Asia Tajikistan An amnesty law signed by President Rahmon to celebrate 35 years of independence will cover 18.038 convicted people, with full release for 11.305 people, reduced terms for 6.733; of 507 women, 248 will be released, of 134 minors, 99 will be freed
America Uruguay Facing a recent surge in cocaine smuggling, Uruguay has formally seeked US assistance, specifically from the DEA, after heightened gang violence and reputation damage
Africa Zimbabwe The country aims to reach 60% survival of children with cancer by 2030, said Dr Loice Hlatshwayo, oncologist at the Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals
Africa South Africa The country must begin the transition to a cashless system to curb currency theft, crime experts advise, even though the latest crime statistics show a decline in cash theft
Africa Mauritania Mauritania President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani officially assumed the rotating presidency of the African Union for 2024
Asia Syria €10 million of EU funds to UNICEF will support 9.000 vulnerable children and young people living in Syrian refugee camps to improve the education, integration and welfare throughout Jordan, including those attending schools in refugee camps
Africa Senegal Senegalese took to the streets to protest against the possible extension of President Macky Sall's term of office beyond 2 April, the date for the handover of power, after the Constitutional Council rejected a law to postpone the presidential elections
Oceania Micronesia 116.000 litres of fresh water have been delivered to Pohnpei by Australian warship Reliant; usually one of the wettest places in the world, Pohnpei declared a state of emergency on 12 January due to the lack of rainfall
America Venezuela Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has demanded all UN Human Rights personnel in the country to leave within 72 hours, accusing them of a 'colonialist, abusive' attitude, and disregarding their claims of a repressive government
Asia Taiwan The value of production in local semiconductor industry will reach a new high in 2024, up more than 15% y-o-y, thanks to robust demand for artificial intelligence applications and the fading impact of inventory adjustments
Europe Belarus The Minsk metro transported 234 million passengers in 2023, +8 million (or 3,5%) compared to 2022; in 2023, the metro improved energy efficiency by 3,9%, exceeding the energy saving target of 3,4% in 2023
Asia Israel The Defence Minister and the War Cabinet Minister have openly opposed PM Netanyahu's decision to go along with National Security Minister's request to restrict Arab-Israeli worshippers on the Temple Mount during Ramadan
Africa Gambia The government and its partners launched a new project called 'IP+ Accelerator Program for women SMEs in the Gambia' that focuses on the use of intellectual property to strengthen the competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises
America Panama Local environmentalists have criticized the government for its inaction in closing the copper mine operated by Minera Panamá, emphasizing that it is putting the area at risk and increasing the country's vulnerability to international arbitrations