Africa
Ghana to allow visa-free travel for Africans
Ghana officials announced that all Africans with passports can now travel to Ghana without a visa. With this announcement, Ghana is now the fifth African country to offer this to African travelers. Visa-free travel in Africa is seen as an important factor for boosting the continent’s economy.
Hundreds evacuate part of Ethiopia because of volcano
Mount Dofan has been showing signs of a possible eruption, prompting hundreds of people in a rural part of Ethiopia to leave their homes. Video footage shows debris shooting out from the mountain, and smoke has also started to come out. Officials said it is too early to classify the mountain’s activity but wanted to take precautions.
Asia
World’s oldest person passes
Tomiko Itooka, a Japanese woman who was recognized as the oldest person by Guiness World Records, has passed. She was born in May 1908. Brazilian nun Inah Canabarro Lucas, who is also 116, is now believed to be the world’s oldest person.
Giant tuna sold for $1.3 million
A group of restauranters in Tokyo paid $1.3 million for a tuna that weighs 608 pounds and is the same size of a motorcycle. The tuna, which was purchased by Onodera Group, will be served at the company’s Michelin-starred Ginza Onodera restaurants. The fish was sold at the annual new year auction at Toyosu Fish Market.
Europe
Hundreds of thousands of suspected Nazi collaborators names published
Officials have released the names of around 425,000 people who are suspected of collaborating with the Nazis when Germany occupied the Netherlands during World War II. Along with the names include files on war criminals and the nearly 20,000 Dutch people who enlisted in the German armed forces. The Huygens Institute, a group that helped digitize the archive, said the information contains important stories for present and future generations.
Austria chancellor to resign
Austria Chancellor Karl Nehammer said he will resign from his position and party leader. This announcement comes after talks between his conservative People’s Party and the Social Democrats about forming a coalition government collapsed. Last year, the far-right Freedom Party won in Austria’s general election.
Latin America
Guatemalan soldiers arrive in Haiti
Around 150 Guatemalan soldiers recently arrived in Haiti. The group is tasked with working to bring peace as Haiti continues to struggle with armed gangs. The Guatemalan soldiers are in Haiti as part of a United Nations effort led by Kenya. Haiti has dealt with economic chaos, little political control, and violent gang warfare since 2021.
Chile president visits South Pole
Chile President Gabriel Boric became the first leader in the Americas to visit the South Pole. He said his visit reaffirmed Chili’s claim to sovereignty over part of the Antarctic. He traveled with a group of scientists and cabinet members, like ministers for the armed forces and the environment.
North America
Johnson holds on to House Speaker position
Republican Mike Johnson will continue to serve as House Speaker after surviving a tight vote. President-elect Donald Trump endorsed Johnson for the role, saying he remaining House Speaker would be a big win for the Republican Party. Johnson is a Louisiana Republican and was supported by nearly all Republicans during his re-election efforts.
Surgeon General gives out warning on alcohol
U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy is calling for risk warnings on alcoholic beverages after new research linked alcohol to seven types of cancer. Alcohol leads to about 100,000 cases of cancer and 20,000 deaths each year in the country. Congress has not updated the existing warning labels since 1988.
