Oceania Solomon Islands With newly improved roads in Auki, provincial police appealed to drivers in Malaita to use responsibility and greater care in driving; reckless driving had reportedly increased since works began, forcing to monitor underage drivers and speeding vehicles
Europe Belarus Belarusian Central Electoral Commission registered five presidential candidates after checking the authenticity of the signatures collected; Lukashenko's candidature collected more than 2,5 million signatures, the other candidates just over 100.000 each
America Suriname Desi Bouterse, Suriname's former dictator and twice-elected leader, known for his 1980 coup, polarizing legacy, convictions for murder and drug trafficking, died at 79, leaving a lasting but contentious impact on the nation’s history
Asia Brunei Brunei's gross domestic product grew by 6% year-on-year in Q3 2024, driven by a 12,9% expansion in the oil and gas sector, while the non-O&G sector grew by 0,3%
America United States President Biden signed a law making the white-headed sea eagle the official symbol of the United States, after it had been the country's symbol for more than two centuries, although not formalised
Europe United Kingdom In his annual Christmas speech, King Charles addressed a personal message of gratitude to the health workers who supported him during his cancer treatment; he called for unity, saying that ethnic and faith diversity is a sign of "strength, not weakness"
Oceania Australia Two sailors have died in separate incidents on the first night of the 79th Sydney to Hobart sailing regatta, after they were both hit by sail booms; they mark the first deaths in the famed race since six men lost their lives in the 1998 event
Africa Benin The country intends to sell up to 40% of its stake in Banque Internationale pour l'Industrie et le Commerce through an initial public offering to finance various development projects, aiming to raise $192,3 million offering up to 23,1 million shares
America Belize For the 7th consecutive year, the Fortis Belize Holiday Hamper Drive delivered food, household items, and toys to hundreds of families in need in San Ignacio and Santa Elena, showing community support during the Christmas season
Europe Belgium From the historic Bouglione family, with their time-honoured big top shows, to avant-garde performances from international artists, Belgium hosts a flourishing community of circus schools and festivals in the festive season and a thriving circus culture
Africa Comoros A workshop to talk about harassment, abuse and sexual assault has been organised in Fomboni by WHO Representative Office of the Comoros with NGOs, media, associations and institutions responsible for the protection of human rights
Africa Lesotho Calls on the government to intensify efforts in combating corruption, bolst press freedom and uphold the rule of law came from the Chargé d’Affaires at the US Embassy in Maseru while presentating Lesotho’s 2025 Millennium Challenge Corporation scorecard
Africa Djibouti The 75th anniversary of the Djibouti Franc was commemorated with a ceremony; the currency plays a key role in maintaining Djibouti's economic sovereignty and is one of the founding elements upon which the unity and national cohesion have been built
Asia Iran The ban on WhatsApp and Google Play has been lifted; it was imposed over two years ago during the mass protests against the government that began in reaction to the death of Mahsa Amin