Asia China 10 United States-based companies have been added to China's export control list, government procurement barred from 50 US companies two weeks after the Pentagon blacklisted some of China’s best-known companies for alleged ties to the Chinese military
Europe Finland The unemployment among Finland's highly educated workforce has risen to unprecedented levels, with over 52.000 graduates out of work at the end of 2024, according to Akava, the labour confederation representing professionals and managers
Europe Greece A bill proposed by the Ministry of Health aims to tighten regulations on the sale of tobacco and alcohol to minors; a key provision is that the supply of alcohol to minors will be changed from an administrative offence to a misdemeanour
Africa Tanzania The country will host the 19th African Cashew Alliance Forum from 18 to 22 November 2025, with the expected participation of over 500 participants from around the world
Asia Kyrgyzstan Legalisation of right-hand drive cars will begin in Kyrgyzstan on 1 March 2025; there is currently a ban on the import of right-hand-drive cars into Kyrgyzstan, which is prohibited
Africa Ghana Despite significant progress in the use of clean fuels for cooking in the country, figures from the Ghana Statistical Service reveal that less than 1% of the poorest households have access to these safer and environmentally friendly energy sources
Asia Cyprus A landmark building in Nicosia was demolished, sparking anger and sadness among locals and architecture enthusiasts; captured on video and shared on social media the demolition has drawn sharp criticism as many see it as a big loss for the city’s heritage
Asia Japan Tokyo registered a net influx of around 80.000 people in 2024, nearing the pre-pandemic 2019 level and highlighting the longstanding population concentration in the capital
Europe Ireland The number of homeless people fell slightly in December, according to Department of Housing, following record figures in November when 14.864 people were hosted in emergency accommodation, of whom 4.510 children
Asia Sri Lanka Members of the Association of Leasing and Debt Payers protested in front of police headquarters in Colombo, claiming that they authorised illegal seizures of vehicles, and urged the President to intervene
Asia Tajikistan Drones have been introduced in locust control alongside traditional insecticide spraying methods, apparently marking a significant step forward
Africa Seychelles A new campaign, 'Recounting Seychelles - Investing in a New Generation of Historians and Anthropologists' was officially launched by the Ministry of Education together with the Lazare Picault Prize
Africa Guinea Sleeping sickness, transmitted by the tsetse fly and representing for decades a major public health problem, has been eradicated in Guinea according to the Research Institute for Development
Africa Togo The country is preparing for the fourth demographic and health survey to be held this year, supervised by the National Institute of Statistics, to collect data on key health indicators