Asia North Korea Experience gained by North Korean forces on the battlefields of the Russia-Ukraine war imposes changes in the security calculus on the Korean Peninsula, as NK troops have been exposed to the technology and tactics of modern warfare, UN Commander reveals
Europe North Macedonia In Kočani, where 59 people died in a fire at a discotheque over the weekend, protesters gathered downtown with placards reading 'we are dying from corruption'; about 20 people were arrested, including government officials and the nightclub's manager
Europe Albania Over 175.000 military bunkers were built during Albania’s communist-era; though many were blown up, thousands remain: used for agricultural storage, wineries, resource for experimental artists, they are now becoming a tourist attraction
Europe Romania With 77 deaths per million inhabitants, Romania still has the highest road accident rate in the European Union, despite a 4% drop in 2024 compared to the previous year
Africa Burundi Burundi introduced the life-saving malaria vaccine in the routine immunization program under the leadership of the Ministry of Health and with the support of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, UNICEF, the WHO and Dalberg
Oceania Samoa Power outages and power rationing in several districts of Upolu prompted the hiring of generators to power drilling operations, ensuring the continuity of water supply in the affected areas
Asia Oman To create 45.000 job opportunities - including 11.000 for training and qualification, 10.000 in government establishments and 24.000 in the private sector - is one of the goals of the operational plan for 2025
Europe Poland Poland and Baltic states may be leaving the 1997 Ottawa treaty banning antipersonnel land mines, citing security reasons at the borders they share with Russia
Europe Portugal Abundant rainfall has brought dams throughout Portugal near full capacity; the warning that controlled, temporary discharges of water from Odeleite and Beliche dams will be carried out, was saluted with curiosity and surprise as it didn't happen for years
Europe Netherlands The introduction of the 'lump sum' pension withdrawal option, initially planned for 1 July 2024, will be postponed until July 2026; the measure would allow pensioners to withdraw up to 10% of their pension savings in an una tantum lump sum
Africa Ethiopia The Ethiopian government has appealed to the international community to prevent a new escalation of the conflict in the Tigray region in the north of the country
Asia Maldives The 'Hulhumale' Anex-2 power plant was inaugurated by the State Electricity Company, ahead of the peak electricity consumption season
America Saint Vincent and the Grenadines The Youth Agriculture Training Project was launched; the initiative, mostly funded by Taiwan government, aims to attract young people to participate in agriculture, addressing both the need for recovery and the aging farmer population in SVG
Africa Madagascar 50,51% of Tananarivians are ready to demonstrate to defend freedom and democracy, according to an opinion poll conducted in February 2025 by the Collective of Citizens and Citizen Organisations in the city of Antananarivo