America Cuba International investors can now build and fully own tourism facilities: to reverse the dramatic fall in tourism, authorities have eliminated the requirement for foreign groups to form a joint venture with the Cuban state to manage their tourism activities
Asia Indonesia A five-year multiple-entry visa has been introduced for foreigners who want to visit the country for tourism or business reasons; he policy is part of the government’s efforts to increase the number of visitors and stimulate the economy
America Bolivia Bolivian farmer Trigidia Jiménez has gained international recognition for her self-cultivated quinoa, an Andean seed celebrated as a "superfood" for its nutritional value; the grain even gained recognition from NASA due its resilience to climate change
Asia Iraq With a turnout of 41%, Iraq's first provincial elections have come to an end; the Coordination Framework alliance won 101 of the 285 council seats
Asia Georgia The McLain Association for Children - Georgia is the first recipient in the country to receive the Project Zero Award for its efforts in promoting a barrier-free world for people with disabilities
Europe Germany To boost the retention of foreign graduates of German universities and to attract foreign degree holders to work in Germany, the Federal Ministry of Education and Research, with the German Academic Exchange Service, has introduced new initiatives
Europe Iceland Experts agree that volcanic activity on the Reykjanes Peninsula has ceased, although an official statement marking the end of the eruption is still awaited
America Grenada The payment of 25% ex gratia on civil servants' salary should not be regarded as an annual commitment by the Congress administration, warned Finance Minister Dennis Cornwall
Europe Luxembourg People found begging on the streets of Luxembourg's capital city will, as of mid-January, be sentenced to pay a fine of up to €250 or risk several days in prison by decision of the city council
Africa Liberia A petition calling for the dismissal of Bong County Election Commission magistrate has received thousands of signatures after the recent discovery of multiple levels of fraudulent activity and discrepancies found during the recount of 5 polling stations
Europe Czech Republic 14 victims and the 24-year-old perpetrator were killed in the mass shooting at Charles University in Prague, the most serious episode in modern times; pictures and videos of students running for safety have travelled the globe
Asia Maldives The development of new residential buildings to accommodate people living in the Male' Hiyaa and Sinamale' flats in the city of Male' and the suburb of Vilimale' will begin in February next year
Asia Saudi Arabia Hanan Elatr, widow of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, will receive political asylum in the United States after, according to several investigations, her husband was killed on the orders of her country's government
America Trinidad and Tobago The Trinidad and Tobago Electricity Commission has reminded citizens using fireworks to celebrate the holiday season to do so safely, as indiscriminate use can cause serious power outages or fires if they get caught in overhead lines or transformers