America Brazil Concerns have grown in Brazil as investments from US and Chinese tech firms have driven a boom in AI data centers that could triple capacity by 2030, raising fears among experts and indigenous leaders about heavy water and energy consumption
Africa Democratic Republic of the Congo A key border post between DRC and Burundi reopened after over two months of closure triggered by an offensive by AFC/M23; the Kavimvira crossing, a vital trade route linking Uvira and Bujumbura, resumed operations as DRC regained control over the area
Asia Turkey A new legislation imposing time, location and security restrictions on meetings between lawyers and detainees held on terrorism and organized crime charges is reportedly being drafted following cases where leaders kept issuing instructions from prison
Europe Poland Nearly one million Ukrainian refugees are still living in Poland after being driven from their homes by the start of the war with Russia four years ago, UNHCR reported, describing the circumstance as an sign of 'extraordinary solidarity'
Oceania Australia Bush towns are spending millions just to guarantee their residents can see a doctor; six tiny WA centers spend AUS$1,5m each year on subsidies, their citizens facing shorter life expectancy due to inadequate medical services
Oceania Solomon Islands Carrying out mining operations on Nendo Island is 'not feasible'; the comments follow geochemical sampling results which reportedly confirm there are no viable prospects for mining operations in Temotu Province, particularly on Nendo Island
Europe Ukraine Ukrainian officials will boycott the Paralympic Winter Games 2026 after the International Paralympic Committee allowed Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete under their national flag
Europe Norway Cross-country skier Johannes Høsflot Klæbo became the first athlete ever to win six gold medals and the first to win all six cross-country events in a single Winter Olympic Games
Africa Egypt Recent constitutional court ruling clarifies legislative and executive authority over updating lists of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances in line with constitutional principles and the rule of law, allowing revisions of schedules of anti-drug law
Asia Tajikistan The first block train on new China to Tajikistan line departed Lanzhou with eight 40-foot containers with consumer goods and construction equipment; Traveling over 3.500 km it will cross Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan before reaching Dushanbe-2 railway station
Africa Togo The “Big Catch-Up” initiative, implemented with support from UNICEF, will step up efforts to restore childhood vaccination coverage weakened by the COVID-19 pandemic, reintegrating into immunizing programs 40.000 unvaccinated or under-vaccinated children
Asia Vietnam Precision farming technologies are being promoted: AI-driven crop monitoring, satellite /drone-based field mapping, IoT sensors for soil and irrigation management, and blockchain for traceability, high-tech greenhouses, biotech seeds, digital supply chain
Europe Germany Director Ilker Catak, German with Turkish origins, won the Golden Bear in Berlin's film festival for his "Yellow Letters", a drama set in Turkey about creeping authoritarianism, in an event overshadowed by a row over politics in cinema
Asia Syria A landmark decision granted provincial governors broad authorities marking one of the most signifcant steps toward administrative decentralisation since 2011; the move will accelerate streamline project implementation, and reduce bureaucratic congestion