Asia North Korea Experience gained by North Korean forces on the battlefields of the Russia-Ukraine war imposes changes in the security calculus on the Korean Peninsula, as NK troops have been exposed to the technology and tactics of modern warfare, UN Commander reveals
Africa Namibia Fishermen will not be allowed to fish for kabeljou in Walvis Bay from 1 January to 31 March 2023; the restriction is a conservation measure for kabeljou
Africa Ethiopia The maternal and infant mortality rate in Ethiopia has decreased over the last 30 years, revealed the Ethiopian public health institute, and in particular it has decreased in the period 2000-2019
America Haiti MSF in Haiti is supporting the cholera vaccination campaign launched by the national health authorities in response to the resurgence of the disease, which has affected more than 15.000 people and caused more than 300 deaths since the end of September
Europe Belgium The net monthly salary of public and private sector workers will increase by €600 net per year from January, due to the adjustment of the tax scale and the calculation of withholding tax
Asia Kyrgyzstan The country will be able to import 10.000 electric vehicles duty-free in 2023 thanks to a tariff exemption decided by the Eurasian Economic Union
Europe Portugal Portuguese doctors were paid less in real terms for their life-saving work in 2020 than in 2010, according to a report by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the European Commission
Europe Luxembourg The country's minimum wage will increase by 3,2% in January; the Grand Duchy has the highest minimum wage in the European Union, with over 67.000 workers earning the minimum wage
Europe Switzerland According to a survey by Comparis, more than a quarter of the population expects their financial situation to worsen in 2023, mainly due to rising compulsory health insurance premiums and energy prices
Asia South Korea Use-by-date instead of sell-by-date, with milk as only exception, is among the changes expected for 2023 with an impact at daily life level; others include the adoption of global standards of age counting and the abolition of university admission fees
Africa Nigeria Biovaccines Nigeria Limited, a joint venture between the government and May&Baker Nigeria, will start production of vaccines before the second quarter of 2023; the company already has a site in Ota where the factory will be built
Asia Malaysia The country is testing all incoming travelers for fever: a response to the Covid-19 surge in China that widens the spectrum of the measures taken by a number of other nations, which are mainly testing Chinese visitors for Covid-19 only
Asia Singapore SIA will no longer allow passengers to fly with emotional support dogs from April 2023; Singapore Airlines' policy on assistance dogs, such as guide dogs or hearing dogs, remains unchanged
Asia Maldives British Airways will be commencing scheduled flights to the Maldives for the first time this new year