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
Europe Liechtenstein As part of the Epiphany entertainment, the Vaduz fire brigade theatre group performed the show 'Fischerei Ospelt'
Europe France A battle is underway to save Marie Curie's laboratory, a small building which should become a large and innovative cancer research centre; some argue that it is a 'historical monument' to be preserved while others say it is a highly radioactive place
America Ecuador Plans for a national referendum to implement a stricter anti-crime legislation and tighten security measures have been announced in a bid to curb an upward trend of escalating crime rates and violence in Ecuador
Africa Liberia WestCrest Liberia has announced a $1.000 donation to help the recovery of the victims of the tanker accident in Totota, Bong, which claimed the lives of at least 52 people as a result of an attempt to take fuel from the tanker
America Peru With the recent discovery of nineteen unrecorded bird species putting the country's total at 1.879 species, Peru now has the world's greatest diversity of birds, the country's authorities announced with a ceremony
America Jamaica Banks are seeking to provide additional ATMs after growing customers dissatisfaction; many customers attempting to make routine withdrawals or deposits at various locations have found themselves inconvenienced, prompting calls for greater accessibility
Africa Niger The Niger Football Federation has inaugurated the Fenifoot training academy for young people aged 12 to 15, after eight years of project gestation; it comprises 4 units: administrative, sports, pedagogical and health
Europe North Macedonia North Macedonia weathered a series of ethnically-charged incidents in 2023, a relatively calm period despite economic hardships, and opens 2024 with the prospect of a politician from the country’s ethnic Albanian minority becoming prime minister
Europe Sweden The country recorded its lowest temperature in 25 years for the month of January: minus 43,6 degrees Celsius at the Kvikkjokk-Årrenjarka station in the far north
Europe Belarus A new law granting himself permanent immunity from criminal prosecution has been signed by President Lukashenko; it also prevents opposition leaders living in exile from running in future presidential elections
Asia North Korea The daughter of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is his 'most likely successor', according to the man listed as the next head of Seoul's spy agency
Europe Austria Ahead of federal elections later this year in which the far-right is expected to do well, President Alexander Van der Bellen in his New Year's message encouraged people to engage more with those who have different viewpoints
America United States New Jersey recorded the lowest number of shootings in 2023 since record keeping began in 2009, while as of October 2023 California had the most mass shootings in the United States, with 26 total shootings since 1982