Asia Sri Lanka Digital marketplace LilyLanka has been launched to connect small and medium enterprises with customers; the platform includes products, online sales and delivery services and aims to digitalize local trade, expand market access and support SMEs recovery
America Dominican Republic Air arrivals in the Dominican Republic grew by 10%, reaching 960k tourists December, the highest monthly record ever achieved by the country; closing 2025 with 11,6 million visitors, figures consolidate the best result in the history of Dominican tourism
Asia Turkmenistan Turkmenistan has taken over the chairmanship of the Commonwealth of Independent States CIS; President Berdimuhamedov has stated that the country intends to contribute to the full realization of the organization’s potential during its chairmanship
Oceania Micronesia VP took part in the official kick off of the 74th Operation Christmas Drop, a tradition begun in 1952 when aircrew dropped a bundle of supplies attached to a parachute to waving islanders; OCD involves over 60 islands in FSM, Palau, Marshall Islands
America Jamaica Despite being ravaged by Hurricane Melissa two months ago, several schools in St James are set to resume full classes today; administrators say the situation will not be perfect but reopening schools is a key step towards normality
Europe Montenegro Police in Montenegro say AI is fuelling a rise in identity abuse, and celebrity endorsement sees a surge in case, but holding online fraudsters to account can be complicated
Africa eSwatini The Board of Directors of Eswatini Railways has been authorized by Cabinet to proceed with a forensic audit into the operations of the entity following findings of the auditor general though the audit is not to be confined to these findings
Asia East Timor 588 teachers were sworn in as permanent educators in General Secondary and Technical-Vocational Education after passing recruitment examinations and taking their oath and publicly committing in a ceremony at the Dili Gymnasium
Europe Switzerland Doctors specialized in the treatment of severe burns, a specific condition with a complex clinical picture, have been summoned from neighbouring countries to the hospitals treating dozens of injured in the Crans-Montana fire, that left at least 40 dead
Europe Ireland Authorities are monitoring the passage of a Very Large Crude Carrier VLCC through Irish waters or EEZ; the ship, on its way to a Russian North Sea port, is being pursued by the US military as part of its crackdown on Venezuelan oil
America Saint Lucia Flight operations in and out of the US into airports in Saint Lucia and the wider Caribbean have been disrupted, official note reads, flight cancelled and services delayed as the FAA ordered commercial carriers to avoid airspace near Venezuela
Africa Malawi 6% decline in criminal activity has been registered in 2025, with 2.247 fewer cases reported nationwide, Inspector General of Police announced; official figures also show measurable improvement in road traffic accidents, -11%, with 3.527 cases in 2025
Europe Italy The COSMO-SkyMed CSG-FM3 satellite was successfully launched on 3 January 2026 from Vandenberg Space Force Base, USA; fully built in Italy, it is a milestone for the Italian space industry and consolidates the country's leading role in Earth observation
America Grenada Hunting Season for wildlife and game species has been closed on 1 January, effective to 30 September until further notice; hunting wildlife species as Tatou, Manicou, Ramier, Iguana and the Mona Monkey may be fined $1000 or 6 months in prison