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 Serbia MAN Truck&Bus stopped taking tyres from Chinese Linglong’s Serbian plant after reports alleging the exploitation and possible trafficking of Vietnamese and Indian workers; the company’s ultimate owner, Volkswagen, said it's trying to “clarify the facts”
Asia Turkmenistan Turkmenistan Football Federation President and FFT Secretary General Serdar Geldiyev held a video conference with football club "Villarreal" to discuss cooperation in youth soccer development
Asia Palestine Palestinians have sued the State Department over US assistance to the Israeli military, accusing the Biden administration of violating US law prohibiting aid to military units involved in rights abuses
Asia Bhutan Bhutan won two prestigious tourism awards in 2024: International Wellness Destination for Travel+Leisure India and Runner-Up for Favourite Overseas Destination by Condé Nast Traveller, highlighting its appeal for wellness, culture and sustainable travel
America Mexico Over 11 million pilgrims visited Mexico City's Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe for the Virgin of Guadalupe celebration (9-13 December); many traveled from across Mexico and abroad, on foot or crawling, to honor the 493rd anniversary of her apparition
America Panama 29.229 dengue cases and 50 deaths have been reported this year, with the number of cases more than doubling compared to 2023; the Ministry of Health emphasized the importance of prevention and community involvement in eliminating mosquito breeding grounds
Europe Spain A new pilot project was implemented in the port of Algeciras to strengthen controls on agricultural imports from third countries, particularly Morocco, in response to the demands of Spanish farmers who protested earlier this year
Oceania New Zealand With second Emission Reduction Plan, recently unveiled, the New Zealand government said it will reach its 2050 goal of zero emissions as early as 2044
Asia China Macau prepares to celebrate the 25th anniversary of its return to the motherland; streets have been adorned with celebratory banners, featuring the Five-Star Red Flag - China's national flag and the regional flag of the Macau Special Administrative Region
Asia Vietnam Da Nang’s People’s Committee plans to reclaim 300 hectares of sea to create Vietnam’s first integrated free trade zone; the project, a booster for economic development, is expected to contribute up to 25% of the city’s economic output by 2050
Europe North Macedonia The government has approved a second loan of €500 million from Hungary, which will be used to repay a Eurobond issued by the previous government in 2018, due to mature on 25 January 2025
Asia Mongolia In 2024, Chinggis Khaan International Airport welcomed over 2 million passengers for the first time since its founding in 2021, reflecting a 6.5% increase in air travel, thus achieving a historic milestone for Mongolia
Africa Republic of the Congo The growing threat of siltation has been affecting the Ngambio district of Mfilou, 7th arrondissement of Brazzaville, for several months, with disruption of road traffic, damages to shops and warehouses, loss of property, pollution and inconvenience