America Guatemala Indigenous communities in Guatemala are facing a high 18% illiteracy rate and have launched initiatives like floating schools—classrooms on boats reaching remote areas—but struggle as many children are pulled from school to work in agriculture
Europe Moldova There is a lack of heating and hot water in homes and offices in the region of Transnistria after Ukraine cut off Russian gas supplies to Europe
Africa Mozambique Protests against the outcome of the 8 October presidential elections are suspended for 5 days to allow humanitarian workers and international bodies to assess the situation in the country, upon call of opposition leader Venancio Mondlane
Africa Somalia Music icon Luul Jeylaani Ali has died in Minneapolis, USA, marking the end of an era for a figure who profoundly influenced generations of Somali artists and music lovers
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
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
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
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 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
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 Afghanistan A decree prohibiting the construction of windows in new buildings that overlook other people's homes and spaces where women might be has been issued
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
Africa Madagascar 800 turtles, probably intended for clandestine export, were seized in Majunga, in the north-west of the country; the seized turtles belong to the endemic Madagascar star tortoise species, which is protected and classified as critically endangered