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
Asia Lebanon A second aid ship carrying 3.000 tonnes of relief materials was sent to Lebanon by the United Arab Emirates; supplies include food, winter clothing and specific items for children and women
America Trinidad and Tobago Heavy rainfall, not usual in December, triggered flooding, flash flooding, landslides, road interruptions and power outages in several villages across Tobago
Asia Cyprus The Cyprus Agricultural Payments Organisation has disbursed over €2 billion in subsidies since Cyprus joined the EU, reached through the efficient distribution of hectare subsidies and efforts to modernise agricultural practices
Asia Laos A national seed policy to ensure quality seed production, improve yields, and enhance food security is being implemented; by integrating digital tools, the initiative also supports sustainable farming and competitiveness in global markets
Europe Italy The Vasari corridor, a narrow 760m-long passageway on the Arno River in Florence is now open to the public; commissioned in 1565 and completed in just five months, it connects the Uffizi Galleries with the Pitti Palace and the Boboli garden
Europe Kosovo Latest report “Challenges of Terrorism Prevention Mechanisms in Kosovo” says limited progress was made in implementing counter-terrorism strategy, which relies on prevention, coordination between stakeholders, early identification of vulnerable people
Africa Rwanda The outbreak of Marburg virus disease has been declared over by the Rwandan government, with no new cases reported in the last 42 days, after the last patient tested negative for the virus twice
Asia Malaysia The Malaysian Religious Affairs Minister managed to maintain the 2025 Hajj pilgrimage cost at approximately $2.227 per first-time pilgrim, despite global rising expenses, through new cost control measures and negotiating with Saudi Arabia government
Africa Democratic Republic of the Congo The country has filed a complaint against Apple's subsidiaries in Belgium and France accusing them of sourcing the minerals essential for the production of devices from the many illegal mines in the country, and thus being complicit in those crimes
Europe Spain The working week will be shortened for equal pay from the current 40 hours to 37 ½ hours by the end of 2025 following an agreement reached by the government with the country's two main trade unions
Asia Yemen In response to the Houthi launch of a missile towards Israel, which was intercepted by Israeli defence systems, the Israeli army carried out a series of attacks in Yemen against several Houthi-controlled areas
Europe Portugal Wolf presence decreased over the last two decades notwithstanding efforts of conservation that failed to reach their goals: latest census shows the area of presence in Portugal was reduced by 20% and the number of packs decreased by 8% to 58
Africa Uganda A Ugandan court ordered the government to compensate with USD 2.740 each victim of Thomas Kwoyelo, a commander of the Lord's Resistance Army who was sentenced to 40 years in prison for war crimes in October