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
Africa Namibia Unemployment rate rose to 36,9% in 2023 from 33,4% in 2018, according to latest data from the country's Bureau of Statistics
Europe Belgium In 2024, 411.021 counterfeit articles were seized in Belgium, almost double the previous year's total of 217.053, announced the Ministry of Economic Affairs
America Jamaica Before the end of the fiscal year 2024/25,work is scheduled to begin on 100 roads under the Shared Prosperity through Accelerated Improvement to our Road Network programme
Europe Malta A full year of paid leave - between maternity and parental - has been proposed by the Nationalist Party within a package of 10 work-life balance measures to provide flexibility for families
Africa Mauritius Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam spoke on the phone to UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer; the leaders began by reflecting on their first months in office and discussed the relationship between the two countries, which they looked forward to expanding
Africa Burkina Faso The first passport issued with the logo of the Alliance of Sahel States is the one of the president of Burkina Faso, general Ibrahim Traoré, who is also the youngest head of state in the world
Asia Jordan A €3 billion Strategic and Comprehensive Partnership was signed between Jordan and EU to upscale cooperation, better tackle common challenges, open up further avenues for investments and enhance business opportunities for European companies
Europe Switzerland The country is set to ban international adoptions: a draft law proposal is to be handed in by the end of 2026; the move aims to prevent potential abuses, as an independent panel of experts found that even the strictest adoption laws can’t fully prevent it
Asia China A gigantic military compound is reportedly being built just outside Beijing; the construction site measures over four kilometres from side to side and will eventually be ten times the size of the Pentagon, becoming the largest command centre in the world
Europe Poland The annual number of births in Poland once again reached an all-time low, according to the state agency Statistics Poland; 2024 marked the 12th consecutive year in which deaths exceeded births
Asia Palestine A ban on the UN agency for Palestinian refugees from operating in Israeli territory has come into force, affecting the organisation's work in Gaza and the occupied West Bank
Africa Republic of the Congo Forestry Minister Rosalie Matondo criticised the 'lethargy' of the forestry administration, which managed to collect less than half of the taxes owed, blaming it for the low rate of duty and tax recovery
America Uruguay Uruguay celebrated the Chinese Spring Festival at the Chinese Embassy, highlighting strong diplomatic and cultural ties as officials praised China as Uruguay's top trade partner for 13 years, with festivities including the dragon dance and fireworks