Asia Indonesia Officials in East Jakarta faced backlash after using an AI-generated image to respond to a public complaint, raising concerns over transparency; The fact highlight risks of using AI in public communication without clear disclosure or verification
Europe Finland On New Year's Eve, a demonstration took place in the Helsinki metro with over 200 protesters gathering to oppose the imminent increase in public transport fares by Helsinki Region Transport
Africa eSwatini 15 rapes were recorded during the festive period from 25 December to 1 January, the Police Information and Communications Officer commented the number as 'shocking', confirming rape cases have been on the rise in Eswatini comparing 2024 to 2023
Oceania Samoa Samoa Airways has been ordered to shift from the international terminal at Faleolo Airport to the new USD9,12 million regional terminal; the airline reportedly said it was not given any choice and the change will impact its services to and from Pago Pago
Africa Gambia 'Musoolutaa', the first resource app for women to find information on health, safety, job opportunities, access to the women's enterprise fund, was launched by the Ministry for Gender, Children and Social Welfare
Europe Switzerland Drivers will be allowed to use self-driving technology on Swiss motorways and let go of their steering wheel starting 1 March 2025; following the decree recently adopted by Federal Council, they must be ready to take control at any time
Africa Djibouti Four employees were selected for punctuality, attendance, efficiency and personal involvement and awarded certificates of recognition to its best employees of the year 2024 in a ceremony organized by the Ministry of Energy
Africa Equatorial Guinea After recording an increase in defaults by the owners of social housing, a commission will be set up to visit homes and ascertain that the occupants of the homes are the true owners; the government is also considering to start with evictions
Asia Israel Former Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant resigned from the Knesset, the country's parliament, over his opposition to the law on exemption from military service for ultra-Orthodox Jews, which has existed since the founding of the state of Israel
Asia Armenia Armenia border guards will now carry out controls at Agarak checkpoint on the border with Iran; PM thanked the Border Guard Troops of the Russian Federation that carried out border control at Agarak checkpoint since Armenia's independence in 1991
Africa Burundi The Independent National Electoral Commission rejected all the candidatures of the only opposition political coalition 'Burundi Bwa Bose' and the main opposition party CNL
Europe Bosnia and Herzegovina The Sevdalinka, an ancient Bosnia and Herzegovina love song form often referred to as 'Balkan Blues', has been included in the UNESCO National Intangible Cultural Heritage Inventory
Africa Comoros More than 108.000 direct beneficiaries will benefit from the activities of the 'Agricultural Value Chain' project, launched in Idjinkudzi, Dimani region, to strengthen agricultural systems and climate-smart value chains
Africa Egypt Egypt's population grew by 1,4 million in 2024 to 107.205.591, an increase of 1,3%, according to data provided by the demographic watch of the Central Agency for Public Mobilisation and Statistics