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
Africa Sudan There are 3,2 million children under 5 years of age who suffer from hunger in the country, of whom about 772.000 are expected to suffer from severe acute malnutrition, said Eva Hinds, Unicef Sudan's Protection and Communications Officer
Asia Myanmar Military leaders enacted a cybersecurity law on 1 January 2025 that among other measures tightens internet control, bans VPNs, requires platforms to store user data for 3 years and enforces compliance with the motivation of curbing disinformation
Asia Cambodia The Crane Rice initiative supports endangered sarus cranes by promoting eco-friendly farming; it reached 120 families and 132 hectares, offering farmers premium rice prices while creating safe crane habitats, balancing conservation and community welfare
Asia Singapore The sanctuary for old and sick pets aims at reducing caregiver fatigue and hold off pet euthanasia, providing end-of-life care, medical treatment, rehabilitation, emotional support; it also runs awareness campaigns and promotes compassionate pet care
Asia Vietnam 41 organ donations from brain-dead individuals have ben performed in 2024, surpassing the combined total of the previous three years and reaching over 9.500 organ transplants nationwide since 1992, with demand for organ transplants still exceeding supply
Asia Jordan The volume of goods that entered Syria and Lebanon through Jordan has amounted to 214.000 tonnes in 2024, compared to 150.000 tonnes in 2023; the figure represents a 40% increase of trade activity in the Jordanian-Syrian Joint Free Zone
America Uruguay Uruguay's tourism sector is optimistic following Argentina's removal of the PAÍS tax, which eliminates several fees, boosting Uruguay’s appeal; benefits like VAT exemptions on hospitality, dining, and car rentals hope to further attract Argentine tourists
America Canada Under growing pressure from his own party, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced he will step down and end his nine-year stretch as party leader when his Liberal Party will choose a new leader and that parliament would be prorogued until 24 March
America Suriname Suriname's Ministry of Health is set for major transformations in 2025, including a new building, ten more ambulances to enhance emergency response, and a focus on digitizing healthcare services for improved efficiency and accessibility
Asia Indonesia The relocation of civil servants to new capital Nusantara has been delayed due to incomplete housing and missing digital infrastructure; plans to move 12.000 workers by 2024 are postponed with no new timeline, but a full transition is set for 2029
Asia Mongolia At the 36th Harbin Ice Sculpture Competition, in China, Mongolian Z. Ganjargal and Kh. Altankhuu won gold, D. Tserenbat and B. Bayarsaikhan secured silver; Mongolian sculptors, regular participants since 2010, are among the most appreciated contenders
America Paraguay Paraguay set a record last year, exporting the highest amount of beef ever amounting to 353 million kilograms to 59 countries, generating over US$1,77 billion, with Chile as the top destination
America Venezuela Venezuela offered a US$100.000 reward for information on Edmundo González, ex-ambassador and opposition leader, who claims victory in the disputed 2024 elections and plans to return to Venezuela before Maduro's new term starts