Africa eSwatini 11 000 jobs have been added in 2023-25; though it may appear as a positive development for Eswatini’s economy, economists fear that Eswatini’s labour market is expanding in low-productivity jobs rather than sectors building long-term economic security
Africa Mozambique Frelimo party candidate Daniel Chapo was sworn in as the new president during a ceremony in the capital, becoming the fifth president of Mozambique since the country's independence from Portugal in 1975
Asia Myanmar Civil war has fueled a surge in cross-border drug trade to Thailand, with rebel groups and militias running drug labs; meth pill seizures rose by 172% and crystal meth by 39% in 2024, yet low meth prices suggest significant volumes evade law enforcement
Asia Kazakhstan Although families continue to cherish marriage traditions, a recent survey from Kazakh Institute for Public Development show that expensive marriages and outdated practices, such as the abduction of brides, have decreased significantly
Asia Iraq Prime Minister Mohammed S. Al-Sudani and UK Prime Ministers Keir Starmer unveiled a £12.3 billion ($15 billion) UK-Iraq investment and trade package aimed at strengthening prosperity and bilateral economic ties
Asia Turkey The Istanbul Transport Coordination Centre approved a 35% increase in fares for public transport, taxis, school buses and employee shuttles
Africa Sierra Leone After a second case of mpox was confirmed, the Minister of Health announced the decision to declare a state of health emergency
Asia Malaysia Kedah state will mandate the inclusion of Jawi script on all billboards, effective immediately, to preserve the traditional Malay-Arabic script, reflecting the state’s cultural heritage; businesses must incorporate Jawi alongside existing scripts
Africa Mauritius Mauritius has been named the world's best honeymoon destination in TripAdvisor's prestigious Travelers' Choice Awards 2025, surpassing renowned romantic destinations such as the Maldives and Indonesia's Bali
Europe Russia The first prisoner exchange between Russia and Ukraine in 2025 took place: 25 Ukrainian civilians and military personnel and 25 Russian soldiers were freed
Asia South Korea SK’s space program, part of the Lunar Codex, is sending 11 traditional sijo poems, including Kim Dal-ho’s “Dream of a Meteor” and Koo Choong-hoe’s “To the Moon,” to the moon via Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost lander, set to reach the Mare Crisium in March
America Trinidad and Tobago As the dry season officially started on 14 January, Water and Sewerage Authority has reminded the public to be conservative in using water, saying it is crucial for citizens to adopt sustainable practices to ensure a reliable supply of pipe-borne water
Africa Lesotho Major Bokang Melato, Defence Force Youth Development Programme coordinator, urged the government to invest in the armed forces to ensure the nation's progress
Africa Liberia The Minister of Finance and Development Planning described the World Bank as 'Liberia's largest multilateral partner', emphasising its key role in post-conflict recovery and ongoing development efforts