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 Madagascar 2024 was a particularly difficult year for the fire brigade in the capital: the number of building fires increased from 303 in 2023 to 352 in 2024
Europe Netherlands The number of bankruptcies increased in 2024 compared to the previous year: according to Statistics Netherlands, almost 4.300 companies were declared bankrupt last year, an increase of 30% compared to 2023
America Jamaica The Amity Hall Agro Park coconut growers group received essential material, such as seedlings, fertiliser and spraying trays, delivered by the Agro-Investment Corporation, in collaboration with the Coconut Industry Board
Africa Niger A woman of Austrian nationality has been kidnapped in Agadez, information confirmed by the Austrian Foreign Ministry; it is not yet known who are the perpetrators of the kidnapping, as it hasn't been claimed by any local group
Asia Maldives The Maldives Immigration, referring to the Henley Passport Index, announced that the Maldivian passport was again ranked as the strongest in South Asia
Europe Portugal LusoSpace, a pioneering national company, will launch its first satellite, PoSat 2, via SpaceX, to join the ATON constellation, focused on mapping oceans with crucial data on maritime traffic, illegal activities, spills, and drifting icebergs
Africa Mauritania Mauritania signed a $27 million agreement with the US to improve resilience of the energy sector and climate adaptation, providing debt-free grants to develop projects
Asia Kyrgyzstan The Kyrgyz Parliament's Committee on Budget, Economic and Fiscal Policy adopted at first reading amendments that will allow the National Bank of Kyrgyzstan to launch a pilot project on the prototype of the national digital currency 'digital som'
Europe Norway 100 years ago the name of the Norwegian capital was officially changed to the original 'Oslo', dating back to the end of the Viking Age and the foundation of the city in 1024; it had been renamed Christiania in 1624, then altered to Kristiania until 1925
America Saint Lucia The Taiwan Embassy is accepting applications for the 2025 MOFA and the 2025 Taiwan International Cooperation and Development Fund Scholarships that allow Saint Lucian students to pursue Undergraduate, Master’s, or Doctoral Degrees in Taiwan universities
Africa Democratic Republic of the Congo DRC banned the satellite news network al-Jazeera because it made and broadcasted an interview with the leader of a rebel group that recently took over territory in the east of the country
Oceania Palau Faced with what law enforcement officials described as a drug crisis, President Surangel Whipps Jr. identified the fight against illegal drugs as a top priority, pledging to toughen penalties for related crimes and offenders
Africa Nigeria The nation's prolonged insecurity poses a serious threat to achieving the sustainable development goals of zero hunger in the country by 2030: USD 4,9 billion per year would be needed to do so