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
Oceania Fiji Several correctional facilities in Fiji have been visited by Commonwealth Secretariat officials as part of preparations for the upcoming Commonwealth Justice Ministerial Meeting, which Fiji will host in February 2026
Asia Bangladesh A Bangladesh court sentenced former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, 78, to death after she was convicted in absentia of crimes against humanity
Asia Cambodia Chef Mariya Un Noun of the Smiling Gecko Farmhouse in Phnom Penh has worked in top Michelin-star kitchens in Europe, placing Khmer dishes on international menus, training Cambodian talents, an ambassador of khmer culinary heritage on the global stage
America Saint Lucia After years of delays and controversy, St Jude Hospital has been handed over to the Government after reconstruction; though the facility is not yet ready to accept patients, the ceremony marked the first step towards full operational readiness
Europe Serbia A special law will declare "relevant for the Republic" the redevelopment of former Yugoslav Army General Headquarters in Belgrade, a landmark socialist-era building bombed by NATO in 1999; the project is already linked to Jared Kushner's investment firm
Europe Italy The 15th International Tattoo Expo opened yesterday in Trieste, with 150 acclaimed tattoo and piercing artists from around the world and large crowd of spectators and clients from across Italy and Europe lining up at the entrance
Europe Romania The griffon vulture Gyps fulvus, extinct in Romania for over 70 years, will be reintroduced in a project carried out by ONG Conservation Carpathia Foundation; it is part of wider efforts to restore biodiversity in the Făgăraș Mountains
Oceania Vanuatu Twenty-one custom chiefs from across Vanuatu have convened to call for an urgent review of the Land Reform Act, saying the legislation has not fully benefited indigenous landowners since its introduction
America Ecuador A national vote has been scheduled to decide whether to lift Ecuador's constitutional ban on foreign military bases amid rising violence and calls for US assistance in combating drug trafficking
Europe Finland Two forestry companies registered in Sotkamo are under criminal investigation for suspected large-scale human trafficking, aggravated extortion, and illegal immigration for misuse of work-based residence permits and visas issued to 180 foreigners
America Mexico Mass protests against violence in Mexico have ended in clashes near the National Palace, leaving at least 120 injured, as citizens demand justice for murdered officials like Uruapan’s mayor and criticize President Sheinbaum’s security policies
Europe Sweden An anchovy shortage is possible this Christmas due to bad conditions for fishing last year, as they are stored in barrels for months; to meet the expected demand many brands will sell anchovy-seasoned herring fillet and 2025 fishing season opened well
Europe Switzerland Researchers at the federal technology institute ETH Zurich have created a microrobot less than two millimetres in width to fight diseases from inside the body: scientists can control the device through blood vessels and deliver essential drugs were needed