Asia Myanmar Construction of China–Myanmar railway, high-speed passenger and freight corridor linking Yunnan to Kyaukphyu deep-sea port on the Bay of Bengal, is being accelerated; the line will give China direct access to the Indian Ocean, bypassing the Malacca Strait
Africa Central African Republic Faustin-Archange Touadéra will bid for a third term in this month's elections; he is now hailing Russian and Emirati support, rejecting criticism over Wagner and Neptune Oil and calls on outsiders to let Africans choose their leaders
America Grenada Food and Nutrition Council has warned parents to rise alert during festivities as many Christmas must-haves in Grenadian households contain alcohol, like black cake and sorrel; GFNC cautions that consumption at child age can increase risk of dependency
Africa Guinea-Bissau On 26 November president Embaló was arrested in a coup d'état carried out by the Presidency Brigadier General Dinis Incanha, who established the High Military Command for Restoration of National Security and Public Order led by General Horta Inta-A Na Man
Asia Japan Portable power banks catching fire in Japan have more than doubled between 2020 and 2024; public and private sectors have begun strengthening safety measures and efforts to raise public awareness amid a series of incidents in public spaces this year
Asia Malaysia Sabah, a resource-rich Malaysian state on northern Borneo, is heading to elections; Its strategic location, diverse population and vital natural assets make it crucial for national stability, drawing the country's attention
America Canada The province of Alberta has signed a new energy deal that will position Canada as a global energy superpower while working toward net-zero emissions; the agreement involves a new bitumen pipeline to the West Coast with Indigenous co-ownership
America Uruguay Molecular DNA markers, AI image recognition systems like ZoomAgri and systematic field sampling have been implemented to protect plant breeders' rights in seed industry, enhancing transparency and ensuring farmers' access to top-tier technologies
Asia Myanmar Thailand’s foreign minister sayd Myanmar’s planned election cannot be credible under junta rule, citing repression, no inclusive participation, and ongoing conflict. He urges ASEAN and global partners to push for political dialogue and humanitarian access
America Guatemala A volunteer-led initiative in Guatemala has protected hundreds of children from hazardous firework labor by offering schooling, food, and community support through the “Sulla Strada” project, launched to combat extreme poverty and child exploitation
Europe Bulgaria 2026 state budget doubles the dividend tax on private businesses to fund a rise in public-sector wages despite criticisms by the opposition, professional associations and business analysts, widely seen as a way to satisfy loyal voters in the public sector
Europe Croatia Controversial Croatian singer Marko Perkovic Thompson will hold one concert in Zagreb on December 27; the city's leftist Mayor hasn't permitted a second show as the right-wing singer whose songs glorify Croatian nationalism
Europe Italy After a week-long relay in Greece, the Olympic flame will be handed over to Italian Games organizers in Athens on 4 December; it will start a domestic journey of 63-days and 12.000 km across 110 provinces, with 10.001 torchbearers, from Rome on 6 December
Europe Monaco Netflix will release Murder in Monaco on 17 December, a documentary on one of the most high-profile criminal cases in the Principality’s history: the death of billionaire banker Edmond Safra on 3 December 1999 in his apartment's fire