Why would Hungary be angry at Norway? Cancellation of a grant
Viktor Orbán decided to block a joint statement from the European Economic Area to annoy Norway after refusing to allocate Hungary a grant.…
India fertility rate now below replacement level. Does its population decrease?
India fertility rate have never been lower, an indication the population is going to eventually decline, but not in the short term.…
UNICEF Lebanon survey: Crisis got worse for children in the last six months
UNICEF Lebanon survey shows that more children skip meals for lack of food. One in ten is sent to work instead of attending school.…
Newsletter of November 23, 2021
Today's newsletter covers Jordan, Israel, Hong Kong, China, Taiwan, Lithuania, and more.…
Jordan and Israel intend to trade electricity for water
Jordan and Israel signed a declaration of intent: One seeks to increase and diversify its water supply, while the other wants to improve its renewable energy mix.…
Hong Kong and the regulation of urban wild boars
The number of boars raiding the streets of Hong Kong has increased in recent years, driving controversy between authorities trying to regulate the population of wild pigs and animal lovers who protest against their extermination.…
China downgrades diplomatic relations with Lithuania over Taiwan office
China doesn't accept that Taiwan opened a representative office in Lithuania. Lithuania claims it is only based on economic interests: laser technology could help Taiwan's production of semiconductors.…
Newsletter of November 20, 2021
Today's newsletter covers Brazil national high school exam, India farm laws and more.…
Bolsonaro tried to revisit Brazil history in high school exam
Brazil president wanted to change the military coup into a revolution. Several employees also resigned denouncing censorship.…
Modi and India repeal contentious farm laws voted 14 months ago
In India, the three contentious farm laws that led to farmer protests for a year will be repealed, Narendra Modi announced in an address to the nation…
Newsletter of November 18, 2021
Today's newsletter covers Chile's contract with a Chinese company, Norway scandal of free apartments for representatives, Singapore's lack of fun, elections in Venezuela and more.…
Chile cancels deal with Chinese Aisino over data safety and US partnership
Chile cancelled a contract with the Aisino-Mühlbauer consortium because of data safety concerns in to remain in the U.S. Visa Waiver Program.…
In Norway, politician perk scandals reach the Parliament top position
Stortinget President Eva Kristin Hansen wanted to remove abuses of politician privileges. But the scandal about commuter houses eventually involves her as well.…
Singapore: Good for business but not much for fun
Singapore has fewer bars thank Hong Kong. To become a leading financial hub, the city could be more fun than having pure business events.…
Newsletter of November 16, 2021
Today's newsletter covers internships of seniors in Italy, Miss South Africa's participation at Miss Universe, the French flag and Malaysian citizenship.…
Ahead of regional elections in Venezuela, still a long road to reconciliation
The opposition coalition decided to participate in the local elections on November 21. But entrenched in international politics, democracy is still a long road ahead in Venezuela.…
Always more interns aged 55+ in Italy
Usually underpaid, these internships increased more among the 55+ age category in the past years than any other age group.…
South Africa withdraws support to her Miss at Miss Universe 2021 in Israel
South Africa considers Israel as "guilty of the apartheid treatment of Palestinians" and wants a boycott of Miss Universe 2021.…
Newsletter of November 13, 2021
Today's newsletter covers a new mineral observed for the first time, UK recruitment of Kenyan nurses, a Russian symbol banned in Latvia during public events, a Turkey-South Korea military deal, and more.…
Davemaoite, the mineral from deep Earth stuck in a diamond observed for the first time
The discovery of davemaoite in a tiny diamond from Botswana offers an unprecedented view of the earth's lower mantle and opens new areas of research.…
England stops recruiting healthcare staff from Kenya, except for nurses
England will restrain from hiring Kenyan healthcare professionals, despite an agreement between the governments in July. But the recruitment of nurses still remains possible.…
Latvian parliament bans a Russian symbol in public
The ribbon of Saint George was used to commemorate WWII. It also became a political message supporting Russia, reviving the Soviet Union for the Latvian parliament.…
Newsletter of November 11, 2021
Today's newsletter covers a food shortage in Russia, Belgian disagreement on climate, diamond smuggling in the Portuguese army, and more.…
Turkey fears the U.S. blocks a military deal, further delaying production of tanks
Turkey found a deal with South Korea to move forward with its program to build new tanks. But the plan may change, and Turkey reportedly fears the U.S. would pressure South Korea to avoid transferring military technology.…
Low supply of some food items in the Russian Far East
Seaports are jammed because of the world intense maritime traffic, authorities explain. But ice in the alternative Northern Sea route also trapped several ships.…
Belgium unable to agree on its climate plan
With a fragmented political landscape, Belgium will not be able to announce an agreement for implementing its national climate policy during COP26.…
Portuguese Army involved in diamond smuggling investigation
Portugal arrested several ex-military officers suspected to have smuggled diamonds and gold during their deployment in a United Nations operation in Central African Republic.…
Newsletter of November 9, 2021
Today's newsletter covers decriminalization of abortion in Colombia, forced labor in Malaysia, a fake emergency landing in Spain, the popularity of 13 world leaders, and more.…
Cocaine hidden in fruit juice seized in Hong Kong
Hong Kong authorities seized for $80 million of cocaine coming from Brazil. Transportation and storage cost more than the product itself.…
Indonesian Environment Minister didn’t say the COP26 deforestation pledge was unfair
The nuance lies in the difference between deforestation and net zero deforestation. But the statement nor Indonesia is without any ambiguity.…
Jair Bolsonaro, the least popular of 13 world leaders
Out of 13 world leaders, Narendra Modi is the most popular. For several months, the French President Emmanuel Macron was the most unpopular of all.…
Horse jumping removed from modern pentathlon
The international federation of modern pentathlon decided to remove horse jumping from the 5 traditional disciplines of the sport.…
Will Colombia decriminalize abortion this time?
In 2020, the Constitutional Court chose not do change the law. The results could now depend on the vote of only one judge.…
The U.S bans more products from Malaysia because of forced labor
With products from 4 companies currently banned entry in the U.S., only China surpasses Malaysia on suspicions of forced labor.…
Newsletter of November 6, 2021
A nationalist demonstration in Poland, a troll farm in Nicaragua, Algeria-Morocco increased tensions, Portugal parliament, and more.…
Political battle over a nationalist demonstration during Polish national day
Held every year on November 11 during the National Independence Day, it became a controversial face of the country's patriotism. During the Covid-19 pandemic, the mayor of Warsaw tried to block it.…
One of the biggest government troll farms dismantled by Facebook in Nicaragua
Directly handled by government agencies, some accounts have been influencing the population since 2018.…
Newsletter of November 4, 2021
A Mexican drug cartel recruitment process, a deal on nuclear reactors between Romania and the U.S., a cashback program to boost tourism in Argentina, a potentially new ancestor of the Homo Sapiens, and more.…
In Mexico, drug cartels also recruit via online video games
Three children between 11 and 14 were recruited via an online mobile game to work 1,200 km from their hometown, most probably for drug traffickers.…
Strategic cooperation between Romania and the US in the race of nuclear reactor deployment
Romania will buy small modular nuclear reactors from the U.S. The first commercial agreement of this kind. The race on SMR deployment is already on.…