FIREWORKS KILLED TWO AT DUTCH NEW YEAR Two people died in separate fireworks accidents and a historic Amsterdam church burned down as violence marked New Year’s Eve celebrations across the Netherlands. A 17 year old boy from Nijmegen and a 38 year old man from Aalsmeer died in unrelated fireworks incidents, Dutch police reported Thursday morning. Authorities arrested one person in connection with the teenager’s death but released no additional details about the circumstances. Police made approximately 250 arrests nationwide as officers and emergency responders faced what union officials described as unprecedented levels of violence. Riot police deployed in several towns across the country to control disturbances. Nine Kooiman, head of the Dutch Police Union, told media the night saw an unprecedented level of violence against police and emergency services. Officials issued a rare nationwide mobile phone alert urging people to only call emergency services in cases of life threatening emergencies. In Amsterdam, flames destroyed the neo Gothic Vondelkerk, a 19th century Roman Catholic church that had overlooked Vondelpark since 1872. The blaze erupted shortly before 1 a.m. local time Thursday in the church tower. The 50 metre high tower collapsed and the roof was badly damaged, though Amsterdam authorities said the exterior walls remained intact. Renowned Dutch architect Pierre Cuypers designed the church, who also created Amsterdam’s Central Station and the Rijksmuseum. Cuypers devoted special attention to the Vondelkerk and moved into a house on Vondelstraat to overlook his work, according to historical records. The fire sent showers of cinders onto surrounding properties, forcing evacuation of several nearby homes. Evacuated residents found temporary shelter at a nearby yoga studio while firefighters worked through the night to contain the blaze. No injuries were reported from the church fire. Amsterdam police and fire department have opened an investigation but have not commented on what caused the fire. Local media reported the blaze was suspected to have been sparked by fireworks, though authorities have not confirmed this. The church served as a Roman Catholic place of worship from 1880 until 1977, when it was deconsecrated. A 1904 fire destroyed the original tower, which was rebuilt by Joseph Cuypers, son of the original architect. After secularization threatened the building with demolition, a foundation established in 1980 saved and restored it as a multifunctional venue for concerts, exhibitions and community events. New Year’s Eve 2025 marked the last year before a nationwide ban on the sale of fireworks to consumers comes into effect. Emergency room doctors, police, firefighters and politicians have campaigned for years for the prohibition, citing public health and safety concerns. According to the Dutch Pyrotechnics Association, revellers spent a record 129 million euros on fireworks this year, equivalent to approximately $151 million. Many Dutch residents purchased large quantities in anticipation of the coming ban. Some municipalities designated firework free zones, but enforcement appeared limited. An Agence France Presse journalist in a designated firework free zone in The Hague reported hearing loud bangs until approximately 3 a.m. The Netherlands traditionally rings in the New Year with residents setting off their own fireworks, a custom that causes hundreds of injuries and millions of euros in damage annually. Emergency services face particular strain treating severe burn injuries and responding to widespread property damage. Violence also erupted in neighboring Belgium, where police in Brussels and Antwerp were targeted with fireworks despite a New Year’s ban on their use. Police used tear gas and arrested more than 100 people in Antwerp, where minors as young as 10 and 11 targeted officers and emergency services with fireworks and stones. Vandals set fire to bikes, cars and rubbish bins in both cities. The destruction of Vondelkerk represents a significant loss to Dutch cultural heritage. Stadsherstel Amsterdam, the nation’s largest organization dedicated to restoring heritage sites, had described the building as having survived secularization and demolition threats through community preservation efforts. 2nd January,2026

AFD ON GERMANY'S 2026 AGENDA The German government, a coalition of the conservative Christian Democrats (CDU); its Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union (CSU); and the center-left Social Democrats (SPD), will have to deal with difficult domestic policy issues in 2026. After grueling debates, the government passed its reform package for the state pension system through the Bundestag in December. The pension level is to remain stable until 2031, a commission will develop fundamental reforms to the system and submit proposals by mid-2026. Financial security in old age, in a society where people are living longer and the number of elderly people is rising, will remain a key concern for the country and its government. Young vs. old? How a fight over pensions is shaking the German government In the 2026 budget, the government subsidy to compensate for pension losses amounts to a hefty €128 billion ($150 billion) — around a quarter of the total budget. The pension commission is under pressure to develop truly practical proposals on an extremely complex issue. Raising the retirement age from 67 is on the cards. But some, like economics professor Jens Südekum, suggest doing away with a fixed retirement age for everyone. Südekum has said the size of the pension a person receives should depend solely on the number of years they have worked and paid into the system. In December, Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) said the idea was "certainly worth considering," adding, "I want us to