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
Oceania Marshall Islands To strengthen the country's position as a tuna production center, a refrigeration expert from FAO worked with local technicians during a training course on freezer container maintenance in Majuro in FAO's FISH4ACP program
Oceania Australia A carpet of rubbish was left on Sydney's Bronte Beach after some 10.000 people crowded the shores of the Australian resort for Christmas Day celebrations
America El Salvador Former Salvadoran president Alfredo Cristiani is facing a detention order for covering up the El Mozote massacre during the civil war, being accused of decreeing amnesty to avoid prosecuting those responsible
Europe Moldova The IATA code for Chisinau airport will pass from KIV, standing for Kishinev, the capital's name in Russian, to RMO, for Republica Moldova, the country's official name in Romanian, a move by the pro-Western government to contain Russian influence
Asia Nepal The government has taken steps to discourage the practice of awarding multi-year contracts for smaller projects as current rules, which permit such contracts for smaller projects too, have resulted in an accumulation of projects enjoying seamless funding
America Honduras The UN has approved the formation of the International Commission against Corruption and Impunity, following President Xiomara Castro's campaign promise, with the mandate granted to UN Secretary-General António Guterres to support its establishment
Europe Malta Malta's largest annual charity telethon, L-Istrina, started at noon yesterday and by 7;15pm €3 million had already been raised, raising funds for the Malta Community Chest Fund Foundation
Asia Malaysia Malaysia Airlines has launched its New Year promotional fare for flights from London Heathrow to more than 40 destinations in Southeast Asia and Australasia
Europe Netherlands The two-day Christmas period was the second warmest since records began in 1901; five of the 10 warmest Christmas periods have been recorded since the turn of the century
Africa Zimbabwe Air Zimbabwe successfully relaunched the Victoria Falls-Johannesburg route to take advantage of the demand hopefully generated by delegates attending the UN World Tourism Organisation General Assembly
Asia Thailand Huawei Technologies Thailand, received the prestigious 'Prime Minister Awards: Thailand Cybersecurity Excellence Award 2023' for the second time in a row from Prasert Jantararuangtong, Minister of Economy and Digital Society
Asia Uzbekistan "It is necessary to drastically reform the current production system of domestic TV series and support our producers," said President Mirziyoyev
Asia Yemen The UN Secretary General's Special Envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, announced that he is working towards an agreement between the Yemeni parties, developing a roadmap to support the peace process, expressing hope that it will be reached and signed soon