Malaysia allows further pension fund withdrawals to cover pressing needs
Malaysians struggling to make ends meet will be allowed to withdraw money from their pension fund, at the expense of their future retirement plans.…
Egypt will control the price of unsubsidized bread for 3 months
In the context of food price increases, Egypt will control the price of bread to limit inflation on a particularly essential food commodity for Egyptians.…
Americans may not change their clocks twice a year from 2023
U.S. Senate approved a bill that could make daylight saving time permanent. But standard time may also be the way to go.…
Slovakia says it arrested spies working for Russia. Three Russian diplomats expelled
Slovakia decided to expel three Russian diplomats after it charged two Slovak nationals for having handed over confidential security information to Russian agents.…
Cooking oil becomes scarce in some German stores
Shelves of some German retailers are short of cooking oil, especially sunflower oil, as a consequence of the war in Ukraine.…
Same-sex marriage in Bermuda and Cayman Islands blocked by a UK court
A British court supported local legislation in Bermuda and the Cayman Islands where same-sex marriage is forbidden.…
Britons will receive £350/month in a ‘Homes for Ukraine’ scheme
The British government offers 350 pounds a month to households providing a rent-free room to Ukrainian refugees.…
Argentina stops exports of soybean oil and soybean meal ‘until further notice’
Argentina has banned exports of soybean meal and soybean oil "until further notice", despite what the government said two weeks ago.…
Spanish government voted an investigation on Church sex abuse
The government of Spain voted for an investigation into sexual abuse in the Catholic Church. A month earlier, the Church said it hired a private law firm to make its own probe.…
A European Parliament resolution Mexico President disliked: ‘No longer anyone’s colony’
E.U. parliament urged Mexico to better protect journalists and human rights defenders. AMLO replied the E.U. should remember Mexico "is no longer anyone's colony."…
Controversial Israeli citizenship law extension approved after historical block
Israel's parliament passed a controversial temporary law aimed at preserving Jewish majority dating back to 2003 and the second intifada. It bars reunification of mixed Palestinian-Israeli families. The extension didn't pass last year after 13 years of continuous renewal.…
Bulgaria reviews its bomb shelters
Bulgaria has reviewed its bomb shelters and plans to have a digital repository of safe locations for people to use in case of emergency. Authorities claim a mere timing coincidence with the war in Ukraine.…
Buying cooking oil limited in some Portuguese and Spanish stores because of increased demand
Some supermarkets in Portugal and Spain limit the sale of cooking oil because of the increased demand for sunflower oil coming from Ukraine.…
South Africa the world’s most unequal country for the World Bank
South Africa is the world's most unequal country according to the World Bank. A key driver is the unequal opportunities inherited from the apartheid, while inequality has actually increased since 1994.…
Controversial sale from Namibia of wild elephants to an Emirati zoo
Namibia sold wild elephants at auction arguing conflict with the human population. The sale of 22 elephants transferred to a zoo in Al Ain in the United Arab Emirates is particularly denounced.…
Sweden also plans to increase its defense budget
Sweden wants to increase its defense budget up to 2% of its GDP, which would account for a 64% increase from 2021.…
A sunken ship off the coast of Antarctica found a century later well preserved
Endurance, a ship that sank more than 100 years ago off the coast of Antarctica was found in a "brilliant state of preservation".…
Fewer hate groups in the U.S. again but views more likely mainstream
There are fewer hate groups in the United States for the third consecutive year but their ideas are "increasingly normalized".…
U.N. Human Rights to visit Xinjiang
The U.N. Human Rights will visit the Chinese region of Xinjiang while its inquiry on the persecution of Uyghurs by the Chinese government hasn't been released, yet.…
Former Spanish King will live in Abu Dhabi but can visit Spain
Now that investigations stopped against King Emeritus Juan Carlos I, King Felipe VI accepted his father's request to periodically visit Spain.…
With Ukraine invasion, Romanians’ view on their country improved
In an opinion poll conducted during Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Romanians who perceive the country goes in the right direction have almost doubled in a month. The situation seems to remind Romania of the protection the European Union and NATO provide.…
U.S. online university fined for misleading value of its degree to students
The Ashford University was fined because it mislead students on the real cost of its courses and downplayed financial debt they would incur.…
U.N. and Yemen Houthi rebels agree on solution to avoid massive oil spill from tanker
The United Nations and Houthi rebels in Yemen found an agreement to save crude oil from a damaged tanker anchored for decades in the Red Sea. The vessel risked sinking and causing an environmental catastrophe.…
Lego in 2021 again increased profit as people stayed at home
Lego again recorded significant growth in profit for the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic that forced families to stay at home.…
Ireland plans to compensate families of healthcare workers who died of COVID
Ireland seeks to compensate families of healthcare workers who died of COVID-19 with 100,000 euros.…
Russian gymnast shows pro-invasion symbol before competition ban is effective
Russian gymnast Ivan Kuliak displayed a symbol supporting the invasion of Ukraine before the exclusion of Russians in international competitions became effective.…
IEA’s plan to decrease EU reliance on Russia’s natural gas
The European Union may be able to decrease its dependency on Russian gas by 30% within a year with various sets of measures. Saving energy and reducing household heating would have a moderate impact.…
Russia brings Ukraine war sanctions in the deal on Iran nuclear program
As talks with Iran on its nuclear program were close to an agreement, Russia wants to make sure sanctions against its invasion of Ukraine will not affect its partnership with Iran.…
Korean prominent politician assaulted days before presidential elections
Song Young-gil, South Korea's ruling party leader, was attacked during a rally days before Korea's presidential election marked by bitter campaigning.…
Myanmar’s military junta terminates citizenship of 11 opposition leaders
Myanmar's military junta revoked the citizenship of opposition leaders accused of having fled the country and harmed national interests.…
U.A.E. on ‘gray list’ by anti-money-laundering body
The U.A.E. is considered to have made efforts against money laundering but more needed to be done.…
Prison for lèse-majesté for a sticker on the portrait of Thailand’s King
A court in Thailand sentenced a political activist to two years in prison for lèse-majesté. Many others have been charged with defaming monarchy during recent protests calling for political change.…
Sony to help Honda produce new electric cars in an uncommon move for Japanese businesses
Sony and Honda will join forces to produce innovative electric vehicles. An uncommon move in Japanese business.…
New measures against women violence in Turkey, but according to its own standards
Turkey released a plan to protect women from violence after it withdrew from the Istanbul Convention which was considered to go against Turkey's traditional family values.…
Argentina and IMF find agreement on restructuring debt
Facing difficulties to reimburse the IMF, Argentina found an agreement to restructure its debt. But it is unclear whether lawmakers will approve it.…
President of Peru accused to be the ‘head of a criminal organization’
A lobbyist accused the president of Peru Pedro Castillo of being at the head of a criminal organization manipulating public tenders during clandestine meetings.…
Costa Rica legalized therapeutic marijuana
Costa Rica legalized therapeutic use of marijuana, considering it is part of citizens' "fundamental right to health".…
U.S. states launch an investigation on TikTok’s harmful effects on children
Several states in the U.S. have launched an investigation on the possible harm of TikTok on children's mental health.…
A South African court settles the rightful Zulu king. No coronation yet
A dispute for the next king of the Zulus was brought to court to halt the coronation. A judge ruled the rightful heir to the throne but it remains vacant for now.…
U.S. returns looted artifacts to Jordan seized from a billionaire
American authorities have returned nine looted artifacts to Jordan.…