Africa Somalia New EU VISA restrictions make it more difficult for Somalis to travel to the bloc; the recently approved measures intensify an ongoing dispute with Mogadishu over the return of Somalis living irregularly in the EU
Africa South Africa The government blocked the sending of food and water supplies to a group of miners hiding inside an illegal gold mine to force them out and then arrest them; many are undocumented migrants, who also do not leave for fear of being deported from the country
Asia Kuwait Despite ongoing efforts to curb drug trafficking and addiction, a surge in consumption is prompting authorities to take new measures, including actions that involve communities, specially as there is a clear link with a surge in domestic violence
Europe Albania Only 1 in 8 companies in Albania paid taxes on profits in 2023, according to official data from the Ministry of Finance
Asia Vietnam The Bac Ninh festival celebrates 15 years of Quan Ho singing being recognized by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage; known for its male-female duet style, Quan Ho is celebrated for its melodic richness and cultural importance
Africa Gambia A €29.000 women's community garden in the village of Boraba, 300 kilometres from Banjul, has been inaugurated by the German ambassador to The Gambia
Europe Luxembourg The number of phishing attacks in the country has exploded in the past four years, increasing almost fifty-fold since 2020, said Justice Minister Elisabeth Margue
Europe Belarus A standard package of benefits for young specialists working in the countryside needs to be drawn up, according to President Lukashenko, to bring agricultural environments up to date and bringing young people back to the villages
America Brazil The Pan American Health Organization has re-verified Brazil as measles-free, marking the Americas' return to endemic measles-free status; this follows Brazil’s intense efforts in vaccination, surveillance, and rapid response to cases
Asia Bangladesh Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei and the Centre for Energy Research at the United International University set up the first solar energy laboratory with energy storage system facilities in Bangladesh at the UIU headquarters
Asia Saudi Arabia Nadhmi al-Nasr, the head of the Neom project, the huge 'futuristic city' under construction in Saudi Arabia at the behest of Prince Mohammed bin Salman, has unexpectedly resigned; two other managers had resigned in recent months
Asia Iraq The military company Caci International will have to pay compensation of $42 million to three Iraqis who had denounced the inhuman and degrading treatment they suffered in the Abu Ghraib prison, during the years of the American invasion
Europe Vatican City Addressing COP29 on behalf of Pope Francis and the Holy See, Cardinal Pietro Parolin urged urgent climate action, linking environmental protection to peace, justice, and global solidarity, and warning that indifference enables injustice
Europe Kosovo A new report by the Centre for Security Studies in Kosovo, produced in cooperation with the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, has warned of the threat of Russian disinformation aimed at portraying Kosovo as a failed state, questioning its independence