Asia Iraq Over 600 pilgrims were briefly hospitalised with respiratory problems after inhaling chlorine resulting of a leak at a water treatment station on the route between the two Shia holy cities of Najaf and Karbala
Africa Tunisia The heart failure unit, electrophysiology unit, anaesthetists and cardiovascular surgeons at Rabta Hospital successfully performed an electroporation ablation procedure for atrial fibrillation, a world first in this field
Europe Finland The Finnish Medicines Agency received 2.676 drug shortage notifications from pharmaceutical companies in 2024; most cases were resolved by replacing unavailable drugs with equivalent alternatives in pharmacies
Africa Gabon The transitional parliament approved a new electoral code, after days of deliberations, allowing members of the security forces and magistrates to participate in elections as candidates; opponents see it as favourable to junta leader Brice Oligui Nguema
Africa Democratic Republic of the Congo Amnesty International has accused both the M23 rebels in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo and the country's army of using explosive weapons in densely populated areas, insisting that an end must be put to this situation
Asia Syria An arrest warrant against ousted Syrian leader Bashar Assad on suspicion of complicity in war crimes has been issued by two French examining magistrates; it's the second such move ever by French judicial authorities
Africa Tanzania An outbreak of Marburg virus disease was declared after one case was confirmed and 25 more suspected cases identified in the Kagera region of north-western Tanzania
Asia Cyprus Citizens over the age of 18 will be able to apply for a new national electronic identity card as of 27 January; the issuance of the first 100.000 eIDs will be subsidised by the government: 30.000 of them given out for free and 70.000 available for €15
Africa Togo The Togolese government bought back the headquarters of Union Togolaise de Banque and IB Bank to help stabilise these ailing banks, which hold 20% of the assets of Togo's banking sector
America United States Attorneys general from 22 states sued President Trump to block an executive order declaring that children born to mothers legally but temporarily in the US, i.e. foreign students, or born to undocumented immigrants would no longer be treated as citizens
Europe Denmark The Supreme Court has ruled in favour of trade union FOA in a case against the Danish Labour Market Insurance and the Appeals Board, a decision that could lead to damages of up to DKK 2,5 billion (€335.059.000) for around 25.000 workers in flexible jobs
America Dominican Republic As part of the 2025 patronal festival 'La Altagracia', a 'Rice, Sea and Land' dish for over 2.000 participants has been cooked in Pedernales to set a national record and celebrate Dominican gastronomy and cultural traditions
Asia Israel Israel's military chief Lt Gen Herzi Halevi has resigned, admitting in a letter that the Israel Defense Forces had "failed in its mission to protect the citizens of Israel" on 7 October 2023, when Hamas carried out the attack that triggered the Gaza war
America Dominica Dominica is now mentioned in the BBC list of 25 places to visit in 2025 with a special focus on sustainable travel