Asia Maldives Journalists filled the parliament gallery in silent protest earlier this week as lawmakers in the chamber below debated a bill proposing a new regulatory body with sweeping powers to punish and shut down media outlets
Africa Mali Mali, with Niger and Burkina Faso, will lose its membership status in the Economic Community of West African States on 29 January, following withdrawal from ECOWAS after refusing the bloc's demand to restore democratic rule.
Asia Mongolia Parliament is reviewing a new $700M loan with India’s Exim Bank to fund increased costs for the Oil Refinery Project, a key initiative since 2017; the deal, at a 1,75% interest rate, includes stricter financial terms and a 20-year repayment plan
Europe North Macedonia Employees of the Ministries of Culture, the Environment, European Affairs, Digital Transformation, Transport and Communications and the Economy staged a protest, demanding a 30% salary increase and the signing of a collective labour agreement
America Suriname Suriname welcomed new ambulances for key healthcare institutions, funded by the IDB, as part of its modernization efforts, with more expected from China to meet growing emergency care demands
Africa Libya The acting president of Libya's state-owned National Oil Corporation announced that the company plans to increase daily oil and gas production to two million barrels in the next three years if 'the right funds are made available'
Oceania Solomon Islands Australia's Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister, Richard Marles, travelled to the Solomon Islands for a series of high-level talks, meeting Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele and other government ministers
America Panama The Panama Canal will remain under Panamanian control, reaffirmed Arsenio Dominguez, head of the International Maritime Organization, rejecting US President-elect Donald Trump's hints at using military force to claim the canal
America Nicaragua Nicaragua swore in 2.500 masked "volunteer police" under a controversial reform expanding government control, sparking criticism as exiled opposition calls them "paramilitaries" and decries the move as bolstering Ortega and Murillo's authoritarian regime
Africa Guinea-Bissau Guinea-Bissau's High Commissioner for the Islamic Pilgrimage to Mecca and Saudi Arabia's Deputy Minister of Hajj and Umrah signed an agreement formalising the participation of 751 Guinean worshippers in the event to be held in May from 26 to 11 June
America Mexico The University of Mexico’s rector urged Mexico to defend migrant rights against Trump’s policies, announcing actions to support migrants via its US branches while emphasizing the need for public policies to ensure human rights and combat discrimination
America Peru International tourism rose by 29% in 2024, totaling 3,2 million visitors entering Peru; Chile, the US, and Europe were the key sources
America Paraguay Paraguay declared a 60-day national emergency due to wildfires affecting nearly 15.000 hectares in 2025, mandating urgent measures to protect ecosystems and penalize those responsible, with heat sources already surpassing recent historical averages
Africa Cape Verde Building resilience and accelerating a low-carbon transition are at the heart of Cabo Verde's sustainable development strategy, according to the Country Climate and Development Report, recently launched