America Belize The Belize Senate unanimously approved an amendment to the Marriage Act raising the legal marriage age to 18, eliminating parental consent for minors, in a move hailed as a transformative human rights milestone to combat child marriage
Africa Malawi The Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority has blamed black market operators for exacerbating the country's ongoing fuel shortage, accusing them of worsening the crisis through illegal activities
America Suriname Starting 2025, Surinamese who lost Dutch citizenship but have resided in the Netherlands in the past ten years can apply for a residence permit under a new temporary arrangement aimed at rectifying a “historic mistake” from Suriname’s 1975 independence
Asia East Timor The European Union Delegation in East Timor and the European Investment Bank have prepared investment projects with the government; the three proposals focus on water supply, solid waste management and forestry
Oceania Marshall Islands Mulan John is the country' new lawyer; after being sworn in she has been admitted to the Marshall Islands Bar during a ceremony
America Uruguay Presidential election process has begun; citizens will vote for the next president, members of the Parliament and 2 referendums: one on lowering the retirement age, and another on allowing police nighttime home searches
America Paraguay A memorandum to collaborate on cybersecurity was signed with the UAE; it includes experience sharing, threat mitigation, educational programs, scholarships, and potential partnerships in AI, leveraging Paraguay's renewable energy resources
Africa Eswatini The Mbabane City Council approved a 5% increase in property rates for the financial year 2025/2026, an increase that will affect about 130 properties; land rates are also set to increase slightly
Asia Pakistan The 4th Karachi Biennale opened at Bagh Ibne Qasim: works by 40 artists from 10 countries highlight food security in Pakistan's climate challenges; the biennale explored historical influences on food systems and awarded emerging Pakistani talents
Europe Portugal Over 140 tumults have been registered in the Lisbon metropolitan area following the death of a Cape Verdean citizen, caused by the Police, occurred on 21 October
Africa Mauritius Mauritius Meteorological Services outlined the 2024-2025 summer outlook for the Republic, with the aim of keeping the population informed and prepared for the coming season
America Panama Despite reduced ship traffic due to drought, the Panama Canal achieved record revenues of nearly US$5 billion in the 2024 fiscal year, up 1% from the previous year, attributed to higher tolls and priority crossing auctions
Asia Bangladesh Long working hours and lack of job security are a concern for care workers, with some 39,6% of workers reporting being dismissed from their jobs without notice, according to a new study by the International Labour Organisation
Oceania Fiji The Cane Growers' Cooperative Savings and Loan Association shared updates on ongoing efforts to grow cooperatives and support members during a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Manoa Kamikamica