Asia Vietnam Technology will help authorities locate and repatriate the remains of war martyrs, the soldiers who died in the Vietnam War; Deputy PM ordered the use of DNA testing, digital archives and mapping to identify remains and return them to families
Asia Iran Statements by the Speaker of the Iranian Parliament, who said that Tehran is ready to negotiate with France on the implementation of a UN resolution concerning southern Lebanon, have been challenged by Lebanon's interim Prime Minister
America United States TikTok could be banned in the US starting January 2025 unless ByteDance sells it; although mother companies insist they are independent of the Chinese government, deep concerns persist about its ties to the Chinese state
Europe North Macedonia Discussions about potential constitutional changes are ongoing; former foreign minister Bujar Osmani has stated the need for a vote on the issue, warning that a lack of action could lead to a renewed focus on issues of 'identity, language and history'
Oceania Fiji Traditional leaders in Tailevu province were urged to join the government in the fight against drugs; the Minister of Home Affairs said Fiji is not a rich country to control the influx of illicit substances
Africa Liberia Rural women leaders in Liberia have launched an action against drug abuse with the specific aim of engaging ghettos and those selling drugs in communities
Europe Italy The non-observed economy in Italy grew by 9,6% in 2022 compared to the previous year, ISTAT just reported; the net of illegal enterprises was at 182 billion euros and illegal activities were worth nearly 20 billion euros, fanned by drugs and prostitution
Africa Niger Exports of rice, cereals and other food products have been banned to all countries except the member countries of the Alliance of Sahel States to protect local supplies
Africa Republic of the Congo The co-ordinator of the National Afforestation and Reforestation Programme François Mankessi said in Brazzaville that the 8th edition of the Plant Fair will pave the way for the creation of an industrial unit dedicated to the processing of essential oils
Europe Italy The court of Rome did not validate the detention of first 12 migrants brought by an Italian ship from the Mediterranean Sea to the immigration centre built in Albania with a billion euros investment; the cost of military ship journey wasn't made public
America Nicaragua Over US$150 million will be allocated bu Nicaragua to build and upgrade around 500 sports facilities nationwide, with the goal of providing free training and resources for the next generation of athletes
Africa Gambia The 81st regular session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights officially opened in Banjul with representatives of member states, civil society organisations and human rights advocates
Europe Switzerland Ten-year fixed mortgage rates for loans emitted in Switzerland halved since 2022 peak according to online comparison platform Comparis; this relatively low level has led to strong demand, with 72% of those surveyed choosing a ten-year fixed-rate mortgage
Oceania Marshall Islands The long-awaited 'Enra' payment programme initiative, a cash contribution to elegible citizens, will probably take place next year and not in December as previously planned by the government