Asia Jordan Increase in container traffic at the Aqaba Container Terminal during the past month, despite regional tensions, reflects Jordan’s growing logistical role in the region with flexible supply chains at Aqaba Port becoming a secure, stable alternative route
Asia Laos Researchers in Laos are analyzing elephant DNA from dung to understand their alarming decline; protection plans include keeping elephants in captivity for breeding to restore the species while tracking diversity and key habitats for conservation efforts
Asia Philippines AI is transforming the thriving Philippine call center industry, automating tasks via chatbots and virtual assistants; while boosting efficiency (a 7% growth is expected in 2024), it poses job risks, making reskilling in IT, AI, and data analytics crucial
Asia Brunei The Asia Pacific ICT Alliance Awards 2024 will be hosted by Brunei from 4 to 7 December, a key event in the region, in line with the country's commitment to innovation and technological excellence
Africa Guinea 56 people died and dozens were injured Sunday in the stampede that followed clashes after a soccer match played in the town of N'Zérékoré, the country's second largest
America United States An executive grant of clemency for a “full and unconditional pardon” has been signed by President Joe Biden for his son Hunter who faced sentencing for federal tax and gun convictions; the pardon cannot be reversed by next presidents coming in office
Asia Thailand Iconic Tom Yum Kung prawn soup is set to be recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage, Thailand’s fourth such listing with Khon masked dance (2018), Nuad Thai massage (2019), and Nora dance (2021)
Europe Belgium The Brussels Court of Appeals has found Belgium guilty of crimes against humanity for the colonial-era abduction of five little girls in Congo, a colony between 1908 and 1960
Asia Iran The country said it intends to keep military advisers in Syria after Aleppo, its ally's second city, was overrun by militants in a surprise offensive
Asia Afghanistan Qatar will support repairing Afghanistan's cultural and historical monuments and urban centers thanks to new bilateral agreement
Europe Denmark Social Affairs minister suggested local governments stop administering a disputed test for new parents to people of Greenlandic descent after case of Greenlandic woman who was stripped of custody of her children because of that test
Asia Israel Former Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon accused Benjamin Netanyahu's government of carrying out "ethnic cleansing" against the Palestinian population
Africa Namibia Panduleni Itula, presidential candidate of the Independent Patriots for Change party, announced that his formation will reject the results of the general election, marked by delays and technical problems
Asia Taiwan The number of small and medium-sized enterprises in Taiwan exceeded 1,67 million last year, setting an all-time record; almost 700.000 SMEs have been established in the last eight years according to figures by the Ministry of Economic Affairs