General News selection for Week 5 (26 January - 2 February)

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* Cuba announces the release of more than 500 prisoners

This decision was announced by the Havana Foreign Ministry as part of the mediation of the Catholic Church. It is also reported that President Miguel Díaz-Canel has written to Pope Francis in recent days on the matter. (more here)

* Secretary of Defense reaffirms commitment to border security and plan to house migrants at Guantanamo 

During an interview with the media, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reaffirmed the Defense Department's commitment to working with other federal agencies to strengthen security along the southern border. (more here a here)

* Amedeo Modigliani - rebel and genius. His paintings shocked Paris a hundred years ago, today they sell for millions

When he was alive, he traded his drawings for a plate of food and a glass of wine; today his paintings are worth millions. In total, Modigliani left behind around 350 paintings and 25 sculptures, in addition to his many drawings. Their high prices have led to a number of forgeries. (more here)

* An EU Compass to restore competitiveness and ensure sustainable prosperity

The European Commission today presented Competitiveness Compass, the first major initiative of this mandate, which provides a strategic and clear framework to guide the Commission's work. (more here)

* An American Airlines plane collided with an Army helicopter on landing in Washington, D.C., with no survivors likely

An American Airlines plane carrying 60 passengers and four crew members collided with an Army helicopter while landing at Ronald Reagan National Airport near Washington. The Army helicopter was on a training flight at the time and officials said there were three soldiers on board. (more here)

* A showdown with artificial intelligence! Alibaba claims its new model outperforms DeepSeek and ChatGPT

The announcement comes after Chinese artificial intelligence start-up DeepSeek shook markets on Monday, sparking a sell-off in technology products in the US and Europe. (more here)

* Majority of Greenlanders oppose joining US despite Trump's push, poll shows

A new poll shows that an overwhelming 85 % Greenlanders do not want the island to become part of the US, despite President Trump's efforts to take control of the semi-autonomous Danish territory. (more here)

* Prime Minister Fico: The EC statement on the protection of energy infrastructure is serious

Because the EC is starting to put pressure on Ukraine on the issue of gas transit. Slovak Foreign and European Affairs Minister Juraj Blanár also praised Kiev's willingness to transport non-Russian gas to Europe. (more here)

* Serbian Prime Minister Milos Vucevic resigns after months of protests

Vucevic irrevocably decided to resign after the events in Novi Sad, when students were attacked. He resigned just one day after the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, announced plans for an urgent reconstruction of the government. (more here)

* There is a spreading atmosphere of deepening animosity in society that may result in conflict or a repetition of history

President Petr Pavel said this in a speech at a commemorative meeting on the occasion of Holocaust Remembrance Day and the Prevention of Crimes Against Humanity at Prague Castle (more here)

* World commemorates Holocaust as Jewish community groups warn of rising anti-Semitism

27 January marks the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau by the Red Army, and this date was declared International Holocaust Remembrance Day by the UN General Assembly. (more here)

* Teachers' salaries in Europe: where are the highest real increases and decreases?

After adjusting for inflation, teacher salaries have been falling in recent years in many European countries, including England, Ireland, Italy, Greece and Finland. (more here)