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 Bhutan Royal Civil Service Commission has updated its leadership model under the Diamond Strategy, moving away from seniority-based authority toward accountability, adaptability and performance, as part of broader efforts to modernize public administration
Asia Laos Funding to restore degraded forests in Xe Bang Nouan National Protected Area was approved by ADB; The project will reforest damaged land, improve watershed management and support local communities with sustainable forestry, climate-resilient activities
Africa Senegal A two-year prison sentence was inflicted by Pikine-Guédiawaye Magistrates' Court to two men found guilty of producing and distributing pornographic videos filmed in Senegal and broadcast on online platforms
America Saint Kitts and Nevis 5 volunteers from the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps arrived in Saint Kitts and Nevis to strengthen instruction of mathematics, pure science, and other related areas; the professionals are part of a larger cohort, with other 12 teaching in the health sector
America Bahamas Eight Bahamians received the 2026 New Year’s Day Honours by King Charles III in St James Palace in London; The Most Excellent Order of The British Empire OBE is a highly distinguished honour awarding excellence in various activities
Asia Afghanistan Doctors in Kabul advised that people use air-purifying masks when outdoors to avoid serious and harmful consequences of rising levels of air pollution, a recurrent issue in winter days
Africa Burkina Faso Amid heightened political tensions, authorities say they have thwarted a new coup attempt; the alleged plot was reportedly uncovered on 3 January before it would be carried out, according to official sources that disclosed the information
Africa Gambia The Gambia Tobacco Industry Monitoring Team completed a capacity-building refreshment to strengthen surveillance and intelligence sharing of industry activities as the country intensifies safeguard of public health policies from industry interference
Africa Sierra Leone 17.905 deaths were recorded in 2025, 306.0057 live births - female 51% males 49% - and 3.739 stillbirths: experts say the figure highlights persistent challenges in prenatal care, access to skilled birth attendants, and emergency obstetric service
Africa Guinea Pivi, convicted of crimes against humanity for the 2009 stadium massacre, has died in custody in a Conakry hospital from complications related to diabetes; known as Coplan, he was a colonel and in charge of security under then-dictator Moussa Dadis Camara
Europe Andorra 237.500 vehicles have entered Andorra during the Special Traffic period, running from 19 December to 6 January: 172.000 through the border with Spain and 65.500 from France, according to Andorran Mobility Department
Africa Angola Newly completed Wastewater Treatment Plant in Sumbe, Lunda-Sul province, benefits over 40.000 residents with 95 kilometers of distribution network, 4.289 household connections, and 63 public fountains
America Cuba Work in 2025 was characterized by precariousness, informality and loss of purchasing power according to ASIC, the Cuban Association of Construction Companies, in a labor framework that lacks both basic international standards and signs of improvement