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
America Mexico Authorities arrested Ovidio Guzmán López, a son of Joaquín Guzmán Loera, the infamous crime lord known as El Chapo; the government claimed a victory in its efforts to combat violence during one of the most dangerous periods in its recent history
Europe Belgium Dutch and Belgian customs will continue their cooperation against drug smuggling in the ports of Rotterdam and Antwerp in 2023
Asia Israel Although thousands demonstrated against new government on 7 January with motto 'Together against fascism and apartheid', Minister of National Security ordered to remove Palestinian flags from public spaces, calling its display an act of 'terrorism'
Africa Somalia Al-Shabaab, a Somali fundamentalist group linked to the al-Qaeda network, denied having any contact with the executive and called for negotiations
Europe Slovakia The country's Hydrometeorological Institute said in a recent analysis that extreme drought affected large parts of Slovakia during typically wet periods, causing low agricultural yields and affecting forest ecosystems
Africa Uganda Uganda has declared an end to the Ebola virus outbreak, which emerged almost four months ago and claimed the lives of 55 people in the country
Europe Austria The conservatives, eager to win the upcoming local elections in the state of Lower Austria, want to further crack down on climate activists with harsher penalties, although legal experts consider such a move problematic
Asia Iraq On 8 January, the removal of barriers around Baghdad's green zone and the opening of the crossing began, as part of a plan to ease traffic congestion in the capital
Europe Greece Constantine II, the last ousted king of Greece, has died at the age of 82 in Athens; a ministerial meeting under Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis decided that he will be buried as a private citizen
Africa Sierra Leone The country has endowed itself with a Diplomatic Service Academy, the first in the country and in the Mano River Union region, which was inaugurated in recent days by President Julius Maada Bio
Oceania Nauru Two refugees who were evacuated from Australia's Nauru detention centre before Christmas said they spent weeks in solitary confinement in a Brisbane hotel awaiting treatment
Africa Tanzania The number of journalists censored for their work in Tanzania has fallen slightly, raising hopes that press freedom is improving in the country
Asia Turkey Leader of Turkish Medical Association and human rights activist Sebnem Korur Fincanci - jailed for 2 years and 8 months for terrorist propaganda - has been released from prison thanks to the sentence already served