implement a comprehensive reform." At the beginning of 2026, young people in Germany aged 18 and over will receive mail from the government. Men must then complete the enclosed questionnaire, while women can do so voluntarily. The questions will focus on personal details, educational qualifications and other competences, as well as willingness to perform military service. Participation in a medical examination to assess their overall health and fitness will be mandatory. The government is counting on finding enough volunteers to increase the number of Bundeswehr soldiers from approximately 184,000 now to between 255,000 and 270,000 over the next decade, and to increase the number of reservists to 200,000. If all this does not work on a voluntary basis, the government will move to reinstate conscription, which has been suspended since 2011. The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), a party with extremist elements, is already the strongest opposition party in the Bundestag. With several regional elections scheduled for 2026, it's expected to do well. In the eastern German states of Saxony-Anhalt and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, the AfD is currently polling around 40%. Will the democratic centrist parties be able to take on the far right? And if the AfD becomes the strongest party by a wide margin in both states, will the promise made by the conservative CDU to never cooperate with the AfD hold true? Both elections are not until September, but they will dominate the debates about how to deal with the AfD until then. State elections in the western states in Baden-Württemberg and Rhineland-Palatinate will kick off an exciting election year in March. Immigration and border controls The issue of migration will continue to be high on the agenda in 2026. Since the current government took office in May 2025, Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) has made it clear that Germany is now pursuing a tough policy toward irregular immigrants with more people being turned back at the border. In mid-December, the interior ministers of the European Union also agreed on a significant tightening of the common asylum policy. So-called "return centers" are now planned again in countries outside the European Union, even though previous attempts, such as the one by the Italian government in Albania, have not been successful. With the common asylum policy, "...we will also manage to shift border controls to the European external borders," said Chancellor Merz in early December. This would spell the end of the time-consuming checks at all of Germany's external borders in 2026. Whether this will actually happen remains to be seen. The initiative of the EU interior ministers still needs approval by the European Parliament. 2nd January,2026

CHINA AND RUSSIA IN VENEZUELA? The actions of the US fleet in the Caribbean are increasingly causing alarm. US warships not only have alleged drug boats in their sights; since early December, they have also been targeting oil tankers. Experts differ in their assessments of Venezuela's role in drug trafficking, but they all agree that oil exports are vitally important to the South American country. Venezuela's economy may be in tatters, but it is sitting on the world's largest known oil reserves, estimated at more than 300 billion barrels. It can safely be assumed that these mineral resources also play a role in the strategic considerations of the oil-friendly US president, Donald Trump. For his Venezuelan counterpart, Nicolas Maduro, they act as a lubricant for foreign relations. But the intensification of the US conflict with Venezuela cannot be explained by oil alone. There are numerous other interests at play. As well as the US, the other two great world powers, China and Russia, are pursuing their own aims in the country. Venezuelan oil recently constituted only 4% of Chinese oil imports, but that share has been increasing. The Reuters news agency quoted two market analysts who estimated that maximum daily import volumes will hit new highs this December. China is set to import more than 600,000 barrels a day from Venezuela, the majority of its daily production. For China, Venezuela is an important oil source, primarily because it reinforces Beijing's energy independence amid the global tug-of-war over raw materials. Venezuela's Merey oil blend is particularly well-positioned to do this, as the West has sanctioned it. In turn, a lot of Chinese money flows to Venezuela, including in the form of credits. Caracas is variously estimated to be indebted to Beijing to the tune of between $60 billion and $70 billion. Venezuela is also a market for Chinese technology. Many of its armaments are Chinese-made, and the telecommunications infrastructure is substantially based on Chinese components. In September, Maduro presented a new Huawei cellphone at a press conference in Caracas. He announced that the Chinese President Xi Jinping had personally gifted him the "best phone in the world" and that American intelligence services couldn't possibly hack it. Venezuela's authoritarian-nationalist socialism is compatible with China's state ideology. By verbally condemning the US seizure of oil tankers, as it recently did, Xi's government can present itself as an ally. This presumably also serves to keep the United States busy in its own backyard. For more than a decade now, US presidents have been more focused on the Indo-Pacific region, where China also wants to be the dominant power and is being increasingly aggressive in asserting its claim to Taiwan. It therefore plays into China's hands if the US is forced to devote more attention to the situation in Venezuela or Cuba. Presumably, it is also advantageous for Russia to increase its influence over allies in Latin America, challenging US supremacy in