America Colombia Abelardo De La Espriella has become the new president-elect of Colombia in a tight run-off; the far-right lawyer was openly backed by US President Trump
Europe Latvia 111 people died in road accidents in Latvia in 2024, the lowest number since the country regained independence in 1991, according to information gathered by the State Police
Europe Lithuania A commission to reduce red tape will be established with new body called' Commission for the Elimination of Excessive Business Requirements', chaired by the Prime Minister
Europe Luxembourg 265 falsified sickness certificates were filed last year to Luxembourg's health insurance fund, said the Minister of Health
Asia Kazakhstan Value-added tax rate could be raised from 12% to 16% in a a package of amendments to the draft Tax Code submitted by Kazakhstan's Ministry of National Economy to the lower house of parliament to improve tax administration
Africa Madagascar The World Bank has called for Madagascar to unleash private investment to increase and improve energy access on the island; the country has set the target of achieving 80% access to electricity by 2030
Europe Austria After more than 40 years, the deposit for reusable glass bottles has been increased earlier this month from 9 cents (previously 1,2 Schillings) to 20 cents; brewery products are the most commonly sold in glass bottles
Europe Norway Almost 90% of all new car sales in Norway involved electric or hybrid cars last year, and the numbers continued to grow in the new year
Europe Russia An ice fishing event held in Brazhnikov Bay of Vladivostok saw the participation of hundreds of people; families gathered for the flounders catching competition in a bright sunny day
Africa Niger A national convention was held 15-19 February to map out Niger's long-awaited political transition following the July 2023 coup, set governance priorities and determine transition timeline, set at five years from now; international response was positive
Africa Guinea Tuition fees for master's degrees at public higher education institutions will benefit from a significant reduction; the news was announced by the Ministry of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Innovation
Europe Czech Republic The country has proposed to the European Commission that emission reduction targets for new passenger cars be assessed over five years instead of annually; penalties for non-compliance would also only be imposed after 2029
America Dominican Republic Dominican students Mia Alejandra Rodríguez Santos and Ana Margarita Sabillón Méndez from Saint George School won at the Harvard Speech and Debate Tournament in the “Junior Varsity International” category
Africa Gambia President Adama Barrow presided over the inauguration of the country's first high-voltage power infrastructure project in Salaji in an event that was part of the Gambia's Diamond Jubilee activities