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 Trinidad and Tobago 10 women who graduated in economic empowerment programme were urged to continue to be lights in their community and speak out against all forms of violence by Ayanna Webster-Roy, Minister in PM's Office with responsibility for gender and children's issues
Africa Equatorial Guinea A consultation meeting was held at the Government House in Ntobo, Bata, which served as a platform to address the management of the fish training and production school located in Bidiba, Bata town
Oceania Micronesia The crew of the USCGC Oliver Henry arrived at the port of Dekhitik in Pohnpei on 1 February as part of an international effort to deliver essential supplies and equipment to the drought-stricken outer islands of Nukuoro and Kapingamarangi
Asia South Korea South Korea's consumer rights watchdog found 473 faulty products which had been recalled from overseas markets being sold in South Korea in 2023: 113 were food and beverages, 106 electronic devices, 70 products for children, 61 sports-related items
Asia Malaysia At the beginning of 2024, a long-dormant border dispute, in which a border village faces the prospect of transferring its land to Indonesia, is reawakening political strife that many had hoped had been eliminated
Africa Tanzania UNICEF has pledged to support Tanzania to improve nutrition and thus end child stunting, which refers to a child being too short for his or her age and is the result of chronic or recurring malnutrition
Asia Azerbaijan The 7 February presidential elections in Azerbaijan saw manipulations and violations, including carousel voting, ballot stuffing and aggressive behaviour towards observers and independent journalists throughout the day
Oceania Samoa To promote a cashless economy, ANZ Bank of Samoa announced its decision to waive Visa debit card payment fees from all local banks under WST15
Europe Serbia The country plans to invest €76,8 million in master's programmes focusing on the application of artificial intelligence in the BIO4 disciplines - biomedicine, bioinformatics, biotechnology and biodiversity
Africa Algeria Algeria is discussing closer bilateral cooperation with Germany in the deployment of renewable energy and green hydrogen on the occasion of the visit of Economy Minister Robert Habeck to the country
Asia Armenia The ICC held a special ceremony to welcome Armenia as the 124th State Party to the Rome Statute, the founding treaty of the ICC
Africa Tunisia The first photovoltaic solar power plant in Djerba and south-east Tunisia has been inaugurated by the Secretary of State for Energy Transition; the plant will provide electricity to 500 households
America Panama The National Migration Service of Panama predicted a 20% increase in irregular migration through the dangerous Darien jungle in 2024, with over 40.000 individuals already crossing this year