Asia Kyrgyzstan A bill to strengthen the protection of lakes, rivers and reservoirs has been submitted for public discussion, proposing fines and criminal penalties for polluting and a complete ban on destruction of sea buckthorn, reed, and vegetation on Lake Issyk-Kul
Europe Serbia If Serbia were to allow Kosovo to gain a UN seat, it would cease to be a country, states Proroković of Institute for International Politics and Economics in Belgrade, saying that no country did this and he sees no reason why Serbia should be the first
Africa Morocco Morocco's efforts to combat trafficking in psychotropic and psychoactive substances were highlighted at a side event organized in conjunction with the 67th session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs
America El Salvador The country has stored over US$400 million in Bitcoin in an offline "cold wallet," as the cryptocurrency hits new all-time highs; President, Nayib Bukele, called it El Salvador's “first crypto piggy bank”
Europe Belgium Cocaine use in Belgium has risen sharply in recent years, according to a new report by the public health institute Sciensano; requests for cocaine treatment have increased from 2.500 in 2015 to 4.200 in 2022
Asia Uzbekistan Mobile operator Perfectum has been privatized: 100% of the legal entity, Rubicon Wireless Communication, is now owned by Abdumalik Iminov; privatization was ordered by presidential decree in October 2020
Asia Vietnam Nearly 200 people have been treated for food poisoning after eating contaminated chicken at a restaurant in Nha Trang city; the deputy director of the Khánh Hòa Department of Health said that so far, tests of samples and food have not yet yielded results
Africa Mauritius The ceremony for the laying of the foundation stone for the construction of 100 housing units by New Social Living Development on Puspass Avenue in La Source was held in the presence of many government ministers
Europe United Kingdom Only 10% of the funds promised to reduce inequality under the leveling program have been spent; Public Accounts Committee noted ministers "unable to provide any compelling examples of what leveling up funding has delivered so far"
Africa Mali Mali's junta has disbanded the nation's main student organization, the Mali Student Association, accusing it of disrupting classes and provoking clashes and killings
Europe Vatican City The Holy See Pavilion at the 60th International Art Exhibition - Venice Biennale, which will be displayed in the Giudecca women's prison, will illustrate the ability of inmates to embrace art to transform their lives
Asia Qatar Over 50 dolphins of different species have been encountered in Qatari territorial waters by a research team, the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change announced
Europe Ukraine President Zelensky recalled on X that two years have passed since the Russian attack on the Mariupol Drama Theater, raising "eternal remembrance for all those whose lives were taken by Russian terror"
Oceania Vanuatu The Department of Biosecurity has partnered with New Zealand's AgResearch to release a virus in areas of Efate heavily infested with the coconut rhinoceros beetle, including Devils Point, Bukura, and Ifira