Asia Oman Premarital medical screening will now be mandatory for couples to promote early detection of hereditary blood disorders and infectious diseases and providing couples with appropriate medical counselling before marriage
Asia Myanmar On 4 January Independence Day, Myanmar’s junta granted amnesty to thousands of prisoners but excluded most political detainees; Activists said the move was symbolic and failed to address the continued detention of opposition figures and protest leaders
Africa Gabon Nine sailors were kidnapped during an attack on a trawler off the coast of Gabon the Ministry of Defense stated in a video released on Monday 12 January by several Gabonese media outlets; the attack was perpetrated by three armed individuals
Oceania Papua New Guinea About 80-100 million Kina, 1,6 to 2 million euros, has been cashed in Milne Bay in the las beech-de-mer (sea cucumber) season; Alotau chamber of commerce and industry said the money has directly benefitted coastal villages across outer islands and atolls
Africa Cape Verde 35th anniversary of 13 January, Democracy Day, a public holiday marking Cape Verde's first democratic elections in 1991, will see the inauguration of the Monument to Freedom and Democracy, academic focuses, events in the diaspora, music festival
Africa Eritrea Walta Awards, cultural and arts competitions organized by the Ministry of Defense ended at Cinema Roma in Asmara with the victory of Egri-Mekel troupe from the Central Command, it covered dance, music, theater, directing, painting and narrative
America Mexico Mexican and US officials met to discuss measures to combat drug cartels and narcoterrorist networks, with the US urging stronger cooperation to dismantle trafficking while Mexico stresses collaboration that respects its sovereignty
Africa Gabon The Women’s Rise Observatory, with Business & Professional Women Gabon BPW Gabon and the Bank for Commerce and Entrepreneurship of Gabon BCEG, launched 'Rising Star Gabon 2026' aiming to identify, support and promote projects led by women entrepreneurs
America Nicaragua Dozens of prisoners have been freed, including some political detainees, to mark 19 years of Ortega’s rule in Nicaragua amid mounting pressure from other countries for the release of unjustly held individuals
America El Salvador A pilot phase of The Classroom Project has been launched; as announced in 2025, it will integrate Bitcoin education and bilingual learning into public schools to modernize education and promote financial literacy from as early as the age of 7
Africa Burundi A 5 year Tourism Marketing Plan has been launched to boost international arrivals, strengthen tourism offer and raise Burundi's profile as a safe and welcoming destination, with an improved access and hospitality infrastructure and better access roads
America Ecuador Several illegal mining camps in the Andean province of Imbabura have been destroyed; military operations in the area have intensified following deadly attacks by armed groups linked to ex-FARC dissidents and local gangs
America Honduras Eight Latin American countries have rejected Honduras' vote recount decree sanctioned by President Xiomara Castro, arguing it has undermined the electoral authority after Nasry Asfura was officially declared winner of the disputed November 2025 elections
Europe San Marino The number of births has risen in 2025, reversing a negative trend in San Marino; the Family Secretariat has expressed satisfaction and announced a new law by the end of this year that will introduce a 'baby bonus'