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 San Marino A new law passed by Parliament aims to ban smartphones and tablets for children under 11, first and foremost in schools but also and possibly in public places, after a group of teachers had denounced an 'educational emergency'
America Dominica Energy Minister Dr. Vince Henderson said the government is ready to start construction of a 10-kilowatt geothermal power plant to supplement the Dominica Electricity Company's power supply
America Saint Vincent and the Grenadines A group of American scientists visiting the country to study different animal groups found three new species of Daddy Longlegs, thus doubling the number of known long-legged species on the island
Africa Liberia New president, Joseph Boakai, was sworn in after his narrow victory in the November 2023 elections; Boakai, who at the age of 79 became the country's oldest president, promised to unite and save Africa's oldest republic from its economic problems
America Argentina The legislature of the Argentine province of La Rioja is trying to approve the issuance of an alternative currency called "El Chacho", allocating 30% for the payment of state salaries; the proposal has been endorsed by 32 out of 36 legislators
Africa Cape Verde During the first leg of his African tour, in Praia, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken named the country a 'beacon of stability in the region'
Africa Cameroon A pilot vaccination programme against malaria is underway, the first of its kind in the world and could represent a breakthrough on the African continent
Africa Morocco Bouchra Karboubi, from Morocco, has become the first Arab woman to referee an African Cup of Nations football match, having refereed the match between Nigeria and Guinea Bissau, at the Felix-Houphouet-Boigny stadium in Abidjan
America Belize The Belize government is seeking to revive its ailing citrus and banana industries, crucial for foreign income, as recent data shows declining output, with the need to address challenges like disease, climate change, and excessive fertilization
America Ecuador The family of Ecuador's most-wanted fugitive, Jose Adolfo Macias "Fito," were arrested in Argentina and deported to Ecuador; Macias, leader of the Los Choneros gang, escaped from prison, triggering gang violence and prompting a state of emergency
Asia Brunei The new president of the Football Association of Brunei Darussalam has expressed his desire to change the football landscape in the Sultanate for the better, working to support students or football players who have fewer financial opportunities
Europe Croatia The Croatian Ministry of Defence has confirmed that it will soon propose compulsory basic military training to take place after high school; the training is expected to last one month, but the date of practical implementation remains uncertain
Europe Bulgaria The construction of two crucial motorways is about to begin; they will connect the city of Varna to Durankulak, in north-east Bulgaria, and to Silistra, on the Danube