Africa Tanzania A comprehensive voluntary repatriation program has been finalized to bring back Tanzanian citizens living in South Africa, following growing impatience towards African immigrants; in co-operation with local authorities, returnees will undergo verification
Africa South Sudan The disputed Abyei region has been included as one of the electoral constituencies in South Sudan's general election on 22 December; rejecting Sudan’s objections, the country said the move is consistent with existing legal and constitutional frameworks
Africa Liberia Up to 1.200 foreigners deported from the US will be accepted "as guests" in Liberia over the next year in one of the biggest deals agreed so far by Washington
America Suriname Gold miners at Bergie 21 near Moeroe Creek in the Para District have started operations after the government and Zijin had reached an agreement; MP calls for police and army units to be stationed due to lack of structural security in the area
Asia Taiwan A dual-arm robot capable of handling up to 100 kg was presented Taipei International Industrial Automation Exhibition emphasizing its use in heavy server assembly, AI manufacturing, semiconductor handling, electronics inspection, intrafactory logistics
Africa Zimbabwe Harare authorities have carried out a massive demolition in the area along airport road; while the mayor defends the move, though calling it "disheartening", to limit illegal settlements, local MP said the operation wasn't supported by valid court orders
America Uruguay A second native dinosaur, Mesetasaurus protectora, has been discovered by a team of Uruguayan paleontologists; the long-necked titanosaur found on the Artigas Plateau in Paysandú was identified as 'new species' thanks to two vertebrae
Asia Vietnam A nationwide online competition on the Constitution was launched through a dedicated digital platform, allowing citizens to test their knowledge online; the initiative is part of a broader government campaign to improve citizenship awareness
Europe Portugal Iconic Nazaré beach has been temporarily closed to swimmers after water quality tests detected unusually high levels of microbiological contamination; overall values indicate low levels of faecal contamination in water and on beaches across all Portugal
Oceania Vanuatu A Histopathology unit has opened at the Vanuatu National Hospital bringing to the island a key step in cancer detection; specimens and tissue samples had to be sent overseas for diagnosis, a process that was time-consuming and often caused delays
Asia Turkmenistan 10 transactions registered at State Commodity and Raw Materials Exchange last week amounted to $2,247 million; international buyers purchased in foreign currency cotton (yarn lint fabric), purified cotton spinning waste, liquorice (roots extract rhizomes)
America Panama The controversial handling of a $300 million laptop procurement program is one among many accuses of mis-management and the alleged reason why the Education Minister resigned, though government has not made public the nature of her decision
Oceania Solomon Islands With newly improved roads in Auki, provincial police appealed to drivers in Malaita to use responsibility and greater care in driving; reckless driving had reportedly increased since works began, forcing to monitor underage drivers and speeding vehicles
America Peru A magnitude 6,7 earthquake shaked Peru's southern Andes, adding to logistic difficulties after days of severe weather cut off the South by air and land; thousands are stranded in Arequipa and Tacna as landslides blocked the vital Pan-American Highway