Asia Georgia The EU annual Report on Human Rights and Democracy in the World noted “severely curtailed” human rights in Georgia, reduced bilateral political contacts and dialogue between Brussels and Tbilisi amid “significant democratic backsliding”
Asia Kyrgyzstan Askar Akayev, former president of Kyrgyzstan and now professor at Moscow State University was awarded the title of Honoured Scientist of Russia by Vladimir Putin
Europe Germany Elon Musk made a surprise video call appearance at an Alternative für Deutschland general election campaign event; he publicly declared his support for the far-right political group for the second time in two weeks
America Haiti Students in Haiti's public schools have been out of classes since 6 January because of a teachers' strike, as latest meeting between workers' unions, the Prime Minister and the Minister of Education failed to reach a common point
Europe Montenegro EU Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos travelled to Montenegro on her first mission to the Western Balkans, reaffirming EU's engagement with the region and determination to step up the accession process
Oceania Kiribati President Taneti Maamau extended warmest greetings and best wishes of happy holidays to the Chinese people in view of the Spring Festival, or Lunar New Year
Africa Gambia Several countries including Mexico, Romania, Sierra Leone, Colombia, recommended that the Gambia address discrimination based on caste and descent at the ongoing Universal Periodic Review, a unique survey of human rights records of all UN Member States
Africa Eritrea The Arberobu dam was inaugurated; with a capacity of over 120.000 cubic metres, it was built in cooperation between the Ministry of Agriculture and other entities, including members of the Defense Forces, with an investment of 5 million Nakfa (€317.000)
Africa Central African Republic A 177.95-carat diamond was found in the municipality of Nzako; one of the largest diamonds ever found in the country, translucent, is still rough and is being evaluated by Becdor, the Diamond and Gold Evaluation and Control Office
Europe United Kingdom Fraudsters who fail to repay their debts of over £1.000 could be stripped of their driving licences and punished with a driving ban of up to two years, under government plans to crack down on fraud
Europe Latvia There are 1.562 safe bomb shelters in the country according to latest survey of the State Fire and Rescue Service; Riga accounts for about 400 and they could accommodate about 200.000 people, or one third of the city's population
America Jamaica Some 2.500 residents of several communities in southern Trelawny will have more reliable access to drinking water with the current project undertaken by the National Water Commission
Europe Luxembourg Laura Thorn will represent Luxembourg at the Eurovision Song Contest and will be the country's second participation in the competition this century
Asia Thailand In Bangkok, public transport will be free for a week to try to counteract the heavy smog enveloping the city these days; pollution has also led the local government to close 352 of the 437 schools in the metropolitan city