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”
Africa Tanzania An outbreak of Marburg virus disease was declared after one case was confirmed and 25 more suspected cases identified in the Kagera region of north-western Tanzania
Africa Gabon The transitional parliament approved a new electoral code, after days of deliberations, allowing members of the security forces and magistrates to participate in elections as candidates; opponents see it as favourable to junta leader Brice Oligui Nguema
Africa Togo The Togolese government bought back the headquarters of Union Togolaise de Banque and IB Bank to help stabilise these ailing banks, which hold 20% of the assets of Togo's banking sector
America Dominican Republic As part of the 2025 patronal festival 'La Altagracia', a 'Rice, Sea and Land' dish for over 2.000 participants has been cooked in Pedernales to set a national record and celebrate Dominican gastronomy and cultural traditions
Asia Israel Israel's military chief Lt Gen Herzi Halevi has resigned, admitting in a letter that the Israel Defense Forces had "failed in its mission to protect the citizens of Israel" on 7 October 2023, when Hamas carried out the attack that triggered the Gaza war
Europe Bulgaria In December, registered unemployment in Bulgaria reached a record low, falling below 150.000 for the first time, marking a registered unemployment rate of 5,23%
Africa Comoros Hachim Saadi, one of the great voices of National Radio for more than 20 years, was buried in Ntsudjini in the presence of a large crowd who came to pay their respects
Europe Malta A new palliative care complex in Santa Venera has been opened by Hospice Malta; it is the first dedicated palliative care center in the country and its services will be provided free of charge to more than 1.500 patients
Europe Belgium According to a new report by the Belgium Court of Auditors, the Belgian court system's long-running project to digitize paper documents is not going as planned
Africa Ivory Coast Construction work has begun on a new football technical center, fully funded by the International Football Federation's Forward Fund, to strengthen the base of Ivorian soccer
Europe Croatia In the face of sharply rising food prices, a grassroots movement is calling for a nationwide boycott of chain shops and supermarkets on Friday 24 January
Oceania Australia Tennis Australia has relied on animation to illustrate its Australian Open YouTube feed, replacing players with AI-powered animated avatars, a practice inaugurated in 2024
Asia Palestine Israeli security forces, backed by helicopters, raided the West Bank town of Jenin, killing at least eight Palestinians in what Prime Minister Netanyahu called a 'large-scale and significant military operation'