Europe Spain A massive counterfeit perfume factory has been dismantled; the plant produced tens of thousands of liters of counterfeit fragrances, imitations of around fifty luxury brands, to be marketed to the rest of Europe via France
Asia Maldives Tourist arrivals continued to rise in December, with figures pointing to sustained year on year growth of 10% and over during what is traditionally the busiest month; notwithstanding the Christmas holidays China is expected to lead the incoming this month
Europe Slovenia Urban, a six-year-old boy with a rare genetic neurodevelopmental disorder, is the first patient in the world to have received a pioneering gene replacement therapy for the CTNNB1 syndrome as a clinical trial started at the UKC Ljubljana Medical Centre
Africa Tanzania Boundary beacon markers have been installed in Ngezi Vumawimbi Forest Reserve in Pemba, one of the few coastal forest in Africa and a key ecological asset for Zanzibar, to curb encroachment and reduce land use disputes
Oceania Solomon Islands Essential school furniture for newly built classrooms and dormitories has been delivered to 14 schools across the country; the initiative aims to build safe, comfortable and practical learning spaces supported by Australia and New Zealand with MEHRD
Asia South Korea Former oceans minister was summoned by police over a bribery scandal involving the Unification Church: prosecutors allege he received cash and a luxury watch in exchange for backing church-linked projects; Chun denies the claims as raids widen the probe
Europe Czech Republic After 58 years, the D1 motorway is finally complete with the opening of the last section at Přerov; the new 10km stretch was finished 3 months ahead of schedule and is expected to significantly relieve traffic in the region
Africa Cameroon A fuel tanker exploded last week on the road connecting Limbe and Douala; the accident occurred near the Likomba bridge in Tiko, leaving at least 8 people dead and a trail of destruction and raising environmental concerns for the local community
Asia Philippines Temporary maritime restrictions have been announced in parts of the West Philippine Sea ahead of a Chinese rocket launch; Authorities cited safety risks from falling debris, analysts note the move comes amid tensions with Beijing over contested waters
Africa Sudan A measles spread is threatening thousands of children in Central, South, and West Darfur - currently mostly outside State control - as vaccination programs and supply chains collapsed under war and bureaucratic delays, MSF warned
Europe Estonia Principal of Tallinn Central Russian Gymnasium was dismissed and a public competition will be announced for his position; the reason cited is systematic violations in the transition to Estonian-language instruction, not throughly conducted at the school
Asia Israel Christians in Jerusalem celebrate Christmas facing discrimination and economic burdens, including exorbitant taxes like the “Arnona”, on churches, freezing of bank accounts, seizure of properties and holy sites, and activities by settlement associations
Asia Thailand As the Southeast Asian Games concluded, Thailand finished top of the medal table, leading on home soil; Host athletes won in multiple disciplines, underscoring the country’s regional sporting strength despite rising competition from Vietnam and Indonesia
Asia Laos Laos has been included in the list of countries facing full entry restrictions following new US travel ban; Washington cites security concerns, while critics argue the move is politically driven and risks harming diplomatic and economic ties