Africa Somalia New EU VISA restrictions make it more difficult for Somalis to travel to the bloc; the recently approved measures intensify an ongoing dispute with Mogadishu over the return of Somalis living irregularly in the EU
Asia North Korea According to state media, North Korea has created a new holiday to celebrate the successful launch of its largest nuclear-capable missile last year, in a move that could be an attempt to bolster the legitimacy of Kim Jong Un's daughter
Asia Philippines An unveiling ceremony was held to celebrate the completion of the rehabilitation of the runway at Basa Air Base in Floridablanca, Pampanga, the largest project under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement between Manila and Washington DC
Europe Austria The country is planning deportations of illegal immigrants after signing a 'migration and security agreement' with the UK to work on a programme to deport asylum seekers to a third country such as Rwanda
Asia Tajikistan Tajikistan and Russia have signed an agreement worth 250 million roubles (2,5 million Euros) for the joint fight against drug trafficking for the period 2023-2025
Asia Palestine With over 10.000 Palestinians recently killed in the Gaza Strip, medical services are on the verge of collapse and aid coming in is insufficient, about 150 trucks in one month compared to 500 per day before the conflict
Africa South Sudan More than 1,6 million children under five are expected to suffer from malnutrition next year in South Sudan, following a surge in water-borne diseases due to flooding, according to the United Nations World Food Programme
America Guatemala Guatemala's Electoral Tribunal has suspended the legal status of the Movement Semilla, the party of President-elect Bernardo Arévalo de León, in response to a request by a judge investigating alleged irregularities in its creation process five years ago
Africa Namibia The African Development Bank has granted the country a loan of $196 million for the second phase of the transport infrastructure improvement project, covering 52% of the total cost; the rest will be provided by the Namibian government
Africa Lesotho Retailers and restaurants in Lesotho are grappling with the negative consequences of the government's decision to impose a ban on chicken imports as bird flu in South Africa continues to disrupt the supply of poultry products to the country
Asia Oman The Wetland Reserve in Al Wusta Governorate has been added to the list of Wetland Sites of International Importance by the Secretariat of the Convention on Wetlands
Europe Russia The Defence Ministry announced that it had 'successfully' tested - internally - an intercontinental ballistic missile launched from a submarine in the White Sea, off the country's northwest coast, towards Kamchatka peninsula
Asia Mongolia A tax exemption system for foreign nationals will be introduced from January 2024 to promote tourism; to claim tax refunds, foreign nationals will have to register in the E-Mongolia mobile application and scan receipts of purchases made online
Africa Mauritania Migrant protection project "Promis" was presented by the Commissioner for Human Rights, Humanitarian Action and Civil Society Relations, covering the period from September 2023 to August 2025