South Korea's economy grew by 1.2 percent in the fourth quarter of 2019, exceeding expectations, but overall annual growth is estimated at 2 percent, its lowest since 2009, Reuters reported Jan. 21.
Malaysian sugar refiner MSM Malaysia Holdings Berhad will purchase 130,000 tons of sugar from India in the first quarter of 2020 in an attempt to soothe bilateral tensions, Reuters reported Jan. 22.
The World Bank estimates that Afghanistan's economy expanded 2.9 percent in 2019, a notable uptick from its 2018 growth rate of 1.8 percent, according to a Jan. 21 release.
The Russian State Duma unanimously adopted a bill on President Vladimir Putin's proposed constitutional amendments in its first reading on Jan. 23, Kommersant reported.
Morocco and France have concluded an arms sales contract worth 400 million euros ($442 million), Morocco World News reported Jan. 22.
Only 18 of the 28 members of the European Union have met a deadline to present their national plans to reduce carbon emissions by 40 percent within the next decade, Bloomberg reported Jan. 23.
Spanish construction firm ACS has pulled out of the major Inga 3 dam project in the Democratic Republic of the Congo amid disagreements with its Chinese partners, Ecofin reported Jan. 22.
Iran's Expediency Council has confirmed that it did not approve bills to join the convention against the funding of terrorism and the Palermo Convention within the one-year period it had to review the bills, the Donya-e Eqtesad daily reported Jan. 23.
The British House of Commons has overturned proposed changes to its EU withdrawal agreement bill from the House of Lords, clearing the way for the legislation's implementation, Reuters reported Jan. 22.
France's General Confederation of Labor cut power to at least 30,000 homes and businesses for several hours to protest against a proposed pension reform plan, The Guardian reported Jan. 21.
