Europe Sweden A new species has been discovered in Swedish forests, a fungus that parasitizes lichens; it has been recognized by researchers at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
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'
America Saint Vincent and the Grenadines A group of American scientists visiting the country to study different animal groups found three new species of Daddy Longlegs, thus doubling the number of known long-legged species on the island
Africa Cape Verde During the first leg of his African tour, in Praia, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken named the country a 'beacon of stability in the region'
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
Asia Bahrain The Parliament is preparing to debate a bill that aims to prohibit the conversion of visit visas into work visas
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
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
America Dominica Energy Minister Dr. Vince Henderson said the government is ready to start construction of a 10-kilowatt geothermal power plant to supplement the Dominica Electricity Company's power supply
Asia China The number of foreclosed homes increased by 43% y-o-y in 2023, according to a private survey, highlighting a worrying upward trend in mortgage delinquencies against a backdrop of a prolonged slump in the property market and uneven economic recovery
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
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
Asia Turkey In the wetlands of the Aegean coastal city of Izmir, a significant increase in the number of winter birds has been observed compared to last year; members of NGOs and volunteer birdwatchers, led by experts, are engaged in censusing 14 areas
Africa Togo The 60 health centres rehabilitated or built as part of the 'Quality Essential Health Services for Universal Health Coverage' project are now officially operational in the Savanes region