Oceania Australia New law to ban social media for children under 16 passed after days of heated debate; Australia set a benchmark for jurisdictions around the world with one of the toughest regulations targeting Big Tech
Europe Poland The government will temporarily suspend the possibility of seeking political asylum in the country for migrants arriving from Belarus
Oceania Palau The Kensing II health ship was heartily welcomed; larger and better-equipped, it replaces the previous one in bringing healthcare to residents of Palau’s most remote islands
Europe Russia Russian dissident Alexei Navalny, President Putin's main political opponent before his death in prison last February, had written in his memoir that he would "die in prison"
Asia Afghanistan The 2024 Global Hunger Index report ranked Afghanistan 116th out of 127 countries, with a score of 30.8, whereas last year it was ranked 114th
America Chile Chile conducted a humanitarian evacuation from Lebanon, airlifting 67 people—including 50 Chileans, 10 Peruvians, and 7 Argentinians—amid escalating conflict, with the flight delivering medical supplies to Beirut before returning to Santiago
Europe Sweden The country recently started mass deportations of Iraqi immigrants, marking a significant change in its immigration policy in an effort to repatriate people who no longer have the legal right to remain in Sweden
Africa Togo Coumba Dieng Sow has been appointed as the new UN Resident Coordinator for Togo and will work to ensure that national priorities and needs are addressed by aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals
Asia Kazakhstan This year, for the first time in the last five years, the water supply plan for the Aral Sea during the irrigation period was complied almost 100%; 977 million cubic metres of water were supplied
Europe Luxembourg Speed cameras in Luxembourg flashed more than 352.000 times in 2023, generating fines of more than €15 million, marking an increase over 2022 according to government figures
Asia Turkey Restoration work began on the notorious Diyarbakır Prison; transferred to the Diyarbakır Ministry of Culture and Tourism, in 2022 was drafted the future of the building as museum, with a library and venues for culture and arts
Oceania Tuvalu The traditional rice cake was offered to Tuvaluan Prime Minister Feleti Penitala Teo as a birthday dish during the reception attended at Taiwan President Lai Ching-te premises
Africa Morocco Rabat has been chosen as the World Book Capital 2026; its book industry is home to 54 publishing houses and hosts the third largest international book and publishing fair in Africa
Africa Kenya Mazingira Day was observed on 10th October as national holiday dedicated to the environment; the key role of schoolchildren was awarded with a ceremony and the crucial action of the National Youth Service for planting 15 billion trees by 2030 was reminded