Asia China The World Humanoid Robot Games, world's first Olympic-style event, took place in Beijing in a venue built for 2022 Olympics; in the opening ceremony robots danced and played music and 500 androids competed in 26 sports, from 400m sprint to table tennis
Africa Cameroon Authorities must stop with the harassment of Alice Nkom, a lawyer well known for her advocacy towards decriminalization of homosexuality, and attacks on civil society organisations, said Amnesty International's regional directorate West and Central Africa
Europe Belgium The Flemish regional government will fully reimburse the costs of asbestos removal in schools, announced Flemish Minister of Education Zuhal Demir
Europe Belarus A ceremony presided by President Lukashenko marked the transition of Minsk's water supply system to underground artesian wells
Europe Denmark The 'Greenland Issue' has taken center stage in international attention; as Danish PM wishes to speak to Donald Trump on the matter, the press focuses on the legal options available, saying Greenland can declare independence but cannot be ceded to US
Europe Finland Greenhouse gas emissions have diminished significantly in 2024 because of the decrease in the use of fossil fuels in energy production, lower transport emissions and the impact of less intensive deforestation according to Etla Economic Research
Europe Ireland U2 frontman Bono was awarded the Medal of Freedom by Joe Biden; he paid tribute to his bandmates and fellow activists as he became the first Irish recipient of the highest US civilian honour since Mary Robinson, awarded by Barack Obama in 2009
Asia Georgia A fact-finding mission to Tbilisi will be conducted by the Assembly of Council of Europe on 14-16 Jan to assess Georgia's compliance with obligations and commitments as member state of Council of Europe upon political crisis and suspension of negotiations
Europe Slovenia Slovenians voted genocide (genocid) as the word that most marked 2024, while the sign language gesture of the year is peace and preturizem (overtourism) became the new word of the year 2024
Africa Sudan There are 3,2 million children under 5 years of age who suffer from hunger in the country, of whom about 772.000 are expected to suffer from severe acute malnutrition, said Eva Hinds, Unicef Sudan's Protection and Communications Officer
Asia Afghanistan The South African sports minister joined calls to boycott the cricket match against Afghanistan next month, criticising the International Cricket Council for not following the rules as Talibans disbanded the women's national team and banned women's sports
Africa South Africa The South African Communist Party will participate in local elections as an independent formation; it is the first time in the history of democratic South Africa
Africa Ivory Coast The Hôpital Mère-Enfant in Bingerville, near Abidjan, has confirmed the success of the country's very first operation to separate Siamese twins
Oceania Australia The UN Human Rights Committee has ruled that Australia has violated the rights of asylum seekers held in migrant centres set up by its government in neighbouring countries, in breach of its international treaty obligations