Dubai and Abu Dhabi governments with shorter working weeks
The United Arab Emirates public sector will move to a four-and-a-half-day working week for all federal government departments on January 2022.…
The Netherlands: 50% of victims of human trafficking again victims of crime
Victims of human trafficking in the Netherlands seem to end up in a cycle of violence and insecurity. The Covid-19 pandemic hid the cases of sexual exploitation while it put light on forced labor.…
Australia to make social networks potentially accountable for content
Australia Prime Minister announced the government wants social media platforms to reveal the identity of malicious users and make them responsible for the content published if they don't. But the law will not be short of challenges.…
Argentine authorities want to continue restrictions on beef export in 2022
Argentina has been limiting the export of beef to China in order to reduce domestic price increases on meat. The government would like to continue in 2022.…
First Facebook threat report: antivax brigade from France and Italy; Belarus KGB accounts
In November, Facebook removed an antivax campaigns from France and Italy, Facebook accounts from the Belarusian KGB as well as fake account from a Chinese cybersecurity company.…
Coffee price increase: Good news for Colombian producers, not for Turkish consumers
Coffee is at its highest price in 10 years. For Colombia, it means more revenue despite a smaller production while in Turkey prices skyrocket with the inflation.…
Solomon Islands: New Zealand also sends troops, Chinatown a ‘no go zone’
New Zealand joins forces with Australia, Fiji and Papua and New Guinea to stabilize the Solomon Islands. The government declared Chinatown as a no go zone until they clean the area.…
The U.S. officially removed the FARC from terrorist list
The U.S. removed the FARC from the list of foreign terrorist organizations to be able to cooperate with former members turned politicians. The president of Colombia respect the decision but would have preferred another one.…
Satellite images reveal high methane emissions from coal mines in Australia
Results suggest Australian coal mines emit a lot more methane than what it reports. The Hail Creek coal mine operated by Glencore is particularly on the spot.…
Barbados becomes a Republic
Barbados becomes a Republic and removes Queen Elizabeth II as its head of state but remains part of the Commonwealth.…
Portuguese youth: 30% wants to leave the country
A report on the young in Portugal reveals major insights 30% are sure to leave the country. 7 in 10 earn less than 1,000€ a month.…
Zacatecas, a Mexican State where organized crime killings doubled in 2 years
The president of Mexico visited Zacatecas as the State has been suffering from a rise of violence in recent months.…
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.…
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.…
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.…
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.…
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.…
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.…
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.…
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.…
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.…
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.…
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.…
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.…
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.…
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.…
Scientists ask for renaming species of modern human ancestors
Scientists want to change the taxonomy of some human species by suppressing two denominations and creating a new one that would become our direct ancestor: the Homo bodoensis.…
Sweden starts investigations on illegal international adoption activities
Sweden's government decided to open up investigations into its international adoption activities. Hundreds of children were allegedly illegally removed from their families in Chile between the 70s and the 90s.…
In Japan, 14% homes vacant, more than 42 million empty places in the world
While cities in Japan are overcrowded, rural areas are empty. Overall, about 10% of homes remain vacant among 20 OECD countries.…
In Singapore, eye tissue can be stored for future use
A company in Singapore can store eye tissue to reuse it later when vision degrades getting older. The technology is not ready for clinical use yet. But it might prove to be an alternative in some cases of cornea transplantation from dead donors.…
French justice demands the State to compensate carbon budget excess
The French justice demanded the State to repair its failure in tackling climate change. The year 2020 has yet helped France respecting the average carbon budget of the last six years.…
Kenya refuses ICJ ruling on maritime boundary dispute against Somalia
The ICJ ruled in favor of Somalia about a long dispute with Kenya on their maritime boundaries at the core of diplomatic tensions between the neighbors. Kenya rejected the decision.…
When a provocative video to get followers may get you expelled from Colombia
A so-called Dutchman influencer paraded with a woman in her underwear in the streets of Medellin. The mayor asked the immigration bureau to expel him.…
Peanut butter sandwich, chewing gum package and secret nuclear data
An American nuclear engineer and his wife have been charged with selling restricted information about the design of nuclear-powered warships. They made a deal with an undercover FBI agent.…
India wants its share of the space economy
India launched the Indian Space Association in order to increase its influence in the space economy. It will share the knowledge of its civilian space agency to private companies.…
A South African company emits more sulfur dioxide than anyone in the power sector
Eskom, the South African electricity producer emits more sulfur dioxide, an air pollutant causing acid rain, than the power sectors of the United States and China combined.…
A computer simulation explains the Vale dam disaster
Another study explains the potential trigger of the Vale dam disaster in 2019 and blames a drilling occurring shortly before the failure. For the Vale organization, it shows a "particularly unfavorable combination of circumstances".…