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 Russia Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un signed an agreement in which they pledge to help each other in the event of aggression against either country, a pact cementing a rapidly expanding partnership that has worried a number of neighboring countries and the West
America Grenada Training of farmers and technicians to advance sea moss production was held in Grenada, with course organised in collaboration between FAO and the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands, Forests, Marine Resources and Cooperatives
Europe Spain NGO Border Forensics has published a counter-investigation report where it claims that the deaths of 37 migrants in June 2022 along the border between Morocco and Spanish enclave of Melilla were caused by the actions of police officers from both countries
Africa Rwanda The country, through the Rwanda TVET Board, partnered with the Luxembourg government, represented by LuxDev, to launch a €5 million project to improve digital skills in technical and vocational education and training
Oceania Papua New Guinea Wood has secured a contract worth $18 million from the Newmont mining company to upgrade the Lihir gold mine in Papua New Guinea, with projects focusing on maintenance and improving the condition and performance of the plant
America Saint Kitts and Nevis The Anti-Migrant Smuggling Bill 2024 was successfully passed by the Federal Parliament, which aims to deter migrant smuggling and aligns national laws with the International Protocol against Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air
America Trinidad and Tobago Oil production in the first quarter of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023 dropped by 11%, reports Trinidad Express
Oceania Solomon Islands Women's political representation in the country remains low despite legislation requiring parties to include 10% female candidates; there are loopholes that limit the impact and only four of the 13 parties have reached the threshold
Africa Eritrea The 11th annual Asmara College of Education festival concluded with a series of programmes highlighting the progress of quality education and the development of the teaching profession
Oceania Tuvalu Tuvalu, a nation where athletes train on the airport runway, will manage to send a one-man team to the Paris Olympics, with Karalo Maibuca, flag-bearer three years ago in Tokyo, competing for the country in the men's 100 metres
America Paraguay Surplus energy is being harnessed to support Paraguay's Bitcoin mining as part of an economic transition; the initiative aims to use revenue from selling energy to legal Bitcoin miners to bolster the country's industrial sector
America Bahamas New standards for the upcoming Junkanoo 2024/2025 season have been announced, requiring leaders to submit detailed reports on expenses and licences to register, after corruptions have been reported for years
Oceania Australia Melbourne has confirmed its position as Australia's best city for students after the publication of a global ranking highlighted the state's educational opportunities, affordability and cultural diversity