Europe Czech Republic The proposed law on public service media would change the funding model of Czech Television and Radio from licence fees to state budget financing and has become a highly debated issue from all sides over concerns over a potential loss of independence
Europe Albania Two tenders for the construction of water and sewerage networks have been opened by the Albanian authorities with an estimated total budget of approximately €10,7 million
Asia Afghanistan The UN Security Council examined the report on violations of women's rights; Bennett, UN Special Rapporteur on Afghanistan called for the lifting of restrictions against Afghan women
America Nicaragua Over 20 evangelical churches are facing closure and confiscation upon arbitrary fines over 20.000 córdobas; church representatives, threatened with property confiscation and legal action if fines are unpaid, view this as a violation of religious freedom
America Bahamas New standards for the upcoming Junkanoo 2024/2025 season have been announced, requiring leaders to submit detailed reports on expenses and licences to register, after corruptions have been reported for years
Europe Andorra Tobacco taxes will be raised by 6% aiming to reduce the differential with neighbouring countries and to curb smuggling
America Cuba The 4th International Cuban Industry Convention and Exhibition opened its doors in Havana under the theme 'For Greater Complementarity, Integration and International Commitment to Industrial Development'
Oceania Kiribati The International Hydrographic Organisation celebrated Kiribati as its 100th member, offering it benefits such as enhanced maritime safety, strengthened fisheries management, environmental protection
Africa Angola Growing use of minors in gold mining in the municipalities of Jamba and Chipindo, in the central province of Huila, has been reported by the National Institute for Children
Africa Mali Mali's goal is to promptly increase its military capabilities with the assistance of Russia and the countries are discussing the military equipment procurement programme
Africa Burkina Faso Last year, Burkina Faso overtook Afghanistan as the country most affected by terrorism, with almost 2.000 deaths, further demonstrating how the epicentre of global Islamist terrorism is moving from the Middle and Far East to the Sahel
America Guatemala The diverse ecosystems and fauna of Guatemala's Laguna del Tigre National Park have suffered significant losses due to 62 days of fires, resulting in over 465 kilometers of forest area being damaged, with experts predicting a slow recovery of 30-40 years
Asia Iraq The country is grappling with an extreme heat wave that exceeds 50 degrees Celsius, causing serious health problems for the population and impacting on work, agriculture and production routines
Europe Italy The Senate approved the premierate reform, which would 'give citizens back the right to choose who they are governed by'; the opposition accused the government of weakening the country's democracy and took to the streets in protest