Europe Poland Surveillance tech produced by Polish companies is being exported to states with poor human rights records according to latest report by watchdog HRW on dual-purpose technologies; the ONG calls for EU to strengthen due diligence and transparency rules
Europe Slovakia A Bratislava court has barred former Slovak National Theatre director Matej Drlička from making any public statements about Culture Minister Šimkovičová from 6 December, granting her request for an emergency injunction following a defamation complaint
Asia Taiwan Taiwan and India pledged to build a resilient supply chain by combining Taiwan’s advanced technologies with India’s software talent and manufacturing incentives; the official talks aimed at efforts to diversify beyond vulnerable networks
Asia Brunei 1.361 citizenship certificates have been granted this year thanks to an update of guidelines and eligibility that came into effect on 31 December 2024 and helped reduce the backlog in applications
Africa Benin During the ongoing first edition of the Cotonou Comedy Festival, Roukiata Ouédraogo - actress, novelist, and columnist - led a 2-day masterclass with a roundtable bringing together women artists, stakeholders and enthusiasts of public speaking
America Saint Lucia Police have confirmed that United Workers Party candidate for Castries South was taken into custody and later released the same day on Election Day, 1st December, after officers acted on reports of alleged vote buying; $30.000 was recovered on his person
Europe Luxembourg Doctors’ and dentists’ association, pursuing its goal of higher remuneration for doctors has caused conflict with the government and hospitals, as the organization, newly named Médecins du sector hospitalier, says the billing system lacks transparency
Asia Saudi Arabia The Farasan Islands Reserve joined Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar), making it the first Saudi marine reserve to be officially registered under the Convention, a milestone in the Kingdom’s efforts to protect ecosystems
Africa Namibia Creative Industries Strategy 2025-2030 presentation and international consultations will be launched; the strategy shapes establish a framework to redefine Namibia’s cultural environment, with a greater focus on creating wealth through the creative sector
Europe Belgium A street dealer in Antwerp attempted to sell drugs to undercover police officers this weekend, according to local police; the man was arrested twice in two days for the offence, has been apprehended around 30 times this year and is irregular in Belgium
Africa Angola Angolan children living on the streets in Namibia will be repatriated by the end of 2025; concerns have been raised over the long distances young children are travelling unaccompanied, particularly along the 760-kilometre Oshikango–Windhoek road
America Barbados Former Mr Universe, professional wrestler and actor Earl Maynard, as he turns 90, reflects on the journey that took him from Barbados to the UK and Hollywood and how his roots continued to guide him back to his motherland
Asia Azerbaijan A joint action plan on emergency situations has been signed with Uzbekistan along the 26th International Conference of Heads of Firefighting and Rescue Services of the member countries of the International Sports Federation of Firefighters and Rescuers
Europe Estonia Ingka Investments, IKEA Group, has received permission to acquire 18.000 hectares of forest in Estonia from the Swedish-owned Södra Forest Estonia; Competition Authority approved the €720 million acquisition; most of Södra, 135.000 hectares, is in Latvia