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
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
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 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'
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
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
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
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
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'
Oceania Tonga An upgrade of Tonga's seismic network will cover five strategically located stations, where infrastructure improvements will help to better monitor and detect earthquakes thanks to work funded by the World Bank through the Pacific Resilience Programme
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
Asia Saudi Arabia The Prophet's Mosque in Madinah is furnished with more than 25.000 carpets for the comfort of worshippers and pilgrims, Saudi Press Agency reported, mentioning that carpets in the mosque, its courtyards and roof section are sterilised and perfumed daily
Asia Bahrain The Parliament is preparing to debate a bill that aims to prohibit the conversion of visit visas into work visas
Oceania Nauru The country, where freedom of expression is constitutionally guaranteed but not always respected, has no daily newspaper; the government has introduced many restrictions for foreign journalists, including a several thousand dollars visa application fee