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
Asia Bangladesh Air force chiefs held talks with those of Pakistan on a potential pact covering the sale of JF-17 Thunder fighter jets to Dhaka, as Islamabad widens its arms supply ambitions and expands ties with Bangladesh
America Uruguay Three islands on the Uruguay River have been donated to the country by philanthropist Gilbert Butler to expand protected areas and launch the binational “Peace Park” with Argentina, boosting conservation and low-impact ecotourism in over 21.000 hectares
Asia Bahrain A proposed law that would forbid children under 15 years of age to create social media accounts was reviewed by the Shura Council’s woman and child affairs committee, a move to address growing concern over the risks faced by youngsters online
Oceania Tuvalu Government expresses deep concern over the recent escalation of tensions in the Asia-Pacific region; an official post on Facebook reminded that Tuvalu strongly opposes any unilateral or coercive actions that threaten regional security, stability and peace
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
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
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
Asia Laos Laos and Vietnam will establish a joint university in Laos and expand student exchange programs; The initiative seeks to strengthen bilateral ties, improve higher education and develop human capital through closer academic and institutional cooperation
America Colombia President Gustavo Petro has warned of a “real threat” of possible US military action against Colombia after US President Donald Trump said an operation there “sounds good”, stressing the need for dialogue despite tensions over narcotics
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 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 Egypt Egypt’s National Council for Childhood and Motherhood (NCCM) will launch a “Safe Child Unit” in six governorates as an initial phase to provide integrated support for children facing physical and psychological violence