Asia Malaysia The Gig Workers Bill 2025 was passed, extending labor protections to about 1,2 million gig economy workers; the law mandates written contracts and basic benefits, like insurance and leave, for drivers, freelancers and platform workers
America Ecuador Diplomatic and consular services for Ecuador in Venezuela will be taken over by Switzerland, as the bilateral relations between the two South American nations have been broken
Africa Ethiopia The production capacity of Ethiopia's manufacturing industries has risen to 60%; a new policy has been implemented in recent years to exploit the sector's potential and capitalise on emerging opportunities
America Colombia Colombia set a record in 2024 with 6,2 million international visitors, surpassing projections and highlighting its appeal as a top Latin American destination, driven by its culture, natural beauty and also sustainable tourism efforts
Asia Kuwait The Cabinet approved a draft decree-law imposing a 15% tax on multinational entities operating in multiple jurisdictions, aligning with global tax regulations to curb tax evasion and ensure revenue retention, coming into force on 1 January 2025
Asia Iraq One of the main ways Baghdad intends to meet its climate commitments, become self-sufficient and reduce import costs is to reduce, and utilise, gas flaring in the country, reducing it to 20% by 2025
Asia East Timor Independent study on the development of the Greater Sunrise gas project, conducted by company Wood earlier this year confirms that developing it in East Timor waters is feasible and would be provide significant economic and social benefits
Africa Botswana 400 elephant hunting licenses have been issued on top of permits for other species amid fresh opposition from conservationists; international hunters pay up to $50.000 to obtain a license in order to hunt an elephant
Africa Eritrea President Isaias Afwerki and President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of Somalia held extensive talks in Asmara focusing on the consolidation of bilateral ties; the two leaders underlined the importance of Somalia's stability for the entire Horn of Africa
Africa Guinea-Bissau The Ghanaian ECOWAS contingent offered a solidarity lunch to the children and staff of the 'Lar de Vida - Betel' orphanage in the Quelele district on the outskirts of the Guinean capital Bissau
Asia Palestine Journalists Faisal Abu al-Qumsan, Ayman al-Jadi, Ibrahim al-Sheikh Khalil, Fadi Hassouna and Mohammed al-Lada'a were killed by the Israeli army while they were sleeping in their truck marked as "press"; over 200 registered journalists have now been killed
Asia China The World Bank, in its latest economic update on China, revised upwards - even though minimally - its economic growth forecast for 2024 to 4,9%
America Dominican Republic The Dominican government, through the Ministry of Energy and Mines, signed a memorandum of understanding with the French Development Agency to launch a three-year technical cooperation programme to support a sustainable and equitable energy transition
Asia Vietnam Phạm Duy Khanh, a 39-year-old entrepreneur in Cà Mau, manages 60 hectares of melaleuca forest to attract wild bees, blending conservation with eco-tourism and sustainable travel, offering activities like honey harvesting and fishing