Africa Cape Verde Cape Verde has entered the world's Top 30 in governance indices: the latest World Economics assessment for 2026 gave it an A rating and a score of 74, being the only African country with this distinction, thus sitting in first place on the continent
America Argentina Special conservation campaigns have been launched to recover firefly populations, which have been declining in Argentina due to habitat loss, artificial light, and pesticide use
Asia Malaysia In George Town, Penang, residents and members of the local Chinese community mobilised collectively to restore the 600-year-old Swee Nyet Keung clan house ahead of Chinese New Year; fundraising, cleanup drives, repairs revive the historic Hokkien landmark
Oceania Nauru A contest opened celebrations for the anniversary of Nauru's 58th Independence Day and 80th anniversary of the return from Chuuk: 11 choirs from government departments and state-owned enterprises competed for a $25000 prize with songs reflecting the theme
Europe Bulgaria Public attention in Bulgaria has been focused on an opaque criminal case, made more disturbing by lack of official information: in a week six people were found dead in Western Stara Planina, all linked to NGO National Agency for Control of Protected Areas
Africa Mozambique Sovereign Wealth Fund posted profitable financial statements on 31 December 2025 thank to very short-term deposits of US$110 million government funding in Bred Banque Populaire, The Toronto-Dominon Bank and Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank from 12 December 2025
Asia Maldives Customers have been reporting delays in receiving gas from state‑owned Maldive Gas, company says the issue is beyond their control and caused by delays in supply; Gas is being delivered through Villa Gas, private supplier with large reserves in Thilafushi
Asia Turkey Adana Mayor and eight other local politicians from the main opposition Republican People’s Party were released from prison; Karalar called for the release of other opposition mayors, including Istanbul's mayor and presidential candidate Ekrem Imamoglu
Asia Indonesia Sovereign investment fund Danantara, which manages state stakes in strategic sectors will fund a new Krakatau Steel plant, reflecting the recent push to use state capital to revive key industries, cut imports and strengthen industrial self-sufficiency
Europe Montenegro The number of foreign nationals working in Montenegro has almost doubled since 2017 in response to a widening shortage of labour in the country; authorities and employers intensity efforts to fill gaps in the legal framework and the jobs market
Asia Bhutan Kabesa Local Area Plan is nearing completion after 15-years due to land disputes and revisions; The plan will regulate zoning and infrastructure in an area long affected by unplanned housing, informal land use and stalled construction near the capital
Africa Ivory Coast Ivory Coast could be buying its entire stockpile of cocoa beans as stocks pile up in a low of the international market; the move would help thousands of smallholder cocoa farmers, who are the backbone of the world's largest producer
Oceania Australia Armed carjackings have almost doubled in Victoria, increasing to an unprecedented extent, despite “tough new laws” being introduced to combat the crime in 2016, with rideshare drivers and delivery workers increasingly targeted
Europe Estonia Shuttle ships on the Tallinn–Helsinki route are increasing the use of cleaner fuel and will soon be fully powered by renewable energy: in January, 74% of the fuel used was liquefied biomethane and Tallink is set abandon LNG for liquefied biomethane