Asia China 10 United States-based companies have been added to China's export control list, government procurement barred from 50 US companies two weeks after the Pentagon blacklisted some of China’s best-known companies for alleged ties to the Chinese military
Asia Lebanon 15 Lebanese feature on the Forbes Middle East '30 Under 30' list for 2025, selected for achievements ranging from detecting methane from space to turning agricultural waste into protein, from reforming public services to exporting Lebanese products abroad
Africa Libya The Libyan Dinar was exchanged on Christmas day at 6,3 for one Euro on the official bank exchange rate, and exchanged at 8,6 on the black market according to 'officially published' black market rates
Oceania Kiribati Tourism is now a frontline response to plastic pollution and climate pressure: a regional workshop in Tarawa highlights how small tourism businesses, circular economy principles and marine protection initiatives are reshaping travel benefiting Kiribati
America El Salvador Over 1.600 free digital courses on Tech, AI and business have been offered to enhance citizens’ professional skills and opportunities nationwide, providing access to education through a partnership with Platzi, the biggest education platform in Spanish
Asia Kyrgyzstan Rules for handling hazardous waste in Kyrgyzstan have been amended; the resolution of the Cabinet strengthens environmental safety in collection, storage, accounting and disposal of used batteries and petroleum waste aligning with Eurasian Economic Union
America Canada Satellite-to-cell service is sooner and faster than operator Rogers had expected and the number of users in its trial period much higher, with over a million text messages sent in six months; the technology secures coverage in remote areas
Asia Brunei A community gotong-royong - an obligation of individual towards society - completed a clean-up initiative along the road to Kampong Kuala Balai, restoring road width and drainage systems by clearing overgrown vegetation
Oceania Palau Inmate was set on fire at Koror Prison when he was alone in his cell, suffering non-life-threatening burns; authorities are probing how gasoline entered the premises
Europe Kosovo Voters in Kosovo go to the polls today 28 December for the second time in 2025, after ten months of stalemate in parliament – amid hopes that political parties are toning down the overt animosity
America Ecuador Only two official border crossings have been kept open due to national security concerns, as Ecuador has faced rising cartel violence and now holds Latin America's highest homicide rate
Europe Germany Churches are being decommissioned and repurposed as the number of church members in Germany is falling rapidly; in Berlin growing Orthodox Christian congregations have taken over buildings, but they are more often sold
Oceania Micronesia Micronesian and Palau artists are highlighted in new group exhibition Ocean of Peace, at Maui Arts & Cultural Center in Hawaii, USA); sculpture, digital media, weaving, poetry and painting, six artists explore the Pacific’s path toward harmony
America Grenada Marryshow Community College TAMCC and the Grenada Union of Teachers signed their first collective bargaining agreement; covering 1 January 2026 to 31 December 2028, it establishes a formal framework for lecturers recognising their professional standing