Asia Thailand Rubella has been eliminated in Thailand as a public health threat, achieving the WHO criteria for interruption of endemic transmission; imported cases is now the key concern, especially for infections during pregnancy
Europe Lithuania The Tripartite Council, representing the government, employers and trade unions, agreed that the monthly minimum wage should be increased from January 2024, but failed to agree on the amount
Africa Togo In Lomé there are more than 500 children between the ages of 5 and 17 wandering the streets, as shown by the results of a survey presented by the National Human Rights Commission; 52% are Togolese, the others are Niger, Burkinabé, Beninese and Nigerians
Oceania Micronesia Elina Resepwil and Martha Asher are the first young UN national volunteers at the WHO North Micronesia National Liaison Office that will leverage community engagement to increase measles-mumps-rubella vaccination in the Federated States of Micronesia
Asia South Korea A survey conducted with 130 presidents of universities showed 52,7% saw attracting foreign students as a key to secure operations of their institutes, as more and more universities in South Korea face financial crises due to a shrinking student population
America Brazil FAO and the Brazilian government celebrated 15 years of the Brazilian School Feeding Law, a global model that currently serves 40 million students daily
America Nicaragua China and Nicaragua launched their first maritime trade route, with monthly shipments of goods under their FTA, a move expected to boost Nicaragua's exports with tariff-free access for 71% of products in China
Africa Kenya More protests took place against the controversial tax bill that provides for tax increases that opposers claim will raise the cost of living for people already struggling to make ends meet
Africa Nigeria 7 million Nigerian girls have been vaccinated against the papilloma virus in the last two weeks thanks to collaboration with UNICEF and WHO
Europe Slovakia The disputed reform of local public television, has been approved by parliament; it provides for greater government control over the media and against it protests for the freedom of expression had been organised in recent months
Oceania Tonga The first National Standards Roadmap was launched at the Liku'alofa Centre in Tofoa, contributing to the implementation of quality standards for development in Tonga, in collaboration with Pacer Plus and Standards Australia
Asia Jordan 68 burial permits, at the request of their families, have been granted to Jordanian pilgrims to be buried in Mecca, thus facilitating concerned Saudi authorities that have begun the procedures for burying pilgrims who died in the country
Africa Ethiopia The country follows its own calendar, according to which it is currently not 2024, but 2016, which, combined with its particular way of marking the hours, creates a number of complications in everyday life