Asia Philippines A persistent infestation of soft scale insects continues to threaten Philippines’s sugar industry, damaging crops and reducing yields in key producing provinces; Authorities are expanding monitoring and pest-control measures to contain the outbreak
Africa Ivory Coast Among 148 cultural works asked to France is the Djidji Ayôkwé, a priceless 'talking drum', confiscated in 1916 and currently kept at the Musée du Quai Branly in Paris, ready to return to the country
Oceania Solomon Islands Solomon Islands Port Authority CEO Eranda Kotelawala has joined the board of the International Association of Ports and Harbors, elected vice-president for the Southeast Asia and Oceania region
Asia Laos The country recorded the highest number of accidents in the capital Vientiane in 2022, over 1.000, with most accidents caused by speeding
America Paraguay Due to rising Dengue cases, various local governments have established new regulations that dictate how fines will be imposed to citizens that don’t maintain their properties and respective lawns clean
Oceania Tuvalu Speaker of the Tuvalu Parliament Samuelu Penitala Teo will meet President Tsai Ing-wen during his visit to Taiwan in 8-12 January, according to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
America Venezuela After the opposition-controlled National Assembly voted to dissolve the interim government, Juan Guaidó will be no longer recognized as the country’s legitimate leader by the US
Europe Ukraine President Zelensky signed a decree to apply economic sanctions against 119 Russian celebrities who are reported to supported the war; presidential adviser Podolyak called the sanctioned personalities 'death propagandists'
Africa South Sudan Media rights groups have called on the South Sudanese authorities to release six journalists, detained after a video was leaked showing President Salva Kiir urinating on himself
Asia Turkmenistan Turkmenistan citizens will need one more documents to apply for Turkey's national visa; as of 3 January 2023, is now mandatory to provide a notarised 'Declaration of Consent'
America Trinidad and Tobago The Piarco Solar Farm in Piarco Trinidad, which will consist of ground-mounted solar panels on an area of 1,54 hectares, with an annual generating capacity of 1.443.830 kilowatt-hours, is progressing in its construction
Europe Liechtenstein After the announced heavy rain failed to materialise, the situation in the Liechtenstein ski resort has become less worrying, though lack of snow in most European resorts is affecting the ski season
Asia Indonesia The Indonesian cryptocurrency market is unlikely to improve in 2023, with investors set to face another difficult year in a new regulatory environment
Europe Moldova More than 2.000 books were donated as part of the Library Under the Fir tree campaign launched by the government, which was joined by high school pupils and employees of ministries and agencies dependent on the cabinet