Asia Nepal New members of Nepal’s National Assembly were sworn in following upper-house elections, where the Balendra Shah’s reformist Rastriya Swatantra Party won by a landslide, reshaping Nepal’s political landscape
Europe North Macedonia A recently proposed government-backed legislation would drastically tighten restrictions on the use of tobacco and vapes, causing widespread discontent in citizens; as nearly half of adult population smokes, health officials say stricter rules are vital
Oceania Palau Legislator Marie A. Nabeyama was selected as Speaker of the 13th Legislature, becoming the first woman to hold the position in Koror State’s history
Asia Taiwan Lawmaker Lee Chen-hsiu was sworn in despite not having begun the process to renounce her Chinese nationality; the formality is required by Nationality Act, which bars individuals holding dual nationality from serving as elected representatives
Europe Poland Polish free-ride skier Zuzanna Witych, 33, has made history winning gold at the first ever Freeride Championships held in Ordino Arcalís in the Andorran Pyrenees; an extreme form of skiing, it involves descending off-piste on wild mountain slopes
Asia Syria Women's Protection Unit, an all-female militia within the Syrian Democratic Forces, decided they will keep their armed presence despite the recent integration agreement between the Syrian government and the SDF
Africa South Africa The news regarding 500 green anacondas actively living and breeding in Zeekoevlei Nature Reserve, widely posted on social media, is fake, Cape Town authorities said, adding that no state of emergency or restrictions are in place, urging not to share it
Asia Tajikistan Preparations for a gradual shift to a 12-year general education system have started: activities incluse include developing new curricula, preparing schools, training for teachers, awareness campaigns with the goal of aligning with international standards
America Saint Kitts and Nevis St Kitts Tourism Authority has met travel advisors, travel agents, operators and held marketing and outreach events to promote incoming tourism from Florida and Puerto Rico
Europe Germany Siemens Energy is planning to invest $1 billion (€850 million) in the US energy production sector amid a surge in electricity demand driven by AI data centers; It will also build a new factory in Mississippi and recruit over 1500 highly skilled workers
Africa Democratic Republic of the Congo A landslide struck a large coltan mining site in eastern North Kivu causing the collapse of several mines; at least 200 people died in the accident at the Rubaya mines, reported province governor appointed by the M23 that control the area
America Saint Vincent and the Grenadines The Ju-C Primary Schools Performing Arts Festival PRISPAF 2026 was officially launched; the celebration of youth creativity and cultural expression involves primary school pupils across St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Europe Kosovo Kosovo Serb Party won the appeal over contested results of the election of 28 December 2025; Central Election Commission’s decision not to authorise the results achieved by the Belgrade-backed Srpska Lista has now been called ‘unjustified’
America Cuba Forecasts are being made for a poor 2026 sugar harvest, described by authorities as "a complex scenario, which requires evaluating supplies"; Cuban economy hasn't yet recovered from a disastrous 2025 harvest, one of the lowest in history