Asia Laos New rules for intellectual property protection wereintroduced, allowing businesses to protect industrial designs internationally through a single application under the Hague System; It simplifies registration and administrative procedures, reducing costs
Asia Armenia The proposal on the start of visa liberalization for Armenian citizens has been approved by the ambassadors of EU Member States to Armenia
Africa Burundi The Burundian government and the UN system launched a four-year HIV/AIDS programme with an investment of about USD 14 million for a Burundi with zero new infections, deaths and discrimination by 2027
America Venezuela Many Venezuelans are considering emigrating if President Nicolás Maduro wins the July 28 election, adding to the nearly eight million already abroad, amid escalating economic conflicts and political repression
Asia Bahrain As of 1 September 2024, all licensed financial and banking institutions will have to comply with the Central Bank of Bahrain's new Open Banking Regulations
Oceania Tuvalu The Tuvalu Waste Management Department is determined to keep its communities safe from the potential danger of asbestos through careful data collection and evaluation
Asia United Arab Emirates The validity period of Emirati passports has been extended from 5 to 10 years for citizens aged 21 years and older, the UAE Passport Authority officially announced
America Nicaragua The country has become a key gateway for migrants traveling to the US, leveraging visa exemptions for various nationalities and facilitating private charter flights, including from distant countries like India and Kazakhstan
America Bahamas Ahead of the passage of a package of cannabis bills in the House of Representatives, the Bahamas Christian Council had urged against them, saying it feared they would lead to an increase in marijuana abuse
America Trinidad and Tobago Piarco International Airport, Trinidad, and ANR Robinson International Airport, Tobago, are still operating despite the Microsoft service disruption that left several other airports stranded
Oceania Australia The most popular dog names of 2024 have been announced: according to data from Scratch's 2024 Great Australian Dog Survey 'human' names are increasingly common
Europe Ukraine The European Union will reintroduce the duties on bran imports from Ukraine startingMonday 22 July; they had been set at zero for another year last 6 June to support the economy in Kiev
Europe Sweden The country officially joined the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO), which will start operations and investigations in Sweden 20 days after the appointment of the Swedish European Public Prosecutor, scheduled for autumn
Europe Slovakia More and more foreigners from third countries are purposely applying for work permits instead of business permits, threatening Slovak craftsmen, the Association of Industrial and Transport Trade Unions claims