Europe Spain A massive counterfeit perfume factory has been dismantled; the plant produced tens of thousands of liters of counterfeit fragrances, imitations of around fifty luxury brands, to be marketed to the rest of Europe via France
America Peru Peru has advanced plans to become South America's naval construction leader in 2026, partnering with South Korea for tech transfer and investing over US$831,9 million in submarines, warships, and port infrastructure to boost maritime defense and industry
Asia Vietnam Hà Nội's metro operator carried nearly 21 million passengers in 2025, surpassing targets by 7,3%; Cát Linh–Hà Đông line alone secured revenues exceeding plans by 26,6%
America Suriname A Memorandum of Understanding to establish a Political Consultation Mechanism has been signed with Chile, aiming to strengthen bilateral relations and enhance cooperation through regular diplomatic dialogue
Africa Liberia The Liberia Civil Aviation Master Plan 2025–2045 has been launched: a 20-year strategic framework to reform, modernize, and future-proof Liberia’s air transport, the most far-reaching aviation plan since the end of conflict and institutional fragility
America Panama A joint training program has been launched with the US to strengthen protection of the Panama Canal, reinforcing long-standing bilateral cooperation on security and strategic infrastructure
Asia United Arab Emirates FoodTech Challenge winners have been proclaimed and awarded $500.000 each; winning ideas demonstrated real-world impact on food loss, yields and resource efficiency: natural produce protectors, tree-health sensors and insect-based waste recycling systems
Asia Lebanon In Hadath, Beirut’s outskirts, a shelter for abandoned cats has been running for 12 years: it began with a single rescue and became a long-term commitment; since 2024, the war has intensified the pressure and cats are relocated amid scarce housing options
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
Africa Chad Dangerous practices during festive periods in Chad persist notwithstanding a clear regulation; government has warned against extreme practices, use of firearms or fireworks and announced strict enforcement of safety regulations, particularly at weddings
Asia Bhutan Livestock Bill 2025, which aims to modernize regulation and improve food safety, was debated by National Assembly; expanded meat production clashes with Buddhist values and animal welfare highlighted contrasts among tradition, public health, economy needs
Africa Libya Raising refining capacity and domestic fuel production to 660,000 bpd is a pillars for improving Libya's economy, reducing reliance on imported fuel; upgrading existing refineries and build new plants would enhance domestic fuel production
Africa Madagascar Within economic recovery plans, the Ministry of Industrialization and Private Sector Development held a strategic working meeting with the Fikambanan’ny Orinasa Malagasy, a representing Malagasy businesses to build a more resilient and competitive economy
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