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 MP Lisa Morris-Julian funeral, who served in the Ministry of Education since 2020 and perished in the fire of her house, was a celebration of gratitude across all political forces; she was buried in a casket with her son, hugging as they were found dead
Europe Bosnia and Herzegovina The Sevdalinka, an ancient Bosnia and Herzegovina love song form often referred to as 'Balkan Blues', has been included in the UNESCO National Intangible Cultural Heritage Inventory
Africa Mali Human Rights Watch report about the abuses against civilians committed across Mali in 2024 says civilians are increasingly the target of attacks by all parties to the conflict, with an increase of casualties, fatalities, displacements, loss of livelihoods
Africa Guinea The head of the military junta Doumbouya has announced a return to constitutional order by the year 2025, during which a referendum on the new constitution and general elections will be held
Europe Bulgaria In the historic town of Koprivshtitsa, 591 songbirds of a protected species died due to stress caused by fireworks on New Year's Eve, environmentalists from 'Green Balkans' reported
Europe Serbia Like their parents challenging Milosevic’s regime in the 1990s, university students have taken to the streets to change what they see as the corruption, secrecy and deception endemic in the Serbian government; younger pupils have now joined protests
Africa Ghana Ghana became the fifth African country to apply visa-free travel for all African passport holders, joining Rwanda, Seychelles, Gambia and Benin; the new policy follows the introduction of chip-embedded passports and is expected to take effect early 2025
Africa Botswana A total of 98 children were born on 1 January 2025, more than doubling last year's 46 children; the figure is seen as a good omen after President Duma Boko recently announced new programmes to encourage citizens to generate more children
America Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Government called on global leaders to urgently negotiate peace, writing in quest for justice, security, prosperity for all humanity, grounded in the fundamental tenets of international law, precepts of the Charter of the UN and multilateral engagement
Asia Israel Former Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant resigned from the Knesset, the country's parliament, over his opposition to the law on exemption from military service for ultra-Orthodox Jews, which has existed since the founding of the state of Israel
Asia India The removal of 337 tonnes of toxic waste left in a factory in Bhopal, where the worst industrial disaster ever occurred in 1984, has been completed; the disaster had killed several thousand people and caused serious health problems for many more
Asia Jordan As Jordan braces for its winter peak, authorities have implemented precautionary measures to help farmers safeguard their livelihoods against the challenges posed by frost and heavy rainfall, as this year’s unpredictable conditions have amplified concerns
Africa Niger The Niger government, in order to protect giraffes, has adopted a draft decree establishing the National Giraffe Nature Reserve and laying down the modalities of its management