Asia Japan Proof of proficiency in Japanese will be required to apply for a working visa for engineering, humanities or international services; policy will be revised tightening screening after workers entered Japan under a specialized job visa but do unskilled jobs
America Guyana Two species of Guyanese clearwing moths, previously unknown to science, were discovered in Wales after they hitched a ride as larvae in a photographer's bag from a jungle in Guyana, traveling 7.200 km; scientists described the event as "extraordinary”
Oceania Papua New Guinea The state-owned telecommunications company, PNG DataCo, has handed Kumul Consolidated Holdings a dividend equal to 50% of its total net profit for 2023, the third dividend paid by PNG DataCo since its establishment in 2014
Africa Somalia The UN Interim Envoy for Somalia called for more financial support from the Security Council, requesting additional support for the $1,6 billion 2024 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan, which is only 37% funded
Europe Poland The Polish Armaments Agency has announced plans to finalise 50 defence contracts by the end of the year, a move to strengthen the country's military capabilities
Africa South Sudan The country is ready to declare a state of national disaster due to the catastrophic floods that devastated large parts, displacing nearly 200.000 people and causing widespread destruction of essential infrastructure, including schools and hospitals
America Dominican Republic Construction of the submarine cable for the electricity connection between the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico will begin in 2027, as announced by Caribbean Transmission, the company responsible for implementing the Hostos Project
Africa Central African Republic Produced by the Civil Society Working Group on the Central African Crisis, a report criticises the management of the oil sector, focusing on fuel management in the country that suffers from recurrent petrol shortages and very high prices
America Colombia The new edition of the International Business Matchmaking event organized by ProColombia, bringing together exporters, businesspeople and investors aims at strenghtening commercial relations with Mexico
Asia Kazakhstan The production of a carbon-silicon nanocomposite derived from rice husks was started; the first production phase aims to produce 1.500 tonnes of this multifunctional material per year
Africa Mali The family of Malian musician Ali Farka Touré, considered one of the greatest musicians of the last 50 years and who died in 2006, has denounced the theft of the Grammy Award won by him in 1995 for the album Talking Timbuktù for 'best world music album'
Africa Comoros National Agency for Medicines and Medical Evacuations is launching a 10-day monitoring mission in Ndzuani to monitor imports and quality of medicines, strengthening regulations in the formal and informal pharmaceutical sector
Europe Albania The country has the highest corruption rates, the highest pressure of officials to accept bribes and the highest victimisation of citizens by corruption within the Western Balkans
Asia Iraq A large-scale reforestation campaign in all governorates has been launched by the Iraqi Ministry of Agriculture to reduce desertification, mitigate rising temperatures and expand green belts in the country