Asia Syria Germany's Ministry of Transport lifted the landing ban and normalized passenger traffic with Syria from 27 July 2026, thus opening to direct flights Düsseldorf-Damascus today 29 July, Berlin Brandenburg-Damascus and Cologne/Bonn-Aleppo on 1 August
Africa Libya The Iraqi Embassy in Tripoli resumes processing consular transactions for Iraqi citizens today; efforts were made to obtain the approval of the Interior and General Directorate of Passports to introduce a mobile passport issuing and renewing system
Africa Cameroon A new tax compliance certificate, which can be downloaded online via the Harmony platform, has been established to obtain an exit visa in order to boost the fight against tax evasion by forcing those who have to travel to comply with their payments
Asia South Korea Around 100.000 people gathered at various locations across Busan to see the first sunrise of the year, though it was delayed by 20 minutes due to heavy clouds; Haeundae and Gwangan Beach areas drew around 65.000 individuals, while 20.000 visited temples
Africa Botswana Batswana have been urged to turn up, as voter registration for 2024 general election starts, although a number of major parties have not yet held their primary elections to select candidates
Europe Austria Ahead of federal elections later this year in which the far-right is expected to do well, President Alexander Van der Bellen in his New Year's message encouraged people to engage more with those who have different viewpoints
Africa Tunisia The National Syndicate of Tunisian Journalists called for the immediate release of journalist and radio columnist Zied El Heni, who was arrested on 28 December following comments he made on Ifm private radio in which he criticised the Minister of Trade
Asia Brunei Several filling stations will be temporarily closed between 9am to 11am this month to check the accuracy of fuel dispensing pump’s readings as per Chapter 151 of Weights and Measures Act by the Ministry of Finance and Economy’s Weights and Measures Unit
America Antigua and Barbuda A total of 409 fire calls, out of which 376 classified as major calls, while the remaining 33 minor, were received in 2023 by the Fire Department of Antigua and Barbuda according to official report
Europe North Macedonia North Macedonia weathered a series of ethnically-charged incidents in 2023, a relatively calm period despite economic hardships, and opens 2024 with the prospect of a politician from the country’s ethnic Albanian minority becoming prime minister
Africa Mauritius The first centenarian of the year 2024, Mrs Rookmeen Jugurnauth, celebrated her 100th birthday at Domaine Seetloo, in Solferino, Vacoas, with family and friends
America United States New Jersey recorded the lowest number of shootings in 2023 since record keeping began in 2009, while as of October 2023 California had the most mass shootings in the United States, with 26 total shootings since 1982
Africa Burundi Homosexual marriage is an 'abominable practice', and gay couples to be 'stoned to death' because they have 'chosen the devil' and attract the divine 'curse', said Burundian President Evariste Ndayishimiye
Europe Belarus A new law granting himself permanent immunity from criminal prosecution has been signed by President Lukashenko; it also prevents opposition leaders living in exile from running in future presidential elections