the region. President Vladimir Putin first received a visit from the Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez in 2001, after which Russia became Venezuela's largest arms supplier. In 2008, Putin went to war with Georgia; the following year, Chavez supported Putin when Venezuela was one of only a few countries, along with Nicaragua and Nauru, to recognize the independence of the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. After Chavez's death in 2013, Maduro tried to maintain the country's close relationship with Russia. His power was seriously threatened after the election in 2019, when the then-president of the National Assembly, Juan Guaido, declared himself the rightful interim president. Just minutes later, Guaido received the backing of the United States. Already in his first term in office, Trump had spotted an opportunity to get rid of Maduro. But then Russia sent two military aircraft carrying soldiers and equipment. "In a way, Moscow saved Maduro," Vladimir Rouvinski, a political scientist at Colombia's ICESI University, told DW. "For the first time since the Cuban missile crisis, the US was compelled to negotiate directly with Russia over a situation in Latin America." In the current crisis, though, Rouvinski doesn't think Russia will support Maduro as decisively. So far, support from the Kremlin has been verbal only. 2nd January,2026

WOMEN GET DRUNK FASTER THAN MEN At the same table, with the same drinks, women often get drunk faster than men — and alcohol can affect women's brains differently, making its effects stronger, sometimes more rewarding. But also more addictive. Even in Paris' hard-drinking intellectual circles, French philosopher and feminist icon Simone de Beauvoir found that a glass of wine hit harder than expected. De Beauvoir once joked that two glasses left her feeling quite dizzy, long before any existential debates began. Decades later, science can explain why: Women process alcohol differently from men — often faster and more intensely — and women's brains also respond more strongly to its rewarding effects, even when drinking the same amount as men. Alcohol affects the body almost immediately. Before it hits the stomach, taste buds signal the brain, causing small changes in heart rate, blood flow and brain chemistry to get the body ready. When you swallow alcohol, a little is absorbed in the stomach, but most moves to the small intestine, where it quickly enters the blood. Some of it is broken down in the stomach and liver by an enzyme called alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH), a process known as first-pass metabolism (FPM). In 1990, researchers gave 20 men and 23 women the same amount of alcohol — adjusted for each individual's body weight. The women drank the same amount as the men — but their bodies filtered out less alcohol early on, so more of it entered the bloodstream, resulting in higher blood alcohol levels on average. But intoxication isn't only about how fast alcohol enters the blood. What happens next — in the brain — also differs by biological sex. Scientists broadly agree that women, on average, feel the effects of alcohol sooner. Where they disagree is on why this is the case. Rainer Spanagel, a German neuropharmacologist and addiction researcher, cites body weight as the dominant factor. "It's not the enzyme," he told DW, "it's body weight." Ethanol, Spanagel explained, distributes evenly throughout the body's so-called compartments — including the brain and organs. Smaller bodies mean smaller compartments. "If a man drinks half a bottle of wine, and a woman drinks the same, the same amount of ethanol accumulates in a smaller body." But other researchers argue that weight alone does not explain everything about alcohol's effect on women. 2nd January,2026

DATA DEFENDS SMART PORT The Coalition of Concerned Exporters, Importers and Traders had on December 29 rejected the planned rollout. The coalition warned the policy would impose unnecessary costs and bureaucratic burdens, defeating the government’s trade facilitation agenda. Coalition convener Michael Obiri Adjei argued the initiative appears primarily designed to generate revenue for service provider Inter Ocean Maritime and Logistics Institute rather than protect traders. The traders questioned whether Ghana Shippers’ Authority has legal authority to introduce a pre shipment notification system. They argued inspection and compliance functions fall under Ghana Revenue Authority’s destination inspection framework. The coalition also pointed to Ghana’s existing Integrated Customs Management System, which already provides cargo data, inventory history and risk profiling. ICUMS was introduced in June 2020 and processes documents and payments through a single window. Abbots maintained his technical perspective throughout his statement. Countries that align their ports with global data standards do not lose competitiveness but gain it, he concluded. Trade today runs on data visibility rather than guesswork. The Ghana Shippers’ Authority Act 2024 transformed GSA from an advocacy body into a regulatory authority, empowering it to approve or reject charges proposed by shipping service providers before they take effect. A trade data expert has publicly supported Ghana’s Smart Port Note (SPN) amid opposition from business groups, arguing the cargo tracking system aligns with global trade standards. David O.G. Abbots, describing himself as a trade data and supply chain systems specialist, issued a detailed statement commending Ghana’s decision to strengthen cargo data collection through modern port information systems. His defense comes days after a coalition of traders demanded immediate suspension of the mandatory scheme scheduled for February 1, 2026. Abbots framed advance cargo information regimes as settled