Asia Malaysia The Gig Workers Bill 2025 was passed, extending labor protections to about 1,2 million gig economy workers; the law mandates written contracts and basic benefits, like insurance and leave, for drivers, freelancers and platform workers
America El Salvador Congress has approved a law that would end the country's seven-year-old ban on mining for metals: president Nayib Bukele pushed to lift the ban, imposed in 2017 due to environmental concerns, claiming the country has vast gold deposits
Oceania Marshall Islands Six schools in Majuro now have access to safe drinking water systems using filtered rainwater thanks to the Environmental Protection Authority's Reliable and Safe Drinking Water Programme
Europe Montenegro The founder of two failed crypto currencies, Do Kwon, will be extradited to the US and not to South Korea, Montenegro's Ministry of Justice ruled, overhauling previous decision that allowed extradition to his homeland
America Guyana G$100.000 (around 480 USD) cash grants have been distributed to the first 50.000 public sector workers, including teachers and health staff; with this move, the government aims to promote lasting wealth and boost the local economy
Asia Azerbaijan As physical and technical interference appear to the cause of the crash-land that killed 38 people, Azimuth Airlines has cancelled flights to a number of Russian airports including Mineralnye Vody, Sochi, Volgograd, Ufa, Samara, Makhachkala, and Grozny
Europe Poland As a signatory to the court, Poland has an obligation to respect the court's decision, said the deputy foreign minister, saying that if Israel's Netanyahu attends the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz on 27 January he could be arrested
Europe Norway Although the price of stamps has increased over the years, postal revenues do not cover the costs of delivery to residential addresses; daily delivery has already been discontinued and Norwegians only receive mail at home two or three days a week
Asia Palestine Journalists Faisal Abu al-Qumsan, Ayman al-Jadi, Ibrahim al-Sheikh Khalil, Fadi Hassouna and Mohammed al-Lada'a were killed by the Israeli army while they were sleeping in their truck marked as "press"; over 200 registered journalists have now been killed
Asia China The World Bank, in its latest economic update on China, revised upwards - even though minimally - its economic growth forecast for 2024 to 4,9%
America Cuba Former players Lázaro Junco and Lázaro de la Torre lead the teams from Matanzas and Havana, respectively, for the 150th anniversary tribute game of the first official baseball game in Cuba
Asia Kuwait The Cabinet approved a draft decree-law imposing a 15% tax on multinational entities operating in multiple jurisdictions, aligning with global tax regulations to curb tax evasion and ensure revenue retention, coming into force on 1 January 2025
Asia East Timor Independent study on the development of the Greater Sunrise gas project, conducted by company Wood earlier this year confirms that developing it in East Timor waters is feasible and would be provide significant economic and social benefits
America Chile Doctors have warned of a growing health crisis among children in Antofagasta's mining region, citing rising autism and cancer rates linked to pollution from copper mining, a key industry in Chile