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
Africa South Sudan UN human rights experts called on South Sudan's leaders to properly manage the conclusion of the country's political transition to achieve lasting peace and prevent violence and gross human rights violations
Asia Qatar In an effort to address evolving paediatric nutrition concepts related to metabolic diseases, Qatar University will host its second Child Nutrition Conference on 21-22 February at the College of Education building
Europe Norway The au pair programme is being phased out after years of complaints about exploitation by Norwegians who used it to get cheap domestic help; from 15 March no more applications for au pair work will be accepted from residents of countries outside the EEA
Asia Tajikistan According to the official website of the Tajik President, the handicraft sector development is growing year on year under the special attention of President Emomali Rahmon himself
America Panama Local environmentalists have criticized the government for its inaction in closing the copper mine operated by Minera Panamá, emphasizing that it is putting the area at risk and increasing the country's vulnerability to international arbitrations
Africa Gabon IMF experts welcomed the efforts of Gabon's transitional authorities in managing public finances
Asia Israel The Defence Minister and the War Cabinet Minister have openly opposed PM Netanyahu's decision to go along with National Security Minister's request to restrict Arab-Israeli worshippers on the Temple Mount during Ramadan
Africa Chad The country has declared a 'state of food and nutrition emergency' throughout its territory, while more than half a million refugees fleeing the war in Sudan have poured in over the past ten months
America Antigua and Barbuda Melinda Simon, Senior Facilitator at the National Office of Disaster Services, urged the community to take disaster information more seriously, citing a worrying lack of awareness among residents
America Bahamas Priscilla Jasmine Rollins, affectionately known as the Queen of Soul from the Bahamas, best known for her hits "Independence Morning" and "Gat a Letter from Miami" has died
Africa Comoros The country recently reaffirmed its unwavering support for Moroccan sovereignty over the Sahara and the plan for autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty as the only serious and pragmatic solution to this regional dispute
Asia China The 'National Anti-Fraud Centre', an application developed by the Chinese Public Security Bureau to counter suspicious and fraudulent calls, text messages and installed applications, could be also used to monitor Tibetans, according to a new report
Europe Belgium In an attempt to tackle the challenge of decommissioning nuclear power plants and managing radioactive waste, Belgian researchers are developing a state-of-the-art metal melting furnace to reduce the radioactive waste content in metals