components of modern global trade architecture rather than policy experiments. He argued these systems exist across continents to ensure early visibility of cargo data before shipment or arrival. The data expert cited five core reasons why advance cargo regimes operate globally. Risk is better managed before cargo moves rather than after arrival, he stated. Incomplete or late data increases delays, disputes and costs at ports. False declaration and under invoicing thrive in low visibility systems, while port congestion represents a data problem before becoming an infrastructure problem. Predictable data benefits compliant traders most, according to Abbots. He positioned advance cargo information as baseline trade infrastructure supported by major international frameworks. The World Trade Organization (WTO) Trade Facilitation Agreement recognizes advance information and risk management as tools for transparency and efficiency. The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development supports secure, predictable and data driven trade logistics systems. The World Customs Organization SAFE Framework of Standards promotes Advance Cargo Information to secure and facilitate global trade. Abbots provided comparative evidence from major trading jurisdictions. The United States operates Automated Manifest System and Importer Security Filing known as “10+2” rules. The European Union runs Import Control System and Entry Summary Declaration requirements. Switzerland, Singapore, South Korea, United Arab Emirates and Angola all maintain advance cargo and manifest submission systems aligned with WCO standards. From a data standpoint, no serious economy operates without advance cargo visibility, Abbots stated in his assessment. The expert challenged trader concerns about costs. Based on available implementation details, the Smart Port Note does not impose a cost on importers, he claimed. There is no charge during the pilot phase and no charge after the pilot phase. From a systems view, SPN functions as a data collection and validation layer rather than a tax instrument or customs levy. Regarding stakeholder engagement, Abbots noted engagement has been routed through the Ghana Shippers’ Authority alongside relevant government institutions responsible for trade, ports and security. This approach mirrors how similar systems are rolled out globally through pilot programs, refinement and scaling. 2nd January,2026

STOP POLITICAL INTERFERENCE The Minority has formally submitted a motion to the Clerk of Parliament seeking establishment of an ad hoc investigative committee with subpoena powers to examine contracts, licences, and intermediaries linked to the gold programme. The statement was signed by GNASSM General Secretary Godwin N. Amarh. The Ghana National Association of Small Scale Miners (GNASSM) has called on lawmakers to stop political interference in the country’s gold trading sector, warning that recent debates risk undermining reforms aimed at economic recovery. In a statement released Thursday, the miners’ group urged legislators from both the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and New Patriotic Party (NPP) to allow the artisanal and small scale mining (ASM) sector to operate without external pressures that could disrupt market stability. The statement followed a press conference by the Minority in Parliament on December 29, which demanded a bipartisan inquiry into reported losses of 214 million dollars under the Bank of Ghana’s gold programmes. The Minority said the losses, flagged in an International Monetary Fund (IMF) report, could reach 300 million dollars by year end. GNASSM cautioned that focusing solely on annual profit and loss figures oversimplifies government interventions in the gold market. The association noted that 63.6 metric tonnes of ASM gold were exported in 2024 under previous Gold for Oil and Gold for Reserves programmes, during which the central bank recorded losses. Under the current administration, around 101 metric tonnes of ASM gold had been exported as of December 23 under the Domestic Gold Purchase Programme, also with reported losses for the Bank of Ghana, according to GNASSM. The miners argued that these figures do not reflect broader economic benefits, including increased market formalisation, transparency in pricing, and domestic capital formation that strengthen Ghana’s foreign exchange position. GNASSM welcomed the establishment of the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) in April 2025, saying it had strengthened formal gold acquisition, excluded foreign traders from direct ASM transactions, improved pricing transparency, and enhanced state capacity to purchase gold locally. The association called for continued collaboration with GoldBod, environmentally responsible mining practices, and competitive pricing for miners. It also urged NPP and NDC lawmakers to allow licensed miners to operate within existing laws, noting the Ghana Gold Board Act had been passed on a bipartisan basis. “We do not expect a debate at this stage, but rather support to build the gold and related sector in a way that strengthens Ghana’s economy,” the statement said. GNASSM stressed that political debates were creating adverse effects and derailing miners from their core work of contributing to the national economy. The group urged politicians to focus on supporting GoldBod and related institutions to strengthen Ghana’s foreign exchange reserves rather than engaging in destabilising market debates. The Bank of Ghana has described loss claims as speculative, noting its annual external audit remains incomplete and audited financial statements will be published in 2026 according to statutory requirements. GoldBod Chief Executive Officer Sammy Gyamfi has said the board expects an income surplus of at least 600 million cedis for the 2025 financial year based on unaudited statements. He explained that GoldBod’s role involves buying, assaying, and exporting gold on behalf of the central bank, while all trading and sales agreements remain the Bank of Ghana’s responsibility. The IMF, in its fifth review report under Ghana’s Extended Credit Facility programme completed December 17, noted that losses from artisanal and small scale gold transactions reached 214 million dollars by September 2025. The Fund attributed these losses primarily to trading shortfalls and board intermediary fees. 2nd January,2026

