Europe Norway Following ongoing reduction of sealife in the Oslo Fjord, extensive bans on fishing in three key areas will come into force from January 1. Critics and fishing firms claim farming, development and other sources of pollution should be addressed first
Asia Malaysia High tide brought a massive amount of rubbish to Kampung Jawa beach in Penang, covering the shoreline with waste; Authorities and local volunteers are working to clean up the area
Asia Myanmar Myanmar’s military and the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army have agreed to a ceasefire following mediation by China; the truce aims to end recent clashes near the Chinese border
Asia Bahrain Wego, the number one travel app and the largest online travel marketplace in the Middle East and North Africa, has partnered with the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibition Authority to promote the Kingdom's tourism sector
Asia Pakistan A court in Rawalpindi sentenced four men to death for allegedly sharing blasphemous content online; the decision highlights the country’s strict blasphemy laws, which human rights groups have criticized for being misused or harshly enforced
Africa Burkina Faso Bishop Guy Mukasa Sanon has been appointed as Local Ordinary of the Catholic Diocese of Nouna in Burkina Faso by Pope Francis
Africa Rwanda The facility Investing for Employment launched a new call for proposals in Rwanda: companies, public and non-profit organisations can apply for co-financing grants with projects that combine job creation with social protection measures
Asia Sri Lanka The Sri Lanka Export Development Corporation's latest report revealed that the country has reached an all-time high of $16,17 billion in export earnings in 2024
Europe Monaco The Monegasque collective Help for Ukraine inaugurated an exhibition entitled Children of War with images depicting the country's youth dressed in their finest clothes but surrounded by crumbling buildings and classrooms devastated by war
Africa Lesotho The Lesotho Diamond Manufacturers Association, the first of its kind in the country, was launched with the aim of maintaining the value of diamonds within the country, elevating the industry by creating a diamond hub
Europe Kosovo The Information and Privacy Agency launched a platform to identify personal data breaches that ensures institutions are better prepared to protect personal data, prevent leaks and protect from potential cyber attacks
Asia Brunei Brunei's representative, Dayangku Ummi Siti Syazana binti Pengiran Haji Marjuki, left for Indonesia to participate in the 4th International Holy Quran Competition
Asia Bangladesh Bangladesh risks a return to the rights violations that occurred under the ouster of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina unless a robust reform is initiated, Human Rights Watch warned
Africa Benin In the southern village of Gogotinkpon, which makes its living from fishing in Lake Aheme, voodoo is used to ask deities to help demarcate tracts of mangroves as sacred areas; the tradition highlights the importance of mangrove forests in the region