Asia South Korea A traditional rainmaking ritual called giuje was performed by the Gangneung Danoje Preservation Committee as severe drought is gripping the coastal city of Gangneung; water at Obong Reservoir stood at 18,3% and is projected to last other 22 days
Asia India Last week, India's highest-ranking diplomat met with a senior Taliban minister, the highest level of engagement since Kabul's fall three years ago, signalling a shift in the way India views the geopolitical reality of the region
Africa Equatorial Guinea The Republic of Angola was the first international destination on the agenda of 2025 for the Presidential Couple, Obiang Nguema Mbasogo and Doña Constancia Mangue de Obiang
Asia Jordan A joint security committee with Syria will secure common border, curb arms smuggling, prevent resurgence of Islamic State militants, as international anti-narcotics officials say captagon, mass-produced in Syria, transits through Jordan to Gulf states
Asia Azerbaijan An Azerbaijan Trade Centre in Lahore,Pakistan and a Pakistani-Azerbaijani Chamber of Commerce will soon be established to bring business communities of both countries closer together and open new avenues for cooperation, said the Azerbaijani ambassador
Europe Bosnia and Herzegovina With the adoption of the decision on the minimum wage in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina for 2025, the child allowance will increase from the previous 117 BAM (60€) to 190 BAM (90€) per child
Africa Burkina Faso Burkina Faso's military leader, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, has attended Ghana's presidential inauguration armed with a visible pistol in his holster, sparking controversy over security protocols and trust in Ghanaian agreements
Africa Egypt The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Migration organised an international, high-profile event at the National Museum of Egyptian Civilisation to support the candidature of Khaled al-Enany as UNESCO Director General
Europe Estonia Funding for extracurricular education has decreased by a third in the last five years, and most hobby schools are now concentrated in larger municipalities; the Saare County has seen a 60% decline
Africa Botswana The government extended the derogation for the export of live cattle, primarily to South Africa, until 30 April, as the Botswana Meat Commission, the only institution statutorily authorised to export meat products, continued to face operational problems
Africa Djibouti Djiboutian candidate Mahmoud Youssouf for the presidency of the African Union Commission is confident of winning the February vote; winner will head the African Union secretariat for a four-year term, renewable once
America Antigua and Barbuda A call to save 60 gallons of drinking water per person to cover basic needs for at least three days has been issued by the Water Business Unit faced with temporary reduction in water production and foreseeing possible disruptions
Africa Chad A ceremony on 11 January 2025 in Abéché, in the east of the country, marked the handover of French influence, in the context of the breakdown of military agreements between N'Djamena and Paris at the end of November
Europe Czech Republic The fruit harvest dropped by 65% in 2024 to 48.058 tonnes, the lowest in 100 years according to a number of sources, after heavy frosts in April damaged flowering crops; frost-related losses are estimated at CZK 1,3 billion, or € 51.382.500