane Beryl
Europe Luxembourg This year marks 100 years since Luxembourg women first participated in the Olympics
Asia Uzbekistan Advertising structures on the streets of Tashkent that hadn't been legalised before 1 June will be dismantled upon order by the Council of Ministers
Africa Democratic Republic of the Congo Reporters Without Borders turns the spotlight on the situation suffered by the local media: at least 14 radio stations are now inactive, six have been looted, five are now broadcasting under the control of the M23 rebels
Europe Liechtenstein Apprenticeships are still popular in the country, with around two-thirds of young people completing secondary school in the country choosing the dual training route
Africa Mali The famous griot Toumani Diabaté, 'King of the Kora', who became a legend in the country, died at the age of 58, leaving the Mandingo tradition of West Africa an orphan