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
Europe Lithuania The purchase of Leopard 2 main battle tanks from Germany has been decided at government level and the Lithuanian State Defence Council authorising the start of negotiations for an order
Europe Switzerland Basel-Mulhouse EuroAirport was closed again morning Sunday 19th due to a bomb threat, after a series of false bomb threats were made at it last October; the terminal was evacuated and flight operations were temporarily suspended
Europe Spain Temperatures are expected to rise in the southern regions of the country; according to the Diario de Ibiza, temperatures should normally hover around 20°C in this time of year, while they could reach record highs of 28°, sparking fears
Asia Japan A Japanese court has sentenced to death Shinji Aoba, the man behind the 2019 attack on Kyoto Animation, one of Japan's most important animation studios; Aoba, now 45, set fire to the studio's headquarters, causing 36 deaths and several injuries
Africa Madagascar Faced with steady increase in sexual offences, the Council of Ministers has come out in favour of harsher punishments for child rapists and the government is reportedly considering new measures, including life imprisonment, chemical or surgical castration
Africa Malawi Malaria Initiative by the US Presidency has proposed $23 million in funding to support Malawi's Malaria Operational Plan for the 2024 fiscal year
America Chile Recent studies show that in 2023, Chile experienced the lowest number of births in the last decade, in a continuous decline in the birth rate
Asia United Arab Emirates UAE residents stuck in daily traffic are estimated to lose the equivalent of one day a month, according to motorists who spoke to Khaleej Times
Europe Italy There are 10.000 more prisoners than the official capacity, which leads the democratic country to face a very serious overcrowding, a high number of suicides, a lack of basic services and repeated situations of poor protection of rights
Europe Sweden Turkey's parliament ratified Sweden's application for NATO membership; ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) said it supported the application for its positive steps in the fight against terrorism
Asia Turkmenistan The World Trade Organisation reported that the country intends to finalise its Memorandum on Foreign Trade Regime by mid-2024; the submission of this document is one of the conditions for WTO accession
Asia Sri Lanka The Government Medical Association yesterday started an indefinite strike, as the government temporarily suspended the disturbance, availability and transport allowance, which had been increased by Rs 35.000 ($110) from January, as previously promised