Europe Austria 6 new hotels in Austria joined the international collection of independent quality hotels Quality Lodgings, marking its largest-ever single-country expansion and bringing the collection to 134 hotels across eight European countries
Europe Italy Rice cultivation, of historic importance to the country, is facing a severe crisis; according to National Rice Authority, 46 thousand hectares of paddy fields were lost to drought in 2022
America Barbados Electric buses are coming in a donation from the China International Development Cooperation Agency, part of the effort to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and reduce Windward island's carbon footprint
Asia Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev attended a ceremony to launch new industrial and energy projects; according to the presidential press service, 4.600 industrial enterprises were launched in the country in 2023 alone, with industrial output growth of 6%
Oceania Palau The Palau National Scholarship Board is facing a crucial funding gap as available resources cover less than half of the financial needs of Palau students applying for scholarships
Asia Qatar The country has achieved a steady, strong increase in its natural gas extraction, exceeding growth fivefold in the past two decades, and has now a projected increase of 70% by 2050
Africa Zambia Nearly 10 million people are estimated to be affected by an El Nino-induced drought, about half of the country's population
Europe Slovakia A new film by Erik Baláž, Slovak ecologist, activist and filmmaker, telling the story of the western grouse, which is critically endangered in Slovakia due to widespread deforestation and habitat destruction, struggles to be distributed
America Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 32 participants took part in an exercise at the Agricultural Training Institute and farm of National Property limited in Orange Hill for skills and theoretical and practical knowledge needed for production of coconuts for local consumption and export
Africa Seychelles The University of Seychelles launched its first doctorate - PhD in Business Administration - during a ceremony held at the campus in Anse Royale
Europe Ukraine Parliament passed a law to reform rules for recruiting civilians into the armed forces, at a time when the Ukrainian army lacks soldiers and means to fight: 500.000 men would be needed to relieve soldiers who have been committed for more than two years
Oceania New Zealand New Zealand's Ministry of Trade and Consumer Affairs has warned the country's leaders against maintaining a slow approach on cryptocurrencies, calling on the Australian government to finalize its stance on cryptocurrencies as well 'before it is too late'
Oceania Vanuatu The organization Women Against Crime and Corruption organized a consultation meeting of human rights defenders at the Golden Port in Port Vila
Europe Norway The government intends to invest about 500 million Norwegian kroner (€42.939.000) a year in church restoration over the next three decades