Asia Bangladesh Recent studies demonstrated that microplastics are present in water, sediments, fish, salt, soft drinks, milk, edible oil and more products in Bangladesh, underscoring the growing concern that these pollutants are transferred to humans through food
Africa Sierra Leone National emergency has been declared for growing abuse of kush, a psychoactive mixture of addictive substances made also from human bones affecting 63% of patients of Sierra Leone Psychiatric Hospital; security has also been tightened at cemeteries
Europe Portugal Despite recent rain, the Algarve continues to be in a situation of extreme hydrological drought; the City Council of Albufeira will launch a set of 23 measures to promote the reduction of water consumption to be detailed to users in their next water bill
Asia Tajikistan UN Women and Embassy of France in Tajikistan collaborated to host an event focused on protecting survivors of gender-based violence through shelters to raise awareness among government authorities, the private sector, development partners
Europe Slovakia Team from the Kempelen Institute of Intelligent Technologies created the world's largest database of verified facts and an app for media professionals to verify information, regardless of where in the world it originated
Asia Turkmenistan Under a project funded by the government of Turkmenistan and implemented by UNDP, the installation of modern laboratory equipment was successfully completed in 14 clinical laboratories in all districts of Balkan province and 16 in Dashoguz province
America Bolivia Thousands of MSC Cruises passengers are stranded in a port in Barcelona due to 69 Bolivian passengers lacking the correct entry documentation for the Schengen area, as reported by Bolivia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Africa Gambia ChildFund Gambia donated 1.000 solar lamps and two 40-foot containers loaded with additional textbooks to the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education for later distribution to schools throughout the region
Africa Comoros From improving the quality of service to implementing an action plan to strengthen the capabilities of its staff, Comores Telecom said it wants above all to listen to its customers, both in terms of comments and suggestions and at the level of criticism
Asia Japan 157 hospitalizations have been traced back to dietary supplements at the center of an expanding health scare, an increase from the 114 cases that last week Kobayashi Pharmaceutical said were linked to its products containing red yeast rice 'beni kōji'
Asia Brunei The Central Bank of Brunei and the Bank of Laos have officially joined the Regional Payments Connectivity after previously expressing their interest in participating in the initiative
Africa Djibouti Djibouti's sovereign wealth fund said it is ready to co-invest beyond ports and military infrastructure, as the country prepares to welcome investors from around the world for the inaugural Djibouti Forum in May
Europe Greece Seven out of ten units of blood collected in Greece last year came from voluntary donations, according to the annual report of the National Blood Donation Center, which shows an increase in 2023
Africa Central African Republic Discussions have begun in Bangui on the second review of the government's economic and financial program, supported by the Extended Credit Facility