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 Bolivia Bolivia has authorized Starlink, OneWeb, and Kuiper to operate after years of restrictions, aiming to improve digital access and replace its outdated Chinese satellite amid efforts to attract tech investment and recover from an economic crisis
America Chile National Space Center has been inaugurated to boost space technology research, satellite operations, and regional cooperation, marking a major step toward scientific autonomy and innovation since construction began in 2024
Africa Madagascar Jirama, the state-owned national utility company, is strengthening health protection measures, as supply of drinking water in Antananarivo remains subject to multiple pressures, including climatic hazards, network fragility and uncontrolled urbanization
Europe Luxembourg Grand Duke Guillaume urges solidarity in his first Christmas address, paying tribute to Ukrainians, volunteers and frontline workers, calling for compassion amid rising living costs and global instability
Europe Russia In Tiksi, Yakutia, the thermometer dropped to -56°C, the lowest temperature currently recorded in a populated area, and it could drop further as a snowstorm has paralyzed the village for three days burying streets and house entrances
America Belize A $500.000 fast-track residency program for foreign investors has been approved to attract capital and simplify bureaucracy, while maintaining its retirement visa scheme for older individuals with foreign income
America Mexico Mexico City is vibrant with Poinsettia flowers, also known as 'Flor de Nochebuena'; native to the region, these flowers symbolize the spirit of the holidays and play an important role in festive decorations across the city
Oceania Vanuatu Over 1.000 members of the Vanuatu Teachers Union, who have been on strike for the past 18 months, will return to the classroom following the signing of a Collective Bargaining Agreement with the government
Africa Benin Constitutional reform has been promulgated after its validation by Benin’s Constitutional Court; the revision extends presidential term from 5 to 7 years and establishes a bicameral system by creating a Senate
Europe Spain Small firms and self-employed workers will have additional time to adjust to the new Treasury-designed invoicing system Verifactu; under the revised timetable companies will have until 1 January 2027 to comply, while freelancers' deadline would be July
Africa Rwanda The Mayor of Rubavu District assured visitors planning holidays on the lake about safety during the festive season; remarks were made at the inauguration of Beach Expo 2025, an annual event organised by the Private Sector Federation in Western Province
Africa Malawi The Department of Disaster Management Affairs DoDMA increased efforts to save thousands of vulnerable families from hunger, launching the Lean Season Response Programme in Mzimba, Nkhata Bay and Kasungu as Malawi grapples with a deepening food crisis
Africa Guinea Following decreasing international financing, the fight against HIV in Guinea is rethinking funding mechanisms; REGAP+ and MSF organized a conference-debate on resilience strategies for HIV programs in Africa at Gamal Abdel Nasser University in Conakry