Asia Indonesia Officials in East Jakarta faced backlash after using an AI-generated image to respond to a public complaint, raising concerns over transparency; The fact highlight risks of using AI in public communication without clear disclosure or verification
Africa Sao Tome and Principe A €15 million loan agreement has been signed with Portugal by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and Communities at a critical time for the country, which is facing a complex economic and financial situation
Europe Serbia Plans are underway to demolish the Hotel Jugoslavija built after the war in the New Belgrade neighbourhood, depriving Belgrade of another historical landmark, as art historian Marko Stojanovi stated
Europe Ukraine The Ukrainian defence industry has probably started to produce 5.45×39 and 5.56×45 mm ammunition for its armed forces, the Militarnyi portal reported, citing photos showing a test firing of 5.45×39 mm ammunition at a military firing range
America El Salvador President Nayib Bukele announced that the 2025 budget will not rely on external financing or debt issuance, marking the first time in decades that the country will fully fund its current expenditures without borrowing
Asia Singapore Students who perform well in their mother tongue in the primary school leaving examination will have the opportunity to study their mother tongue at secondary school from 2026 onwards, thus eliminating the minimum score limit now present
Asia Saudi Arabia 'Our Guests are Our Priority' initiative aims to improve the quality of services offered to national and international tourists throughout the Kingdom by strengthening the adherence of accommodation facilities to licensing and classification standards
Africa South Sudan South Sudan's transitional government announced the postponement of long-delayed elections and extended the two-year transition period, citing the government's failure to comply with key provisions of a peace agreement
Asia Thailand A QR Licence mobile application has been introduced by Thailand's Department of Land Transport so that motorists will no longer need to carry their driving licence
Asia Tajikistan In a move to combat extremism, the country, where 96% of the population is Muslim, has imposed a complete ban on women wearing the hijab; previously, the hijab had been banned in schools since 2007 and in public institutions since 2009
America Guatemala 135 Nicaraguan political prisoners released by Ortega's government, including student leaders, religious figures, and human rights defenders have been welcomed in Guatemala; the country will provide shelter, food, and medical care as they seek asylum
Oceania Solomon Islands The World Bank Country Office is working with the Ministry of Health and Medical Services to review procurement processes and evaluate the effectiveness of supply chain management
Europe Slovenia Data published by the Statistical Office ahead of European Mobility Week show that CO2 emissions from road traffic have increased by 25% from 2008 to 2022; by the end of 2023, approximately 1,2 million passenger cars were registered and 2 million citizens
Africa Seychelles An e-gaming competition was scheduled for the first time in the program of the 25th Youth Festival, an annual event organised by the Seychelles National Youth Council