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 Kyrgyzstan A new bus station was inaugurated in Bishkek at the intersection of the ring road and Alma-Ata Street to relocate the eastern bus station; it is served by minibuses that transport citizens to the different regions
Asia Kuwait The Health Minister issued two decisions to add chemicals to the list of controlled drugs and psychotropic substances, as part of ongoing efforts to combat drug abuse and regulate their use and trafficking in accordance with international standards
Europe Malta Marsascala-based Jacob's Brew Cafe has raised over €4.000 for 'Project Revamp', an initiative undertaken by the NGO Survivors Malta, the beneficiary, which has seen to the outdoor terraces of the Sir Anthony Mamo Oncology Centre being redeveloped
Europe Montenegro The Montenegrin Environmental Protection Agency stated that the China Road and Bridge Corporation has not yet rectified the damage done to the Tara River, part of which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, during the construction of the Bar-Boljare motorway
America Brazil Western donors to the Amazon Fund have warned Brazil against using it to pave a major road in the rainforest; the German government, the fund's second-biggest donor, stated that supporting such a project is against the fund's rules
Africa Gambia Mai Fatty, leader of the Gambia Moral Congress, has urged Gambia and Senegal to foster closer collaboration to lead the fight against insecurity in the subregion following a rise in violence, conflict, drug trafficking, piracy, extremism and other threats
Europe Monaco With over 1 million purchases, +150% on 2022,, 2023 was a record year for Carlo, a payment app designed exclusively for the Principality; it can be used in over 600 points of sale and counts around 65.000 users
Asia Thailand The Thai National Identity Committee has announced that Thailand will officially recognise the iconic 'wai' gesture, a traditional Buddhist greeting of joining palms in a prayer-like gesture, as a fundamental part of its national identity
Africa Cape Verde The country has been declared malaria-free by WHO; PM Ulisses Correia e Silva welcomed this achievement, emphasising its importance for tourism as it removes a constraint on mobility, it eliminates a perception and it strengthens health confidence
America Jamaica Professional services were commissioned to conduct an assessment of the Jamaica brand to develop a national brand strategy, while the Prime Minister called on all Jamaicans to do their part to protect the Jamaica brand
Asia Laos A new agroforestry coffee plantation project dedicated to promoting sustainable agriculture and environmental conservation is about to take off to create a prototype coffee plantation for local farmers, implementing the agroforestry rotation system
Europe Romania Romanian farmers once again blocked the movement of trucks at Siret checkpoint, near Ukranian border, asking the government to provide assistance, including subsidies, to counter high insurance rates and to compete with Ukrainian products entering the EU
Oceania Nauru The island's main phosphate mines were closed in the 1980s, although phosphate mining and exports resumed in 2005; the government estimates that the secondary deposits have a remaining life of about 30 years, but the island's landscape has been devastated