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
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
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'
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
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 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
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 Sierra Leone In a recent interview Joseph Rahall, executive director of Green Scenery, shared his concerns about the rising heat in the country, with various impacts of heatwaves like increases in disease, threats to agriculture and disruptions in fishing industry
Europe Estonia After an observation platform on Paldiski cliff collapsed on beach below, Olle Hints, head of Institute of Geology and associate professor at Tallinn University of Technology, stated that the cliff will naturally retreat about 25 mt in the next 100 years
America Brazil Brazil celebrated its first Winter Youth Olympic Games medal as 17-year-old snowboarder Zion Bethonico won bronze in the men's snowboard cross at Gangwon 2024
Africa Togo The 60 health centres rehabilitated or built as part of the 'Quality Essential Health Services for Universal Health Coverage' project are now officially operational in the Savanes region
Africa Djibouti Plans are underway to build a national cancer centre, the first of its kind in a country without access to radiotherapy; Ministry of Health invited experts from the IAEA, WHO and IARC to conduct a global cancer imPACT Review in the country in October 2023
Oceania Marshall Islands Japanese Ambassador handed over 4 boats to the Director General of the Environmental Protection Authority, Moriana Phillip, as part of the oil spill response equipment provided through a grant under an 'Economic and Social Development Programme'