Africa eSwatini 11 000 jobs have been added in 2023-25; though it may appear as a positive development for Eswatini’s economy, economists fear that Eswatini’s labour market is expanding in low-productivity jobs rather than sectors building long-term economic security
Oceania Australia A carpet of rubbish was left on Sydney's Bronte Beach after some 10.000 people crowded the shores of the Australian resort for Christmas Day celebrations
Asia Palestine Former Palestinian MP, 60, a long-standing women's rights activist and leader of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and member of the Palestinian Legislative Council, was taken from her home in Ramallah, West Bank, by the Israeli army
Europe Lithuania Contracts were announced for the design of Rail Baltica infrastructure objects in Lithuania in the Kaunas railway junction and the Jiesia section
Asia Malaysia Malaysia Airlines has launched its New Year promotional fare for flights from London Heathrow to more than 40 destinations in Southeast Asia and Australasia
America Honduras The UN has approved the formation of the International Commission against Corruption and Impunity, following President Xiomara Castro's campaign promise, with the mandate granted to UN Secretary-General António Guterres to support its establishment
Europe Moldova The IATA code for Chisinau airport will pass from KIV, standing for Kishinev, the capital's name in Russian, to RMO, for Republica Moldova, the country's official name in Romanian, a move by the pro-Western government to contain Russian influence
Europe Netherlands The two-day Christmas period was the second warmest since records began in 1901; five of the 10 warmest Christmas periods have been recorded since the turn of the century
Africa Mauritius President Prithvirajsing Roopu hosted a Christmas gathering for needy and disabled children at the State House in Réduit
Oceania Marshall Islands To strengthen the country's position as a tuna production center, a refrigeration expert from FAO worked with local technicians during a training course on freezer container maintenance in Majuro in FAO's FISH4ACP program
Asia Nepal The government has taken steps to discourage the practice of awarding multi-year contracts for smaller projects as current rules, which permit such contracts for smaller projects too, have resulted in an accumulation of projects enjoying seamless funding
Europe Malta Malta's largest annual charity telethon, L-Istrina, started at noon yesterday and by 7;15pm €3 million had already been raised, raising funds for the Malta Community Chest Fund Foundation
Asia Laos In response to a video uploaded on a Thai YouTube channel, the government denied claims that Luang Prabang is at risk of losing its World Heritage status, even though a UNESCO report in March raised concerns about the Luang Prabang hydroelectric project
Europe Sweden Tesla said over 20.000 cars were registered in Sweden this year, even though ongoing labour strikes seem to threaten its operations in the country