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
Africa Tanzania Boundary beacon markers have been installed in Ngezi Vumawimbi Forest Reserve in Pemba, one of the few coastal forest in Africa and a key ecological asset for Zanzibar, to curb encroachment and reduce land use disputes
Asia Thailand As the Southeast Asian Games concluded, Thailand finished top of the medal table, leading on home soil; Host athletes won in multiple disciplines, underscoring the country’s regional sporting strength despite rising competition from Vietnam and Indonesia
Oceania Solomon Islands Essential school furniture for newly built classrooms and dormitories has been delivered to 14 schools across the country; the initiative aims to build safe, comfortable and practical learning spaces supported by Australia and New Zealand with MEHRD
Europe Czech Republic After 58 years, the D1 motorway is finally complete with the opening of the last section at Přerov; the new 10km stretch was finished 3 months ahead of schedule and is expected to significantly relieve traffic in the region
Asia Philippines Temporary maritime restrictions have been announced in parts of the West Philippine Sea ahead of a Chinese rocket launch; Authorities cited safety risks from falling debris, analysts note the move comes amid tensions with Beijing over contested waters
Europe Slovenia Urban, a six-year-old boy with a rare genetic neurodevelopmental disorder, is the first patient in the world to have received a pioneering gene replacement therapy for the CTNNB1 syndrome as a clinical trial started at the UKC Ljubljana Medical Centre
Asia Israel Christians in Jerusalem celebrate Christmas facing discrimination and economic burdens, including exorbitant taxes like the “Arnona”, on churches, freezing of bank accounts, seizure of properties and holy sites, and activities by settlement associations
Asia Indonesia The new history textbook allegedly presents a political bias, downplaying human-rights abuses and favoring pro-government military-friendly narratives; Scholars warn it distorts key events, noting it's not the first state attempt at historical revisionism
Africa Lesotho Government ordered the Independent Electoral Commission to sell its newly-acquired M77million building and relocate to a vacant, undeveloped site in Masowe as the current structure is “too tall” for the comfort of National Security Service and PM’s office
America Dominican Republic The newly introduced Dominican Republic’s e-passport features a secure microchip that stores biometric data such as fingerprints and facial recognition and 70 security elements integrated into a durable polycarbonate data page to prevent tampering
Asia Singapore Over 2.700 people have been fined for vape-related offences since tougher penalties took effect on Sept 1; Authorities report higher enforcement action as part of efforts to curb vaping, especially among youths, amid growing public health concerns
Asia Bhutan Liquor shops in Phuentsholing face severe shortages ahead of Bhutan’s upcoming alcohol tax hike; Suppliers are unable to meet demand, pushing retailers to the brink as prices rise and stock dwindles, with businesses warning of mounting financial strain
Europe Denmark A group of 237 women has completed training in AI, JavaScript, Python, cybersecurity, and cloud computing through a school that helps women and non-binary people with international backgrounds gain digital skills and enter the Danish labor market