Europe Spain A political and cultural dispute erupted over Basque regional government's formal request to host Pablo Picasso’s anti-war painting Guernica for 9 months; 2027 marks 90th anniversary of the first Basque government and of the bombing of the town Guernica
America Nicaragua Nicaragua swore in 2.500 masked "volunteer police" under a controversial reform expanding government control, sparking criticism as exiled opposition calls them "paramilitaries" and decries the move as bolstering Ortega and Murillo's authoritarian regime
America Panama The Panama Canal will remain under Panamanian control, reaffirmed Arsenio Dominguez, head of the International Maritime Organization, rejecting US President-elect Donald Trump's hints at using military force to claim the canal
Oceania Solomon Islands Australia's Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister, Richard Marles, travelled to the Solomon Islands for a series of high-level talks, meeting Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele and other government ministers
America Paraguay Paraguay declared a 60-day national emergency due to wildfires affecting nearly 15.000 hectares in 2025, mandating urgent measures to protect ecosystems and penalize those responsible, with heat sources already surpassing recent historical averages
America Honduras Honduras is facing the potential loss of thousands of jobs if the US proceeds with plans to withdraw its military bases from the country, raising concerns about economic stability and employment opportunities for Hondurans
Asia United Arab Emirates The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security urged citizens and residents to take advantage of the benefits offered by the Friend or Relative Visa service, which allows lengths of stay of up to 90 days
Africa South Sudan South Sudan's Ministry of Energy and Dams has launched a five-year energy project, worth $53-million, aimed at increasing the access to electricity services and strengthening institutional capacity in the power sector
Asia Taiwan A mechanism had been set up to facilitate interdepartmental efforts to enable the detention of vessels suspected of sabotage acts in coastal waters, authorities stated, following incident at sea earlier this month
America Guatemala A three-phase program to support returning migrants, has been announced by President Bernardo Arévalo; it focuses on consular assistance, dignified reception with temporary shelters, and reintegration
Africa Uganda The state-owned Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited will take control of electricity distribution from Umeme, marking the end of the latter's 20-year concession on 1 April 2025
Africa Zimbabwe The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission has called for the introduction of mandatory prison sentences for persons convicted of corruption in order to deter crime and overcome difficulties in recovering assets
Asia Tajikistan Ten children from Tajikistan were sent to China for surgery to treat congenital heart defects and five of them have already been operated on, has an official source from the Chinese Embassy in Dushanbe
Asia Yemen The United Nations has warned of a worsening humanitarian crisis in Yemen where 19,5 million people will need humanitarian assistance this year, expressing concern especially for children facing malnutrition