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 Bhutan King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck has revealed his intention to establish Gelephu Mindfulness City Special Administrative Region, which will be funded through investments in green energy, physical and digital connectivity, infrastructure and education
America Nicaragua The Nicaraguan government shut down 9 NGOs, including a Catholic and 3 evangelical organisations, and endorsed the closure of a private university, marking a crackdown on society, educational institutions and raising concerns about diminishing freedoms
Europe Belgium Chocolate giant Barry Callebaut has announced plans to cut hundreds of jobs at several sites, including the world's largest chocolate factory in Wieze, producing 270.000 tons a year
Africa Cape Verde Janine Lélis, Council of Ministers spokeswoman, announced the approval of the bill establishing the National Organising Commission for the celebrations of 50 years of national independence after the 25 April 1974 revolution
Europe Croatia A documentary on the world famous water polo coach Ratko Rudić was presented: he won dozens of medals in international competitions and is considered one of the most successful water polo coaches
Africa Kenya During the recent recruitment of 15.000 young people for the National youth service, a kind of national guard, a group in Thika, Kiambu county, has been disqualified because of tattoos on various parts of their body
Asia Bangladesh Fossil fuel used in the city of Dhaka and generally in Bangladesh has sulphur levels almost 10 times higher than international standards and is the main cause of the country's air pollution
America Mexico In Mexico, two mayoral candidates were fatally shot days before the federal electoral campaign; these killings, part of 32 attacks on politicians in the last six months, suggest potential heightened violence during the June general elections
Africa Burundi Dozens of Burundian soldiers were reportedly arrested for refusing to be deployed in eastern Congo in the fight against the M23 rebel group advancing towards a major border town
America Uruguay Aeropuertos Uruguay, in the presence of the President Luis Lacalle Pou, celebrated the inauguration of the refurbished "Nueva Hespérides" International Airport in Salto, representing a milestone in Uruguay's airport infrastructure modernization
Europe Czech Republic The Czech Lower House approved a bill on same-sex marriages that would give same-sex couples the same rights as heterosexual married couples, with the exception of the adoption of children
Africa Senegal The Cheikh Anta Diop University of Dakar, one of the largest in West Africa with more than 90.000 students, has reopened after months of closure due to political unrest
Europe Bulgaria Balkan Climbing, the largest climbing gym in the Balkans, was inaugurated in Sofia at an official ceremony attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mariya Gabriel