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
Asia Cambodia For the approaching Prahok season, traditional fish paste, fishers are urged to release endangered species like the giant barb and giant stingray if caught; penalties for illegal trading as well as community-led releases show conservation in action
America Dominican Republic In response to severe flooding caused by heavy rains in several communities in Mao, Valverde, the Presidency's Social Assistance Plan sent emergency kits to support affected families
Asia Armenia Targeted grants for judicial reform and education will be provided in 2025 in the frame of EU's support program for Armenia, entitled 'Resilience and Development', with a budget of €270 million over four years
Asia Afghanistan USAID announced a contract to sell 600 kg of Afghan saffron to Paris Exposition 2024, worth over $1million; Afghanistan’s Ministry of Industry and Commerce said that saffron cultivation has expanded to 26 provinces following ban on opium poppy cultivation
Africa Algeria Kamel Daoud won Prix Goncourt 2024, the most prestigious French literary award, becoming the first Algerian to win the prize; his novel 'Houris' is a gripping evocation of Algeria's 'black decade' (1992-2002)
Africa Comoros 25 migrants died as their boat capsized off the Comoros Islands after it was attacked by a group of traffickers; on board were at least 6 minors
Africa Zimbabwe President Mnangagwa joined the voice of other countries urging the British government to apologise for the century of colonial rule (1890-1980), during which indigenous peoples were dispossessed of their land and subjected to gross abuses
Europe Iceland Local goat breeders are trying to pursue the same selective breeding that is saving Icelandic sheep from scrapie, but without success; only about 2.000 Icelandic goats, vulnerable to the disease, are left
Asia Syria Hezbollah is continuing to reduce its presence in Syria by bringing back to Lebanon its fighters who had supported the Syrian regime
Europe Hungary The state of emergency introduced in 2022 due to the war in Ukraine has been extended, leaving wider decision-making powers to the Orbán government and to rule by decree, thus also passing laws with no parliamentary procedure until at least May 2025
Africa Nigeria The country is facing one of its worst food crises with more than 30 million people expected to be food insecure next year, an increase of one third compared to this year
Oceania Australia Skyscanner's Travel Trends 2025 report shows that the most popular place Australians want to travel next year is Siem Reap in Cambodia, home to the famous Angkor Wat temple, with a +529% interest; up to now, Japan was the most desired country to visit
Africa Benin The country is home to an active judo federation that has 30 clubs and 1.200 judokas; the President of Benin Judo Federation and the Secretary General are committed to finding solutions to increase the number of women in the sport, which still remains low