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
Asia North Korea Ukraine released the first testimony of North Korean soldiers captured while fighting for Russia in the Kursk region: two wounded North Korean soldiers were captured and taken to Kiev for treatment and later interrogation
Asia Qatar The Warif Academy has been launched: it is the first government academy of its kind for students with multiple disabilities in Qatar, upon initiative of the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, in cooperation with the Qatar Foundation
Africa Democratic Republic of the Congo DRC banned the satellite news network al-Jazeera because it made and broadcasted an interview with the leader of a rebel group that recently took over territory in the east of the country
Oceania Palau Faced with what law enforcement officials described as a drug crisis, President Surangel Whipps Jr. identified the fight against illegal drugs as a top priority, pledging to toughen penalties for related crimes and offenders
Asia Oman Royal directives have been issued for names of national and main roads in Oman; His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik also addresses nation on his Accession Day 11 January, the day he assumed power in the Sultanate in 2020
Europe Poland After Poland granted Israel PM Netanyahu access to the 80th commemoration of the liberation of Auschwitz, the EU called on all member states to cooperate with the International Criminal Court, which had issued an arrest warrant for war crimes
America Saint Kitts and Nevis A new fleet of ambulances is on the way to St. Kitts and Nevis as the government continues to take extraordinary measures to improve healthcare; the five emergency medical transport vehicles are expected to arrive in the Federation in February 2025
Europe Bulgaria Encroachments in Bulgarian forest areas decreased by over 60% in 2024 compared to 2023, said the Ministry of Agriculture and Food; 631.000 inspections were carried out in 2024
Europe Vatican City Over half a million pilgrims from across the globe have passed through St Peter’s Basilica's Holy Door since the Jubilee Year 2025 began two weeks ago
America Barbados Barbados will face environmental and commercial risks if invasive pests infiltrate the island due to loopholes in import protocols, officials have warned; agriculture manager Michael James urged residents to follow the proper channels for importation
Africa Comoros The reforms of the Comoros Broadcasting Office include measures on wages, redundancies and initiatives to improve working conditions; they have been outlined by the new Directorate General
Europe Albania New regulations will allow Albanians living outside the country to cast postal ballots in the May parliamentary elections – a change long sought by most parties as well as called for by the diaspora
Europe Belgium The Flemish regional government will fully reimburse the costs of asbestos removal in schools, announced Flemish Minister of Education Zuhal Demir