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
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 Chad Almost 900 fighters of the Chadian rebel group Ufdd have returned with the aim of joining the disarmament process; this return is the consequence of the signing of the Doha Agreement in August 2022
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
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
Europe Croatia Osijek's promenade will become the longest pedestrian and cycling route in Europe along a river, with an extension of 12 kilometres; construction of the promenade began in 1967 to protect Osijek from flooding
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 Bhutan Gross Domestic Happiness has been used for over 15 years to measure the citizens' well-being instead of the GDP; some critics believe it is more of an image-enhancing gimmick and not very effective in improving the living conditions of the population
Africa Sierra Leone Dr Edward Nahim, Sierra Leone's leading mental health professional and veteran psychiatrist, has passed away; he worked as a consultant psychiatrist for over 40 years at the Sierra Leone Psychiatric Hospital in Freetown
America Guyana A US Defense Department official was sent to Guyana to help the country as it is still in its border dispute with Venezuela over the oil-rich Essequibo region
Asia Laos UNICEF Laos celebrated its 50th anniversary; in 1973 the peace agreement between the Royal Government of Laos and the communist Pathet Lao marked the end of the Laotian civil war and laid the foundation for UNICEF's entry into Laos
Africa Eritrea The Ministry of Education in Southern Region organised a training programme on financial and material management for education offices, with directors of school offices, heads of administration and finance, warehouse workers and internal auditors
Oceania Kiribati The country received a new police patrol boat donated by Australia; Radio Kiribati reported that the RKS Teanoai II arrived in Kiribati waters after a long journey from Western Australia via Cairns and the Solomon Islands
Africa Sao Tome and Principe FAO will develop a strategy and plan to promote employment in the agricultural sector for young people in Sao Tomé with the final goal of reducing the poverty rate, now over 66%