Asia Bangladesh Recent studies demonstrated that microplastics are present in water, sediments, fish, salt, soft drinks, milk, edible oil and more products in Bangladesh, underscoring the growing concern that these pollutants are transferred to humans through food
Africa Egypt Phase two of the Bus Rapid Transit BRT project and works for Greater Cairo Ring Road development have been inspected by Ministry of Transport amid Egypt’s broader efforts to expand sustainable and environmentally friendly public transport systems
Asia Bhutan Royal Civil Service Commission has updated its leadership model under the Diamond Strategy, moving away from seniority-based authority toward accountability, adaptability and performance, as part of broader efforts to modernize public administration
Europe Estonia As ice edge in Pärnu Bay lies about two nautical miles from the breakwaters, 10 centimeters thick, icebreaking activities have started to guarantee the smooth transit of ships while cold weather is forecasted to continue
Africa Senegal A two-year prison sentence was inflicted by Pikine-Guédiawaye Magistrates' Court to two men found guilty of producing and distributing pornographic videos filmed in Senegal and broadcast on online platforms
Africa Burkina Faso Amid heightened political tensions, authorities say they have thwarted a new coup attempt; the alleged plot was reportedly uncovered on 3 January before it would be carried out, according to official sources that disclosed the information
Africa Guinea Pivi, convicted of crimes against humanity for the 2009 stadium massacre, has died in custody in a Conakry hospital from complications related to diabetes; known as Coplan, he was a colonel and in charge of security under then-dictator Moussa Dadis Camara
Europe Andorra 237.500 vehicles have entered Andorra during the Special Traffic period, running from 19 December to 6 January: 172.000 through the border with Spain and 65.500 from France, according to Andorran Mobility Department
Africa Sierra Leone 17.905 deaths were recorded in 2025, 306.0057 live births - female 51% males 49% - and 3.739 stillbirths: experts say the figure highlights persistent challenges in prenatal care, access to skilled birth attendants, and emergency obstetric service
Asia Afghanistan Doctors in Kabul advised that people use air-purifying masks when outdoors to avoid serious and harmful consequences of rising levels of air pollution, a recurrent issue in winter days
Africa Gambia The Gambia Tobacco Industry Monitoring Team completed a capacity-building refreshment to strengthen surveillance and intelligence sharing of industry activities as the country intensifies safeguard of public health policies from industry interference
Europe Czech Republic Over 40 swimmers, three of them wearing a crown, took part in Prague's traditional Three Kings Swim: boats carried participants to the centre of the Vltava River for a swim back to the shore, with water around 2°C and air temperatures falling to -5°C
Europe Latvia The wedge clam, or Atlantic rangia has been named the mollusc of the year 2026; the choice of a non-native species aims to drawing attention to alien and invasive species in the Baltic Sea, according to the Latvian Malacological Society
America Cuba Work in 2025 was characterized by precariousness, informality and loss of purchasing power according to ASIC, the Cuban Association of Construction Companies, in a labor framework that lacks both basic international standards and signs of improvement