Europe Serbia Chinese and Russian companies have contributed in drafting Serbia’s mining regulations, now adopted by Parliament, raising concerns among non-governmental organizations, citizens and experts that say the practice could hide concessions
Europe Slovenia Rok Gašparič has become the first Slovenian to receive the Mary Anning Medal for outstanding contribution to paleontology by researches not professionally dedicated to the subject; he has been awarded for his contributions on decapod crustaceans fossils
Europe Lithuania A municipal campaign led to about 9.700 residents to declare Vilnius as their residence, adding over EUR 12,5 million to the 2026 city budget, Mayor confirmed, as the city's house prices increased by 10,8% in Q3 2025 compared to Q3 2024
Africa Senegal A two-year prison sentence was inflicted by Pikine-Guédiawaye Magistrates' Court to two men found guilty of producing and distributing pornographic videos filmed in Senegal and broadcast on online platforms
Africa Sierra Leone 17.905 deaths were recorded in 2025, 306.0057 live births - female 51% males 49% - and 3.739 stillbirths: experts say the figure highlights persistent challenges in prenatal care, access to skilled birth attendants, and emergency obstetric service
Africa Burkina Faso Amid heightened political tensions, authorities say they have thwarted a new coup attempt; the alleged plot was reportedly uncovered on 3 January before it would be carried out, according to official sources that disclosed the information
Africa Gambia The Gambia Tobacco Industry Monitoring Team completed a capacity-building refreshment to strengthen surveillance and intelligence sharing of industry activities as the country intensifies safeguard of public health policies from industry interference
Europe Andorra 237.500 vehicles have entered Andorra during the Special Traffic period, running from 19 December to 6 January: 172.000 through the border with Spain and 65.500 from France, according to Andorran Mobility Department
Africa Guinea Pivi, convicted of crimes against humanity for the 2009 stadium massacre, has died in custody in a Conakry hospital from complications related to diabetes; known as Coplan, he was a colonel and in charge of security under then-dictator Moussa Dadis Camara
Asia Afghanistan Doctors in Kabul advised that people use air-purifying masks when outdoors to avoid serious and harmful consequences of rising levels of air pollution, a recurrent issue in winter days
America Cuba Work in 2025 was characterized by precariousness, informality and loss of purchasing power according to ASIC, the Cuban Association of Construction Companies, in a labor framework that lacks both basic international standards and signs of improvement
Europe Latvia The wedge clam, or Atlantic rangia has been named the mollusc of the year 2026; the choice of a non-native species aims to drawing attention to alien and invasive species in the Baltic Sea, according to the Latvian Malacological Society
Africa Tunisia Former director of French NGO Terre d’Asile and several colleagues, imprisoned for over 20 months for “facilitating illegal entry and residence” of migrants, have been released; lawyers of the detainees argue they joined a government approved programme
Asia India The 2nd world laboratory for testing and calibration of air pollution measuring equipment was inaugurated in India to curb dependance on foreign certification systems, promote environmental governance and foster local production of monitoring equipment