Africa Somalia New EU VISA restrictions make it more difficult for Somalis to travel to the bloc; the recently approved measures intensify an ongoing dispute with Mogadishu over the return of Somalis living irregularly in the EU
Asia Philippines The canonical coronation of the Our Lady of Fatima de Binakayan in Cavite has been approved by the Vatican; this revered Marian image is the third in the Diocese of Imus, after Our Lady of the Pillar and the Nuestra Señora dela Soledad de Porta Vaga
Oceania Micronesia A new community-led project aims to protect the turtles and increase local farming output by completely eliminating invasive pests, like lizards and pigs, from the island of Loosiep, a crucial refuge for endangered green sea turtles Chelonia mydas
Asia South Korea For the first time since 2017 South Korea did not experience a typhoon landfall this summer, while powerful storms hit the country in the past two years; experts explain it was due to a North Pacific high pressure system that caused extreme heat in August
Asia Kyrgyzstan The total amount of German investments in Kyrgyzstan in the years of cooperation since 1992 has reached EUR 820 million, said President of the Council of Germans Valery Dil at the conference on the development of Kyrgyz-German bilateral relations
Europe Switzerland The UBS CFA indicator, which summarises expectations of financial analysts and economists regarding the economy over the next six months, remains negative for the fifth month in a row, despite a figure slightly better than expected in the October report
Africa Sao Tome and Principe Sao Tome and Principe has ratified the 2001 Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage; as per its Article 27, the Convention will enter into force three months after the date of the deposit of this instrument, on 3 January 2025
Asia Vietnam Media attention raised on Sùng Y Múa, a native Mong, healthcare worker, since 2005 dedicated to enhancing community welfare and health, reducing early marriages and drug abuse; her homestay revived cultural tourism and sets an example for the region
Asia Malaysia Universiti Malaysia Sabah has launched the Center for Blue Economy and Maritime Security Research; on Borneo Island, bordering South China Sea, it focuses on sustainable use of ocean resources to support economic growth, jobs, and ecosystem health
Asia Singapore The Early Childhood Development Agency will work with five key operators to open almost 40.000 new nursery and kindergarten places in Singapore from 2025 to 2029
America Trinidad and Tobago Shell TT employees distributed to local farmers and gardeners the first batch of 1.100 pounds of compost produced with “Platform to Plant” initiative that transforms food waste from its Poinsettia offshore platform into compost
Europe Serbia At least 12 people were reported dead and others injured after part of the recently-renovated main railway station in the city of Novi Sad in northern Serbia collapsed
Asia Taiwan 22 unmanned aerial vehicle accidents have been recorded in one year by the Taiwanese Army, highlighting a shortage of qualified personnel behind most accidents
Asia Palestine The Health Ministry of the Gaza Strip accused the Israeli army of being responsible for a drone attack during which a clinic where polio vaccines were being administered was hit