Asia Israel Tel Aviv Stock Exchange’s benchmark TA-125 index gained 1,7% as shares rose to new record highs at the end of trading day yesterday following an Israeli airstrike that targeted top Hamas leaders in Doha, Qatar; index has marked over +32% so far this year
Europe Italy The Vasari corridor, a narrow 760m-long passageway on the Arno River in Florence is now open to the public; commissioned in 1565 and completed in just five months, it connects the Uffizi Galleries with the Pitti Palace and the Boboli garden
Europe North Macedonia The Constitutional Court will not rule immediately over the disputed constitutionality of the country’s language 2018 law, but will hold a preparatory meeting soon, to hear international experts’ opinions before making any decisions
Europe Vatican City New webpage "Work with Us", job applications for laypeople who wish to apply for vacancies at the Holy See, has been launched by the Secretariat for the Economy; appropriate competence, motivation, and an ethical sense are required for all positions
Asia Lebanon A second aid ship carrying 3.000 tonnes of relief materials was sent to Lebanon by the United Arab Emirates; supplies include food, winter clothing and specific items for children and women
Asia Israel Israel has announced the closing its embassy in Dublin, Ireland, in protest against Ireland’s decisions to recognize Palestinian statehood and to accuse the Israelis of committing genocide in the Gaza Strip
Oceania Micronesia A Memorandum of Understanding for the State of Pohnpei was signed to support the Blue Prosperity Micronesia program; the MoU initiates the development of a legally-binding Marine Spatial Plan for Pohnpei’s waters from 0–12 nautical miles
Europe Portugal Wolf presence decreased over the last two decades notwithstanding efforts of conservation that failed to reach their goals: latest census shows the area of presence in Portugal was reduced by 20% and the number of packs decreased by 8% to 58
Africa Uganda A Ugandan court ordered the government to compensate with USD 2.740 each victim of Thomas Kwoyelo, a commander of the Lord's Resistance Army who was sentenced to 40 years in prison for war crimes in October
America Barbados Two cases of Oropouche virus, both involving adults, were officially reported; the Pan American Health Organization had recently raised concerns about the spread of Oropouche virus in the Americas, along with dengue and avian flu
Europe Serbia From 2025, public transport in Belgrade will be completely free of charge, said the mayor, Aleksandar Šapić, who called it 'the biggest public transport reform' with the aim of solving the traffic problem
Africa Ivory Coast Chef Melanie Zenaib Bancé has not left the cooker since 17 December to conquer the Guinness Book of Cooking Marathon; the goal is to make 16.000 dishes from 293 menus from all regions of the country, that will be donated to needy people and hospitals
Europe France The court of Avignon sentenced Dominique Pelicot to 20 years in prison for aggravated rape of his ex-wife Gisèle Pelicot over ten years; "I fought for my children and grandchildren; I fought for all victims of violence," said the woman
Africa Angola Angolan Hariana Verás is first African journalist to officially join the select group of correspondents recognised and accredited by the Pentagon