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 Nigeria The young Nigerian team, the 'Broomzillas', managed to qualify for the Winter Youth Olympics being held these days in Gangwon, South Korea, becoming the first African curling team to reach the Winter Youth Olympics
Asia Myanmar Lake Paleik in Singaing municipality and Lake Pyu in TadaU municipality have been designated as the seventh and eighth Flyway Network Sites in the country
Asia Kazakhstan The number of measles cases in Europe skyrocketed in 2023, to the point that WHO called for an urgent vaccination effort to stop the spread: Kazakhstan and Russia had the worst of it, with around 10.000 cases each from January to October last year
Asia Oman The number of passengers using Muscat International Airport increased by 19% to 1.192.832 in December 2023 compared to 999.935 in the same period last year, according to data published by the Civil Aviation Authority
Africa South Africa In Kruger National Park, one of Africa's largest game reserves and part of a UNESCO World Heritage site, a new tourist attraction opened not long ago, a stationary train on a bridge that has become a luxury hotel
Africa Burundi The IMF expects Burundi's economy to expand by 4,3% this year from 2,7% in 2023; growth would be supported by strong agricultural production, productive investment and ongoing reforms
Asia Brunei The new president of the Football Association of Brunei Darussalam has expressed his desire to change the football landscape in the Sultanate for the better, working to support students or football players who have fewer financial opportunities
Europe San Marino A new law passed by Parliament aims to ban smartphones and tablets for children under 11, first and foremost in schools but also and possibly in public places, after a group of teachers had denounced an 'educational emergency'
Asia Georgia Tbilisi Tango, a school teaching the iconic Argentine dance, celebrates its 16th anniversary with the 5th Tbilisi Tango Weekend, to be held from 26 to 28 January
Africa Cameroon A pilot vaccination programme against malaria is underway, the first of its kind in the world and could represent a breakthrough on the African continent
America Ecuador The family of Ecuador's most-wanted fugitive, Jose Adolfo Macias "Fito," were arrested in Argentina and deported to Ecuador; Macias, leader of the Los Choneros gang, escaped from prison, triggering gang violence and prompting a state of emergency
Oceania Tonga An upgrade of Tonga's seismic network will cover five strategically located stations, where infrastructure improvements will help to better monitor and detect earthquakes thanks to work funded by the World Bank through the Pacific Resilience Programme
Europe Bulgaria The construction of two crucial motorways is about to begin; they will connect the city of Varna to Durankulak, in north-east Bulgaria, and to Silistra, on the Danube