Asia China Unilateral zero-tariff treatment is now applied to all African countries except Eswatini, which maintains ties with Taiwan; duty-free policy for 33African countries was introduced in 2024, now covers 53 countries and will be in place until 30 April 2028
Europe Slovakia The country will receive more than €69 million from EU for the construction of the 2nd phase of Presov northern bypass; in a competition involving hundreds of projects, the second highest sum was pre-approved for Slovakia, after a German railway project
Europe Portugal Montijo airport saw the extension of the environmental declaration deadline rejected by the Institute for the Conservation of Nature and Forests ICNF and may no longer be an option to host Lisbon's new airport
Europe Romania Timișoara, one of the largest cities in western Romania, will have a new 10.000-seat stadium, for a €23 million project financed from the local budget; the stadium should be built in 28 months, once work begins
Europe North Macedonia Five people from the country's leading cancer clinic, including two former directors, are suspected of having illicitly purchased expensive cancer drugs, some of which potentially ended up on the black market
Oceania Solomon Islands New Zealand has joined Australia in rejecting allegations by Solomon Islands PM Manasseh Sogavare of delaying some $18 million in financial support, saying it had asked its top diplomat in Honiara to "set the record straight"
Asia North Korea Since the start of the pandemic, fences and security infrastructure along both coasts have been significantly expanded, in a likely attempt to make it more difficult for residents to escape by sea
Asia Nepal The third Chief Minister's Cup men's volleyball national tournament is taking place in Kanchanpur, famous for producing national-level players in various sports; this is the first national event held here in 12 years
Oceania Papua New Guinea The country officially joined the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, a crucial UN convention that aims to limit nuclear weapons testing globally
Oceania Vanuatu The government did not comply with any of the orders issued two months ago by Supreme Court Judge Viran Molisa Trief regarding the expelled Aquana Resort owners; the court had ruled that the expulsion of the Brugger family from Vanuatu was illegal
Asia Syria Syria and Iraq warned of dangerous consequences following US attacks targeting facilities of Iranian-backed militants in Iraq and Syria
Asia Iran Three satellites were successfully launched for the first time using the carrier rocket developed by the Ministry of Defence and Armed Forces Logistics and will be used to test communication and geopositioning technologies
Africa Madagascar The Africa Mercy, Mercy Ships' newly refurbished hospital ship, has arrived in Madagascar and will stay in the country from February to December 2024; it last visited the country in 2015