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 Switzerland 101 army weapons were reported missing last year, of which 95 were stolen, according to the newspaper Blick, including 88 assault rifles and 13 pistols; Swiss army guns disappear every year and 2023 figures are slightly higher than 2022
Europe Andorra The first meeting of Desir, Cross-Border Cooperation Project with Spain and France for Sustainable Economic Development, focused on strengthening and improving connection, booking and accommodation management and knowledge of protected refuges in Pyrenees
Africa Cameroon Cameroon's Minister of Labour and Social Security, Grégoire Owona, presided over a ceremony in Douala to honour 455 employees of Castel Group subsidiaries for their dedication, hard work and continuous improvement in their respective roles
Africa Equatorial Guinea Vice-President of the Republic held a working session with Public Works, Geproyectos, Treasury and Finance to analyse the project that has been conceived with the Chinese company Gesuba for the implementation of drinking water throughout Bioko island
Asia Bahrain Blueprint Bahrain is the roadmap for the kingdom to meet its climate targets, to play its part in Mena by becoming a clean energy export hub, and to realise its sustainability agenda, said the Minister of Sustainable Development
Oceania Solomon Islands The Japanese Ministry of Defence said it will provide capacity-building aid to the Solomon Islands National Police for the disposal of unexploded shells
Asia Tajikistan The Kazakh authorities sent the innovative Bark VibroLUNG medical equipment to health workers in Tajikistan after 40 Tajik specialists, including some pulmonologists, attended a special training course in Kazakhstan on how to use the device
Asia United Arab Emirates The Dubai Municipality launched the 'Promoting Healthy Eating in Educational Institutions' initiative to help institutions change their approach to meals by offering appropriate food options in canteens and cafeterias to over 300.000 students
Asia Taiwan The Taipei 101 Observatory recorded 1,29 million visitors in 2023, with international tourists accounting for 80% of visitors
Oceania Fiji A Fijian academic challenged the Pacific region's media and politicians on their coverage of the climate crisis, asking whether the discriminatory style of reporting is a case of climate injustice
Asia China The country reported that it had achieved its target of at least 5% GDP growth, exceeding previous expectations, but it still faces economic headwinds: poor export demand, a critic property market and high youth unemployment
Oceania Tonga Community leaders on the island of Ovaka and Neiafu, Vava'u, received fishing boat engines, sewing machines, greenhouses and poultry facilities, donated by the Chinese Embassy in Tonga, to help increase the communities' livelihoods