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
Africa Zambia The reopening of schools has been further postponed to 12 February 2024, a decision that follows advice of Council of Ministers for National Disaster Management and Mitigation; calendar for schools and institutes has been changed to make up for lost time
Africa Burkina Faso The country's first mining waste treatment plant was inaugurated in the country, one of Africa's leading gold-producing states
Africa Republic of the Congo The Conference of the Presidents of the two Houses of Parliament met in Brazzaville with 12 items for Senate and 11 for National Assembly, including bills for the creation of public bodies like the African Artificial Intelligence Research Centre
Africa South Sudan The country's peace monitoring body, known as Rjmec, has stated that it is necessary to speed up the process in view of the elections scheduled by the end of the year, given the serious delay the country is facing in this regard
Asia Cambodia The Ministry of Environment plans to establish 4 nursery stations in Kampong Speu, Koh Kong, Siem Reap and Thbong Khmum provinces; each station will accommodate at least one million tree seedlings responsive to different sorts of land and weather
Asia Qatar The country described as 'destructive' leaked audio statements by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticising Qatar's efforts to mediate with Hamas as 'problematic', complicating the already difficult negotiations
America Barbados The six-month gap at the top of Barbados' leading tourism agency has been filled with the appointment of new CEO Andrea Franklin, a Barbadian marketing professional, and the promotion of a senior official to a new post of chief operating officer
Europe Austria Thousands of people took to the streets across Austria on Friday to protest against right-wing extremism and racism, inspired by similar demonstrations in neighbouring Germany
Europe Portugal Brazilians Lucas Chianca and Maya Gabiera stormed the 2024 Nazare Big Wave Challenge podium to win men's and women's individual divisions with swell building and surf hitting 30 to 40 feet
Africa Benin The 27th Chinese medical team, tasked with providing health services and exchanging medical experiences with Beninese health personnel, arrived in Cotonou; the 22-member team will work in Lokossa, in the south-west, and Natitingou, in the north-west
America United States The United States suspended financial aid for the United Nations Agency for Palestine Refugees after Israeli allegations that some of the agency's employees were involved in the violent attack by Hamas on Israel on 7 October
Europe Luxembourg Over the past five years, the Grand Duchy's car fleet has steadily increased the share of electric vehicles, with the number of new registrations of electric vehicles surpassing that of diesel models for the first time last year
Asia Philippines The government will give priority to Philippine-made vehicles in the Utility Vehicle Modernisation Programme, assured House Speaker Martin Romualdez in a message to local manufacturers of modern jeepneys