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
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
Africa Equatorial Guinea Ciudad de La Paz, capital of the province of Djiploho, was proclaimed as the new national capital on 2 January 2026 by presidential decree signed by H.E. Obiang Nguema Mbasogo; Malabo had been Ecuatorial Guinea's capital city since independence in 1968
Oceania Solomon Islands Hon. Hou, MP for Small Malaita Constituency, appealed to all landowners and community leaders in his region to allow development projects to proceed on their land, as land disputes still hinder and delay essential services and infrastructure delivery
Europe Slovakia Construction in Slovakia opens 2026 under pressure from inflation and investment decline; experts have outlined the impact of rising costs and uncertain automotive demand, underlining that diversification is essential for sustainable growth
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
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
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
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 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
America Trinidad and Tobago Recent increases in traffic fines could be reconsidered, Prime Minister said, if there is a measurable improvement in behaviour on the nation’s roads: road deaths, reckless and drunk driving offences must decrease by the first half of 2026
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