Asia Israel The Knesset has passed a media overhaul law giving government greater regulatory control; PM Netanyahu attended the debate, skipping the vote; the news has been released by a number of online media in the late hours of 16 July
Asia South Korea The new National Assembly of 300 members selected in last week's general election will have no independent members for the first time in over five decades: 58 candidates without political party affiliation ran in 254 constituency, but none prevailed
Africa eSwatini Vice chair of the Committee on Industrial Relations and Social Business Policy Eswatini highlighted concern about an economy struggling to attract investment and generate job opportunities
Africa Sierra Leone 85.000 people are currently struggling with epilepsy throughout the country, revealed Max Bangura, executive director of the Sierra Leone Epilepsy Association
Africa Republic of the Congo About five years after its introduction in Congo, the martial art hapkido is attracting many teenage girls who train at a center in the city of Pointe-Noire to learn how to defend themselves
Africa Central African Republic Gender-based violence is rising for ongoing conflict and weak legal system; notwithstanding the stigma of reporting, since 2020 reported cases rose from 9.200 to 25.500, according to data by the UN and partners, but international funding has decreased
Oceania Samoa An addendum to the existing 2012 bilateral agreement was signed with the US to continue and expand operational cooperation in the suppression of transnational illicit maritime activities
Oceania Tonga The Asian Development Bank and the government signed a grant agreement to help accelerate economic recovery from disasters caused by natural hazards and health emergencies
Europe Russia Patriot, an autobiographical book Russian dissident Alexei Navalny was working on before his death last 16 February in a prison in Siberia, will be published on October 22
Africa Cameroon After Chad, World Food Program plans to suspend humanitarian aid to Cameroon due to lack of funds; after the end of April, "we have no visibility on possible funding," said Aboubacar Guindo, WFP vice president in Cameroon
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
Europe Germany The Bundestag, the lower house of the German parliament, has approved the so-called "self-determination law," a provision that makes it easier to change gender identity and name at the registry office
Africa South Sudan As the country races against time to hold its first national elections in December 2024, an event brought together political actors and civil society representatives to agree on a Code of Conduct that will govern the actions of political parties
Asia Philippines The Election Commission is set to hold the plebiscite for the creation of 8 municipalities in the Special Geographic Area of Bangsamoro Autonomous Region; April 13 activity will give the people of the 63 villages a chance to form their respective towns