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
Oceania Palau The Civil Service Pension Plan in Palau faces a potential financial crisis after a drop in the investment fund, which prompted the proposal of an 8% increase in employee contributions
America Trinidad and Tobago As the number of COVID-19 cases continues to rise, the Tobago Division of Education, Research and Technology has reintroduced safety protocols in all schools on the island
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
Europe San Marino Samsung has included San Marino in its Corporate Citizenship programme, in a project that began with the installation of 5 monitors in the historic centre dedicated to promoting tourism and continues with initiatives dedicated especially to young people
Asia Israel Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had informed the US that he was against the creation of a Palestinian state as part of any post-war scenario
America Grenada Grenada's 46-year-old Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell has a plan to ensure that the ruling National Democratic Congress remains in office for the next 10-15 years to effectively implement its Transformation Agenda
Europe Kosovo Kosovo authorities will abolish the use of Serbian dinar in its territory particularly in the Serb-majority northern areas of the country; Serbian President Vucic said this was 'worrying and calls into question all processes of normalisation and dialogue'
Africa Mauritania The country increased customs duties by 171% at El Guerguerat border crossing with Morocco, thus disrupting the flow of trucks and affecting Moroccan transporters of fruit and vegetables to the Nuakchot market
Africa Guinea Thierno Barry, a PhD in cybersecurity, has been included in top 25 personalities who have had a significant impact in the field of cybersecurity on the African continent in 2023 by Ciberobs, a cybersecurity specialist platform with a focus on Africa
Africa Ethiopia The Ethiopian Disaster Risk Management Commission and the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in a joint note denounced 'the severe humanitarian crisis affecting some four million people in drought-affected areas of Ethiopia'
Asia South Korea 2024 Winter Youth Olympics are to begin tomorrow 19 January through 1st February in Gangwon
America Venezuela President Nicolás Maduro has announced a plan to "make tangible" the annexation of the disputed Esequibo territory with Guyana, expressing gratitude for the unanimous support of the December referendum by Venezuelan lawmakers
Africa Lesotho His Majesty King Letsie III officiated at the installation of Chief Lerotholi Mathealira Seeiso as the new Principal Chief of Mokhotlong, exhorting him to become a 'servant leader' and to serve all with love and without any discrimination