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
America Paraguay Paraguay and Panama strengthened commercial ties through a business meeting hosted by Panama’s Chamber of Commerce, where Paraguayan President Santiago Peña highlighted his country’s competitive advantages and mutual interest in trade collaboration
Africa Niger Niger has met the criteria for the elimination of onchocerciasis, WHO confirmed, making it the fifth country globally and the first in Africa to be recognised for this great result
America El Salvador The Trump administration is negotiating a "Safe Third Country" agreement with El Salvador, potentially allowing the US to deport non-Salvadoran migrants there to seek asylum
Oceania Papua New Guinea Sir Julius Chan, one of Papua New Guinea's founding fathers, has died at the age of 85; Papua New Guineans had nicknamed him 'the last man standing', as he was the last of the founding members of the independence-era parliament
Oceania Tuvalu The 24' documentary film Echoes of Tuvalu was screened over Christmas holidays and January 2025 in the Watersnood Museum's cinema in Ouwerkerk, the Netherlands, included in the museum's ticket
Europe Moldova Moldovan Prosecutor General Ion Munteanu filed a notification with Constitutional Court asking it to verify the constitutionality of the appointment procedure of the Chief Prosecutor of the Autonomous Territorial Unit Gagauzia and subordinate prosecutors
Asia Oman An agreement for the construction of the dual carriageway of the Raysut-Al Mughsail road, a 33 km highway with 6 overpasses, subways, animal crossings and roundabouts, has been signed by the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology
Oceania Nauru Nauru Telikom launched 5G in Nauru, claiming to be the first nationwide 5G+ network service in Oceania
Europe Portugal Portugal’s average net salary saw a 9,6% rise in 2024, reaching 1.142 euros, the largest increase in a decade; the rise was fueled by a 22% jump in the salaries of the Armed Forces, the strong rise in public sector wages, solid gains for farmers
America Venezuela The Trump administration revoked Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 600.000 Venezuelans, reversing a Biden-era extension to 2026, leaving many fearing deportation in two months despite ongoing instability in Venezuela
America Peru UNESCO Peru and the Ministry of Culture are collaborating with the Checca Pupuja Indigenous community in Puno to preserve and transmit traditional ceramic knowledge, involving youth workshops and showcasing works at the Virgen de la Candelaria Festival
Africa Mozambique The country would need 12.000 primary and secondary teachers for the 2025 school year, said the government spokesman, for whom the teacher shortage 'represents a very serious challenge'
America Nicaragua Over 30 Poor Clare nuns were recently expelled from their convents in Nicaragua; the regime is continuing a series of actions against religious organizations after revoking their legal status in 2023