Africa Eritrea The Arbaete Asmara sub-zone has been declared free of female genital mutilation after authorities verification that followed years of local monitoring, community reporting systems and coordinated action by health workers and local administrations
Asia Qatar The new Qatar National Blood Donation Centre was inaugurated at the Hamad Medical Corporation; it will be the sole source for the supply of blood and blood components for all government and private hospitals in Qatar
Europe Norway The powerful farmers' lobby has once again demanded much larger state funding than that offered by the current farmer-friendly government, setting the stage for more organised protests; egg shelves are empty and food prices are rising at the supermarket
Europe Moldova The Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Section of the Balti Clinical Hospital was inaugurated after repairs, modernised and equipped to European standards
Asia Oman The national climate and tsunami wave awareness campaign started in Al Batinah North from Sunday and will run until 15 May, aiming to improve community flexibility and preparedness
Africa Senegal The 32nd Saint-Louis International Jazz Festival will open later this week, taking place 16-20 May in Place Baya and other venues; it will feature 31 international artists and include a Masterclass series on South African Jazz
Asia Cyprus Legal action has been taken against unlicensed individuals performing hair transplants, after police carried out a raid on an illegal hair transplant clinic found to be working without authorisation, Cyprus Turkish medical association warned
Oceania Nauru The 133rd annual meeting of the Forum Fisheries Committee officials began this week with Nauru taking over the chairmanship of the FFC officials
Europe Luxembourg The horticultural exhibition Luxembourg Urban Garden - known as Luga - will kick off in a year's time: parks, gardens, paths and public spaces in Luxembourg and Ettelbrück will be redeveloped in the spirit of local flora and fauna
Europe Latvia The Great Guild of Rīga will undergo major changes within two years: finally the deadline for the reconstruction of the Great Guild concert hall has been clearly marked, after renovation was postponed several times
Asia Kyrgyzstan Five tourist centres will be opened in the Issyk-Kul region in June, said Deputy Director of the Department of Tourism Kyial Kenjematova
Asia Malaysia Scientex Bhd, a global packaging manufacturer and property developer, announced the expansion of its renewable energy initiative with the installation of solar photovoltaic systems in all of the group's facilities in Malaysia
Africa Malawi Shalom Maholo is part of a group of climbers who are creating a new climbing route in Mulundi, on Malawi's western border with Mozambique, becoming the first Malawian woman to bolt a new route in the country
Asia Turkmenistan The Cotton Campaign, an NGO seeking to end forced labour for cotton workers in Central Asia, makes known that the problem remains widespread and systematic in Turkmenistan, despite some changes in the 2023 harvest