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 Taiwan A new endemic species of balitorid fish has been discovered in the Kaoping River in southern Taiwan, said the Yushan National Park headquarters
America Venezuela Venezuela’s oil exports increased 12% last year to almost 700.000 barrels per day as the United States eased sanctions imposed since 2019 on the country’s energy sector, according to data and documents viewed by Reuters
America Dominica The unparalleled benefits of the 'Citizenship by Investment' programme was recently emphasised by the Prime Minister; at a press conference he stressed that it provided citizens with exceptional advantages, superior to those of any other country
Oceania Fiji The Fiji Police Fraud Investigation Unit has received numerous reports of MPAiSA accounts being hacked by unknown persons in recent months; head of the anti-crime unit says victims are often people who may not be familiar with modern technology
Asia Laos UNICEF Laos celebrated its 50th anniversary; in 1973 the peace agreement between the Royal Government of Laos and the communist Pathet Lao marked the end of the Laotian civil war and laid the foundation for UNICEF's entry into Laos
America Suriname Suriname's highest court upheld a 20-year prison sentence for ex-president Desi Bouterse, who lost an appeal against his conviction for the 1982 killings of political opponents
Asia Sri Lanka Professionals in Supplementary Medical Service have launched a token strike against the government’s decision to not provide them with Disturbance, Availability and Transport
Europe Norway The country took a step towards becoming the first in the world to open its seabed to commercial deep-sea mining after a highly controversial parliamentary vote and amid strong environmental concerns from scientists
Europe Spain Masks will become compulsory in Spanish hospitals and health centres due to the increase in respiratory diseases; most of Spain's 17 autonomous regions objected, arguing that the measures should be recommended but not compulsory
Africa Eritrea The Ministry of Education in Southern Region organised a training programme on financial and material management for education offices, with directors of school offices, heads of administration and finance, warehouse workers and internal auditors
Asia Tajikistan Majlisi Milli President Rustam Emomali, who is also mayor of Dushanbe, visited the Iran House of Innovation and Technology in Tehran as part of his official visit to Iran
America Guyana A US Defense Department official was sent to Guyana to help the country as it is still in its border dispute with Venezuela over the oil-rich Essequibo region
Africa eSwatini The government of the Kingdom of Eswatini has strongly denied the allegations levelled against King Mswati III over the killing of human rights lawyer Thulani Maseko, promising action against those linking the King to the killing of the 52-year-old lawyer