Asia Bahrain 128 competitors, 59 male and 69 female, took part in this year's Mutun competition; the event awards the three best in seven categories, each focusing on the memorization and comprehension of foundation texts related to Quranic sciences
Asia Iran Iran analyst Omid Memarian, in Eye for Iran, presents the dramatic cultural opening sweeping across Iran as a bottom-up movement driven by a young generation that is less willing to be intimidated, not as a government reform
Oceania Vanuatu Doctors and medical officers will be trained on Medical Certification of Cause of Death MCCD to improve the accuracy of national health data; the initiative of the Ministry of Health is supported by the World Health Organization
Oceania Papua New Guinea Partial privatization of state energy company PNG Pover Ltd. is moving on after years of lack of initiative, notwithstanding progress in talks; the government is considering options that would benefit customers and investors and a transparent process
Asia Singapore Nanyang Technological University building covering will be safe for birds, that have been crashing agains the glass walls for nearly two decades; student-led Project Avigate launched a fund-raiser online to fix the building, raising €40.000 in two months
Africa Libya The Acting Minister of Health in the Government of National Unity met investors and companies to discuss participation in a pharmaceutical manufacturing plant in Libya to localize the pharmaceutical industry and encourage investment in the sector
America Belize Major gaps in services for children with disabilities have been revealed in a national analysis launched with UNICEF in Belize, highlighting the urgent need for inclusive policies despite progress under the 2024 Disability Act
Europe Poland Sting will headline TVP’s flagship New Year’s Eve show in Katowice this year; the Polish public broadcaster said the 74-year-old former frontman of The Police will perform a live set at 7:50 p.m. at the Spodek Arena alongside notable Polish artists
Africa Nigeria Motorists on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway experienced severe traffic disruption after a truck driver allegedly blocked both lanes at the Ogere end, protesting what he described as extortion by officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps
America Argentina 2.397 golden retrievers have gathered in a Buenos Aires park; the event, celebrating the breed’s friendly nature and deep bond with their owners, broke an unofficial world record
America Chile Undocumented migrants have dispersed across Chile’s Arica border after Peru has blocked their entry, following fears of expulsion that prompted attempts to flee through the desert frontier
Asia Malaysia Phase 2 of Malaysia's legal reforms has been launched, moving to separate the roles of Attorney General and Public Prosecutor; The change aims to strengthen judicial independence, prevent conflicts of interest, enhance public trust in the justice system
America Bolivia A record 16.600 theropod dinosaur footprints have been documented in Bolivia’s Toro Toro National Park; scientists say it the world’s largest collection of its kind and offering rare insight into dinosaur behavior late in the Cretaceous period
Africa Zambia Zesco has commissioned a 35-megawatt solar power plant in Chibombo, one of the state utility’s steps to broaden Zambia’s energy mix and security through renewable sources, including solar; the project is valued at about 30 million dollars