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”
America Trinidad and Tobago As the dry season officially started on 14 January, Water and Sewerage Authority has reminded the public to be conservative in using water, saying it is crucial for citizens to adopt sustainable practices to ensure a reliable supply of pipe-borne water
Africa Kenya The Kenya-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement CEPA, newly signed, is the first agreement of its kind signed by the UAE with a mainland African country and marks a historic milestone in the economic relations between the two nations
Asia Kazakhstan Although families continue to cherish marriage traditions, a recent survey from Kazakh Institute for Public Development show that expensive marriages and outdated practices, such as the abduction of brides, have decreased significantly
Africa Algeria New figures from NGO Alarme Phone Sahara show that Algerian authorities deported no fewer than 31.404 migrants to Niger in 2024; the report condemns the 'fatal' and 'violent' approach used against migrants, including women and minors
Europe Kosovo For the first time ever, Kosovo and Serbia met in Brussels to discuss the fate of people who disappeared during the 1998-1999 Kosovo war; joint commission has been agreed within the framework of the Declaration on Missing Persons
Asia Indonesia Plans have been proposed to set a minimum age for social media use; experts urge careful study and public input to balance safety and access: concerns include enforcement challenges and impacts on digital rights, education, and information access
Asia Israel Israeli historian Ilan Pappe said he believes there are many factors, from the Trump presidency to international isolation, that show that Zionism is entering its 'last phase' before its collapse
Europe Germany A major reform of the Advisory Commission for Cultural Property Looted by the Nazis has been announced; it is specifically designed to deal with claims for compensation for works of art looted during the Nazi era
Asia Iran Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated that Iran is not seeking 'nuclear weapons' and warned US President-elect Donald Trump against risking a 'war' with the Islamic Republic
Europe Switzerland Johnson & Johnson plans to reduce its workforce in Switzerland, as the Company goes through reorganization and the business must adapt to a "complex and rapidly changing external environment"
America Haiti On Sunday, the Haitian people, the Transitional Presidential Council and the government recalled the devastating earthquake of 12 January 2010, which killed over 300,000 people and injured more than one million
Europe France France is the most fertile country in the European Union, despite reaching an all-time low in terms of fertility in 2024, with 1,62 children per woman, compared to 1,4 for the European average
America Cuba Cuba will be removed from the list of countries that support terrorism; the announcement came from the US administration of President Joe Biden and in the agreement, brokered by the Catholic Church, Cuba would release 553 political prisoners