Asia China 10 United States-based companies have been added to China's export control list, government procurement barred from 50 US companies two weeks after the Pentagon blacklisted some of China’s best-known companies for alleged ties to the Chinese military
Africa Niger The immediate release of the deposed President of Niger, Mohamed Bazoum, was called for by the US Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken, who emphasised that it was important for 'Niger to get back on the road to democracy'
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 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 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
Asia China The number of foreclosed homes increased by 43% y-o-y in 2023, according to a private survey, highlighting a worrying upward trend in mortgage delinquencies against a backdrop of a prolonged slump in the property market and uneven economic recovery
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 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 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
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
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'
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
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