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 Luxembourg Most of bottled waters sold in Luxembourg contain chemicals, a study by an environmental group has found, after previous research had also found pollutants in tap water
Asia Kyrgyzstan The Bishkek mayor's office has proposed a draft legislation on the introduction of restrictions on the driving hours of vehicles delivering goods to shops and bazaars, especially during peak hours
Europe Kosovo Kosovo's electoral commission has banned the country's main Serbian party, Lista Serba, from participating in the upcoming parliamentary elections, scheduled for next February
Europe Latvia The 77th long-awaited annual publication 'Latvian Statistical Yearbook, 2024' is now available free of charge in digital format in Latvian and English, published by the Central Statistical Office
Asia Bhutan Swiss light artist Gerry Hofstetter lit up Bhutan’s National Day, projecting dragons, tigers, prayer flags and more cultural symbols onto landmarks such as the Buddha Dordenma and Tiger’s Nest in a celebration of Bhutanese identity
Europe Malta An estimated 30.000 full- and part-time workers will work in hotels, restaurants and catering facilities throughout the holiday period
Asia Maldives Amendments to the Tobacco Control Act, which prohibit the import, sale, free distribution and use of vaping devices and electronic cigarettes in the Maldives, came into force on 15 December; already nine persons have been sanctioned
Oceania Samoa Samoa started celebrating Christmas 13 days before the day itself; in these 13 days, government ministries and other congregations are invited to sing Christmas carols in their own style which are aired on TV
Asia Afghanistan According to the World Bank, the country is grappling with a severe food security crisis, with 11,6 million people - around 25% of the population - experiencing food insecurity
Africa Liberia Empowerment Squared, together with its local and international partners, officially launched the Liberia Learning Centre in Paynesville, a $2 million state-of-the-art facility
Europe Lithuania Lithuanian emigrants increasingly choose to return from abroad and settle in the country's less populated regions; the State Employment Service has created an interactive map with 50 indicators on housing, employment, education and other issues
Africa Madagascar Madagascar Airlines acquired a new ATR 72-500, part of its fleet renewal Phoenix 2030 Strategy
Asia Georgia The European Higher Education Quality Assurance Registry suspended the registration of the National Centre for Quality Improvement in Education of Georgia due to violations dating back to 2023