GHANAIAN BUSINESSES FACES RISING UTILITY COSTS For Ghanaian businesses, the start of 2026 presents a balancing act. Companies must navigate VAT relief, monitor utility costs, and factor in inflation and currency stability as they plan operations and investments. The nation’s economic story at the dawn of the year is one of contrasts, where relief is intertwined with fresh pressures, creating what industry observers call a true mixed package for Ghana’s businesses and households. Ghanaian businesses are entering 2026 navigating a blend of tax relief and rising operational expenses, as Value Added Tax (VAT) reforms take effect alongside significant electricity and water tariff increases announced by regulators. The year opens with inflation at 6.3 percent in November and the cedi trading at approximately GH?10.51 per U.S. dollar on January 1, offering relative stability after months of currency volatility. For companies and investors, these indicators provide clearer ground for planning, yet the first quarter brings immediate financial pressures. VAT reforms, effective January 1 under the Value Added Tax Act 2025, raise the registration threshold for businesses from GH¢200,000 to GH¢750,000, eliminate the COVID-19 Health Recovery Levy, and recoup the National Health Insurance Levy and Ghana Education Trust Fund levies into the VAT base. The Ghana Revenue Authority describes the changes as measures designed to ease compliance, improve cash flow, and encourage formal sector participation. For small and medium enterprises, these reforms bring tangible administrative relief and lower effective tax rates at the start of the fiscal year. However, the relief arrives with offsetting costs. The Public Utilities Regulatory Commission has implemented its 2026 to 2030 Multi-Year Tariff Order, and electricity and water bills are rising sharply. Electricity rates for lifeline users consuming between zero and 30 kilowatt hours per month have climbed 9.86 percent to 88.37 pesewas per kilowatt hour, while water charges for households consuming up to five cubic meters have jumped 15.92 percent to 612.25 pesewas per cubic meter. For businesses and consumers, the new year begins with higher operating and living costs, challenging budgets from day one. Stakeholders across sectors have raised concerns about the tariff increases. Labour groups warn that rising utility bills could erode the 9 percent wage adjustment approved for public sector workers in 2026. The Trades Union Congress issued an ultimatum this week demanding government revise the wage package upward to offset utility costs, threatening nationwide mobilization if authorities refuse. Consumer advocates call for efficiency improvements within utilities before imposing additional financial burdens on households already stretched by inflation. The Public Utilities Regulatory Commission defended the tariff adjustments as necessary to support utility investment needs, maintain sector financial stability, and ultimately protect consumer interests. Commission officials argue that without adequate tariff levels, electricity and water providers cannot fund infrastructure improvements, maintain existing systems, or expand service coverage to underserved communities. The regulator said quarterly reviews will continue throughout the five-year period to account for factors including fuel prices, exchange rate movements, and changes in power generation mix. For the Ghana Revenue Authority, the VAT reforms represent a comprehensive restructuring of the country’s consumption tax framework. The International Monetary Fund has advocated for these changes as part of broader fiscal consolidation efforts under Ghana’s Extended Credit Facility program. By raising the registration threshold substantially, authorities expect to concentrate enforcement resources on larger taxpayers who account for the bulk of VAT collections, rather than pursuing small traders whose contributions remain minimal relative to administrative costs involved. The timing of both reforms coincides with Ghana’s broader economic recovery efforts following debt restructuring and fiscal adjustments implemented during 2024 and 2025. Government officials describe the VAT overhaul as essential to creating a business-friendly environment that encourages investment and economic expansion while maintaining revenue adequacy. 2nd January,2026

MAHAMA MUST RULE FOR EIGHT YEARS Prophet Eric Boahen Uche of Reign House Chapel has declared that President John Dramani Mahama is destined to govern Ghana for a total of eight years. Speaking at the church’s end-of-year Watch Night Service on December 31, 2025, Prophet Uche said the prophecy indicated that President Mahama would go beyond a single four-year term. “Our father John Dramani Mahama must rule Ghana for eight years and not four years,” the prophet stated, attributing the revelation to a divine spiritual encounter. Prophet Uche, who is widely regarded as a spiritual protégé of Prophet Isaac Owusu Bempah, founder of Glorious Word Power Ministries, said the prophecy was not new to his inner circle. According to him, he shared the revelation privately several months earlier, long before making it public at the church service. 2nd January,2026