Asia Turkey Ankara is preparing for NATO Summit scheduled for 7–8 July 2026, the second hosted by Turkey with the one in Istanbul in 2004; this year's non-NATO guest list comprises East-Asian and Pacific powers, the absence of the central Asian block stands out
Africa Mali The Malian government has allocated 25% of its budget to armaments, Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdoulaye Diop announced, highlighting commitment to strengthening its defence and security capacity
Africa Niger The former Niger state minister in charge of energy, Ibrahim Yacoubou, who has been in exile since the July 2023 coup, returned to Niger on Thursday: immediately arrested by the security services, he was taken to the Niamey remand centre
America Haiti Haitian judge issued arrest warrants for more than 30 senior officials accused of government corruption and misappropriation of funds or equipment related to Haiti's National Equipment Centre, including many presidents and PMs
Africa Gambia About seventy Gambian migrants deported from Tunisia and attempting to get back home have been denied entry into Mali and are now are stranded on the border after traveling through several countries, says Abubacarr Kinteh, one of the stranded men there
Africa Togo Monsignor Kpodzro, Archbishop Emeritus of Lomé, an intransigent, even disruptive voice against the President Faure Gnassinbgé, has died; he had been living in exile in Sweden for almost three years, following the presidential elections in 2020
Africa Ghana Afua Asantewaa Aduonum, a journalist by profession, broke the record for the longest singing marathon by an individual and officially entered the Guinness World Record, singing hundreds of consecutive Ghanaian songs for a total of 110 hours
Europe Greece A new National Cyber Security Authority will be set up following the wave of attacks that hit Greek public bodies in the past two years
Africa Ivory Coast Entries are open for Boost'Anim, the first animated film competition organised by the Ivorian Animated Film Association, which will award prizes to the three best productions to be presented in the form of short films
Europe Spain A tide of tiny plastic balls washed ashore on Spain's north coasts; over 1000 bags of plastic granules had fallen into the sea from a cargo ship on 8 December and though volunteers are cleaning up, fears of a potential major environmental disaster remain
Africa Zimbabwe Families of school-age children challenge the government's decision to impose tuition fees in US dollars; tuition fees are set in US dollars, while parents and guardians can pay in local currency at the exchange rate on the date of payment
Africa Madagascar To begin his second consecutive term as President, Andry Rajoelina has chosen to keep at the helm of the executive the man who has been at his side for about five years, Christian Ntsay
Asia Turkey The monthly minimum wage will be 17.002 Turkish lira ($578,31) in 2024, marking a 49% increase from the level set in July and a 100% increase from January
Europe Czech Republic Czech lawmakers are meeting with Interior Ministry officials and experts to discuss a possible tightening of gun laws in the wake of the tragic shooting at Charles University on 21 December