America Mexico The idea of US military bombings on Mexican soil against cartels has been firmly rejected by Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum, insisting on respect for sovereignty and saying cooperation on drug issues must not involve unilateral US actions
Asia Saudi Arabia At the King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals in Dhahran, a professional training programme in generative artificial intelligence was launched for 4.000 Saudi citizens, offered by the Gen AI Academy
Asia Tajikistan Further funding will be attracted for the completion of the Rogun hydroelectric power plant, featuring a 335-metre-high clay core and rockfill dam on the Vakhsh River that will be the tallest in the world; around US$ 3 billion are needed to be completed
Europe Vatican City The Holy Door of the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major has been opened after the one in St. John Lateran, marking the start of the Jubilee Year 2025; Pope Francis had opened the Holy Door of St. Peter's Basilica and the Holy Door of the Rebibbia Prison
Africa Rwanda Forest4Life aims to educate young people in environmental protection by preparing areas for planting, distributing saplings to children and asking them to name their trees to encourage them to create an emotional bond with nature
Europe Slovenia On 1 January, the country became a full member of the European Space Agency; the move is considered a milestone that will create opportunities for local business and science strengthening Slovenia's competitiveness in the global space industry
Europe Sweden Most of Sweden's green energy transition infrastructure is planned in a region where the Sami live; one of the last indigenous peoples of Europe, they are now menaced by the impact on the habitat of reindeers, their most important source of income
Asia Syria Ahmed al Sharaa, the leader of the insurgents who overthrew the regime of Bashar al Assad, said it could take up to four years to carry out a full population census before new elections are held in the country
Africa Senegal The Senegalese government announced the adoption of specific criteria for the allocation of funds to support former prisoners and other victims of demonstrations between 1 February 2021 and 25 February 2024
Asia Palestine Gaza's population decreased by 6% since the start of Israel's war, reports Anadolu Agency citing official data from the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics
Europe Russia Andrei Kotov, director of 'Men Travel' agency and arrested for "organizing extremist activity and participating in it" was found dead in custody in Moscow amid a crackdown on LGBTQ+ rights, says organization OVD-Info, which tracks political arrests
Africa Democratic Republic of the Congo Preliminary laboratory results suggest that the mystery disease spread in the country is a combination of common and seasonal viral respiratory infections and malaria, the World Health Organization said
Asia Cyprus In an optimistic New Year’s address, President Christodoulides said there are reasons for hope in 2025; meanwhile, the Cypriot economy showed remarkable resilience in 2024, with a +3,7% growth rate despite persistent geopolitical and internal challenges
Africa Ivory Coast French troops will leave the country after a decades-long military presence,The country has announced, thus becoming the last African nation to cut military ties with its former colonial power