Asia Myanmar Peace talks with several smaller ethnic armed organizations have been promoted by Myanmar’s military government as evidence of ongoing national reconciliation; Critics argue the discussions exclude many of the country’s most powerful resistance groups
America Dominican Republic Assessments to reduce the seismic vulnerability of buildings and infrastructure have been outlined by he National Office for Seismic Assessment and Vulnerability of Infrastructure and Buildings with the provincial government of San Juan de la Maguana
Europe Finland Almost all Finnish companies have successfully exited the Russian market: only 0,9% are still in the process of withdrawing, but none of them is actively doing business, a recent survey by the Finnish Chambers of Commerce reveals
America Haiti A new Provisional Electoral Council has been created to organise a referendum in spring 2025 and general elections by 7 February 2026, the transitional government officially announced
Africa Ethiopia Ethiopia became the first country to ban the import of diesel and petrol vehicles as early as 2024, but several practical problems have emerged in recent months that call into question the possibility of replacing all non-electric cars
Europe Ireland Controversial plan to introduce a hate speech law will be dropped as Justice Minister Helen McEntee said the 'hate speech' element of the bill 'does not have a consensus' and will be dealt with at a later date
Oceania Fiji The government intends to raise awareness of sustainable land resource management through education and awareness programmes, enabling communities and land users to actively participate
Asia Indonesia National Library Perpusnas has created 100 comic titles from ancient manuscripts in order to spread their content and messages among the community and attract the interest of young readers
Europe Spain A new autonomous community, the 18th, is planned by the Minister of Economy to streamline bureaucracy: it will be a legal space where companies register and obtain permits and licences valid throughout the country instead of registering for single regions
America Jamaica The competition 'Gardens of Peace in Schools', involving around 100 schools in seven regions, was launched by the Alliance for the Prevention of Violence, in cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Youth
Asia Yemen Project Masam is removing deadly ordnance planted by the Houthis in Yemen and has seen the removal of 460.951 landmines and unexploded ordnance since the project began in 2018 under the supervision of Saudi Kingdom's aid agency KSrelief
Europe Russia 180.000 new soldiers will be drafted into the Russian army, bringing to 1,5 million the total number of soldiers in service; if confirmed, the decision would make the Russian army the second largest in the world after the Chinese one
Asia India In Kashmir, India's northern region, elections for the state parliament took place: they are the first since 2019, as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi revoked the region's 'special status' and thus a large part of its autonomy
Africa Zambia Forecasts for the 2024/2025 rainy season predict normal or above-normal rainfall, with episodic heavy rainfall and flooding in rainfed areas, after the last rainy season was characterised by severe drought