Asia Laos New rules for intellectual property protection wereintroduced, allowing businesses to protect industrial designs internationally through a single application under the Hague System; It simplifies registration and administrative procedures, reducing costs
America Chile Chile has excluded Israeli firms from the 2024 International Air and Space Fair (FIDAE), drawing criticism from Senator Carmen Gloria Aravena Acuña for what she deems a diplomatic misstep
Oceania Papua New Guinea PNG was listed as a very high-risk destination for security in a recent report by the Tourism Promotion Authority, with particular emphasis on concerns for travelers from the United States, Australia and China
America Saint Kitts and Nevis A three-day workshop was held focusing on the unique challenges of electricity regulation in small island states in the Caribbean, with the theme "Right-sizing Electricity Regulations in Small Island States within the Caribbean: How Far, How Fast?"
America Bolivia La Paz, facing intensified flooding following record-breaking rainfall attributed to El Niño, declared a state of emergency, prompting government assistance as the deluge, which destroyed hundreds of homes, continues to cause chaos
Africa Sudan The number of inhabitants facing emergency levels of hunger, the stage before famine, more than tripled in one year, approaching five million, according to the Integrated food security phase classification, the food security index used internationally
Asia Turkey An accumulation of water in the foundation of a construction site in Istanbul's Kadıköy neighborhood has been falsely identified as a lake on Google, Apple and Yandex digital maps
Africa Togo A project has been launched to strengthen power distribution capacity in the central region with the laying of 34 km of 20 KV medium-voltage grid, construction of 61 MV/LV distribution substations and installation of 360 km of low-voltage grid
Asia Philippines The House of Representatives Committee on Transportation has addressed bills that would provide harsher penalties for perpetrators of road rage; bill proposes a prison sentence of up to 12 years
Europe Malta Valletta's Manoel Theater will become accessible to people with mobility impairments for the first time in its 300-year history after an elevator was installed to provide access to all floors of the historic Baroque-style theater
Oceania Tonga The rising star of the Tonga Tala, Tonga's national netball team, is aiming to climb to the No. 8 position in the world's top ten netball teams in international competitions scheduled for 2024
Asia Maldives The Maldives Police Service has dismantled a major criminal network, which encouraged various crimes, operating through Telegram channels that, according to police, have been in operation since April last year
Oceania Samoa After six months of planning and recruitment, the Office of the Election Commission is set to open Samoa's online registration portal on May 6, while manual registration will begin in Aprile
Europe Monaco Five teams of Monegasque pastry chefs competed to win the prize for the best Easter egg of the season under a new edition with a new theme: "Monte-Carlo: a Blue, Pink and Red Spring", Blue for the sea, pink for the famous Rose Ball and red for passion