Asia China 10 United States-based companies have been added to China's export control list, government procurement barred from 50 US companies two weeks after the Pentagon blacklisted some of China’s best-known companies for alleged ties to the Chinese military
Asia Nepal Pangolins are on the verge of extinction in Khotang, a hilly district of Koshi province, due to uncontrolled poaching and smuggling of the highly endangered species
Asia Philippines President Marcos Jr. has ordered the country's government to strengthen the navy's security activities to prepare for "a number of serious challenges", making no clear reference to China
Asia Syria As the crisis in Syria continues to worsen after 13 years of conflict, Adam Abdelmoula, resident coordinator for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, has appealed for $4 billion in aid for over 10 million Syrians
Asia Cyprus A convoy of three humanitarian aid ships operated by the NGO Open Arms and bound for the Gaza Strip has departed Cyprus, as permitted by the maritime corridor announced in early March by the European Commission
Africa Malawi Parliament legalized the cultivation of a very potent local variety of cannabis for industrial and medical use; the rule requires the government to issue a license for cultivation and transportation, while consumption for personal use remains illegal
Asia South Korea An activist group led by ecologist Shin Joon Hwan would like to gradually replace all cherry trees of the Yoshino, or Tokyo cherry, variety with a type it claims is native to the country, since cherry trees are symbolic of Japanese colonial rule
Africa Mozambique Aid for an additional $22 million has been announced by the US to support "stabilization efforts" in Cabo Delgado province in the country's northwest
Asia East Timor Despite delays mainly due to weather conditions, UK-based Baron Oil has completed a geophysical survey at the planned drilling location for the Chuditch-2 appraisal well off East Timor and is currently preparing to begin geotechnical investigation
Europe France The National Assembly, the lower house of the French parliament, approved by 44 votes to 2 a bill banning discrimination based on hair, preventing employers from requiring their employees to iron afro and dreadlocks and braids
America Panama Panama has introduced a new tool, the Taxonomía de Finanzas Sostenibles, in collaboration with various banks, aimed at developing environmentally-related banking activities and promoting a sustainable and low-emission economy
Africa Sudan NGO Emergency has opened a new pediatric outpatient clinic in Khartoum within the Salam Center for Cardiac Surgery in the Soba district, and will provide care to mothers and children up to 14 years old
Africa Eritrea The Russian frigate Marshal Shaposhnikov called at the port of Massawa, becoming the first Russian warship to dock in an Eritrean port
Asia Bahrain Europcar Oman & Bahrain, a leading mobility services company, held its much-anticipated annual staff event at the Crowne Plaza Hotel OCEC, bringing together employees from across the organization for a day of celebration, team building and recognition