America Brazil The federal import tax on international purchases of up to US$ 50 made through e-commerce platforms like Temu, Shein, and AliExpress has been erased; experts say it is a strategic move in view of October's upcoming general elections
Europe Serbia The northern Serbian province of Vojvodina intends to launch a €14,5 million energy efficiency project, supported by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, to upgrade the energy efficiency of some 80 public buildings
Africa Somalia Acted is currently providing emergency food assistance to 1425 vulnerable families affected by the devastating rains and flash floods starting in October 2023 which led to the overflowing of the Juba River in the district of Baardheere
Oceania Palau Article published this week by Bloomberg Green denounces a proposal to reduce the Palau National Marine Sanctuary and allow industrial fishing within its boundaries
Europe Czech Republic Almost one fifth of the country's employed population is now made up of foreigners, with over 800.000 people contributing to the Czech labour force; of these, almost 409.800 are from EU countries and 285.545 from Ukraine
Asia Kazakhstan The number of measles cases in Europe skyrocketed in 2023, to the point that WHO called for an urgent vaccination effort to stop the spread: Kazakhstan and Russia had the worst of it, with around 10.000 cases each from January to October last year
Oceania Solomon Islands The Central Bank of Solomon Islands announced last month a new security technology on the revisions of its $50 and $100 notes
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
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'
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
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
Africa Ethiopia The Arab League also condemned the Ethiopia-Somaliland agreement granting the former access to the latter's ports in exchange for recognition of Hargeisa's independence
Asia Georgia Tbilisi Tango, a school teaching the iconic Argentine dance, celebrates its 16th anniversary with the 5th Tbilisi Tango Weekend, to be held from 26 to 28 January
Asia Bahrain The Parliament is preparing to debate a bill that aims to prohibit the conversion of visit visas into work visas