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 Japan The Tokyo Metropolitan Government has issued a health warning due to the spread of A streptococcus bacterial infections that can lead to streptococcal toxic shock syndrome (STSS), with a 30% mortality rate; cases as of 17 March have exceeded half of 2023
Africa Equatorial Guinea As part of its national expansion plan, the National Bank of Equatorial Guinea opened the Cumandaquina agency, in Bata, its 35th agency
Africa Sudan Faced with questions about his disappearance, the Arabic daily Asharq al-Awsat claims how former Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir was able to move to northern Sudan, to a safe place
Europe Estonia In Tallinn's Noblessner district, a former lighting pole in the Old Port area is now adorned with a light installation inspired by a crane's nest, designed by Stina, a five-year-old Tallinn student
Africa Seychelles A census to determine the overall status of endemic Seychelles turtles is being discussed at the Biodiversity and Conservation Unit of the Ministry of the Environment; it has been 16 years since the last census and the current situation is unknown
Africa Botswana The 2024 World Happiness Report surprisingly shows that Botswana is one of the unhappiest countries in the world, ranking 137th out of 143, surpassing even coup-affected countries such as Mali and Chad
Asia Cyprus Green tax will be discussed today; it aims at being fiscally neutral, as in the tax reform being implemented there would be compensatory measures studied by the Centre for Economic Research of the University of Cyprus
America Chile Chile's ambassador to Costa Rica, Margarita Portuguez, met with local Minister of Environment, Franz Tattenbach, to discuss ocean protection, focusing on marine security, fisheries, and strengthening the East Tropical Pacific Marine Conservation Corridor
Asia Kyrgyzstan The goal for 2024-2025 is to install an automated meter reading and monitoring system for all consumers, introducing differentiated electricity tariffs starting then next year; an appropriate regulatory framework is already being prepared
America Costa Rica Costa Rica has become the world's first country to export coffee free from deforestation; the first shipment has been destined for Italy's Illycaffè
Asia Myanmar The Myanmar delegation led by Deputy Minister for Religious Affairs and Culture Daw Nu Mra Zan is attending the 31st meeting of the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Council in Laos on 23-26 March
Asia Tajikistan The country has stepped up work on training migrant workers and diversifying labor migration destinations; under the Asian Development Bank project, three new migration service centers will be established this year
Europe Monaco ClicBus, part of the Mobility Plan launched by the Monegasque government in February, will begin operating on March 25; the new on-demand service is designed to complement existing urban transportation offerings