Africa Zambia Authorities and environmentalists fear catastrophic consequences and long-term impact from an acid spill at a Chinese-owned mine that has contaminated the Kafue River, with signs detected over 100 km downstream; 20 million people live in Kafue basin
Asia Thailand A 5-years, €118 million climate-smart initiative for rice farming sustainability has been launched; it aims to assist 253.400 farmers across 21 provinces in adopting water management and laser land leveling to target a 2,44 million-ton CO₂ reduction
Europe Moldova A new round of public consultations on the initiative for the creation of the Anti-Corruption and Organised Crime Prosecutor's Office took place on the platform of the Parliament's Legal Committee on Appointments and Immunities
Europe Lithuania As part of the Lithuania's government push to increase defence spending, private pension funds suggest they could lend around €3,6 billion for the country's military infrastructure
Africa Madagascar The Supervisory Committee of Malagasy Workers Abroad met in the capital to finalise and defend a proposed bilateral labour agreement with the Mauritian government to regulate and guarantee the employment of Malagasy workers in Mauritius
Europe Slovenia The humanitarian foundation of Goran Dragić, one of the greatest Slovenian basketball players of all time, will build a basketball court in Nova Gorica, on the border with Italy, whose two halves of the court will symbolically connect the two countries
Africa Zimbabwe 72% of paternity tests carried out by couples in the country show that those who claim to be fathers raise children who are not their own, data from Global DNA Zimbabwe revealed
Europe Romania Banca Transilvania, Romania's largest financial group, recorded substantial growth in 2024 thanks to both organic expansion and the strategic acquisition of the branches of the Hungarian OTP group in Romania, approaching a net profit of €1 billion
Asia Uzbekistan the month of 'Safe and Healthy Capital' took place in the city of Tashkent from 15 January to 15 February; police officers managed to reduce the crime rate by 43%
Asia Oman As part of efforts to preserve and document Omani heritage, the National Museum hosted the 'National Symposium to Document the Omani Astronomical Heritage' organised by the Oman Astronomical Society
Asia Mongolia Coal exports to China will grow by nearly 20% in 2025 up to 100 million tons; the initiative seeks to enhance energy cooperation and capitalize on China’s demand and the strategy includes infrastructure improvements and streamlined border processes
Asia Bhutan Farmers in Chhudzom Gewog are shifting to organic farming, aligning with the nation’s 100% organic goal; despite lower initial yields and limited bio-inputs, government support, training, and market demand are driving success, boosting profitability
Africa Sao Tome and Principe A São Tomé company aims to regain possession of some 156 hectares of land that had been taken from it by the previous government and handed over to Russian investors
Europe Netherlands Foreign workers and freelancers involved in a conflict with their employer over pay can now take their case to court in a three-year trial of four courts in the country, The Hague, Rotterdam, Overijssel and Zeeland-West-Brabant