Europe Ukraine As war enters its fifth year, Kyiv has been seeking new ways to avoid risking heavy losses of soldiers and the use of unmanned ground vehicles has increased; armed with bombs, guns or rockets they have forced Russian troops to surrender their position
Africa Tunisia This year’s citrus harvest in Sidi Bouzid is estimated at more than 14.000 tonnes; modern irrigation, proper water management and favourable natural conditions have led to cultivate 486 hectares in 2024 from 228 in 2017
Europe Ukraine A standard-gauge railway connecting Ukraine with Poland has received EU funding; the project, due to be completed by the end of 2027, aims to improve cross-border transport and ease one of the main bottlenecks between the two countries
America Costa Rica The world’s first orange nurse shark, with combined xanthism and albinism, was discovered off Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast, challenging established marine biology concepts
Oceania Tonga 3.402 senior students throughout Tonga are starting their national exams this week, including 1.321 Form 5 students who have been discontinued from the national exam since 2022, under a decision taken during the COVID-19 restrictions
Africa Senegal Senegal’s public finances on international financial markets deteriorated; according to Bloomberg, the country’s sovereign risk has reached an unprecedented level, putting Senegal in financial distress and on the brink of bankruptcy
Africa South Africa Farmers are relieve by the lifting of US sanctions on many agricultural products, including macadamia nuts, of which South Africa is the world's top producer; wine and grapes are still hit by the measures
Asia Palestine First Gaza International Women’s Film Festival, founded by Palestinian filmmaker and researcher Ezzedine Shallah, brings together 79 films from 28 countries; it is organized in a displacement camp using a small home television and a generator for power
Europe Austria Direct train line Vienna-Prague will enhance frequency and the southern town of Villach will be connected to Czech Republic by ComfortJet trains starting in December
Asia Afghanistan A woman in Herat province has established a carpet-weaving workshop at her own expense, creating professional training and generating income for over 50 women and girls, fostering self-confidence and hope under restrictions' pressure
Europe Bosnia and Herzegovina Death toll of the nursing home blaze in Tuzla has risen to 15 after 3 people died of their injuries; the fire started from an upper floor of the building
Asia Taiwan Food waste trucks will be fitted with GPS starting on 7 December to prevent the spread of African swine fever: the outbreak of the virus in Taichung last month has suggested that the feeding of hogs with kitchen waste might have been a cause
Africa Ghana A Film Fund has been included in the 2026 budget to revive the local film industry and the Kumawood scene, recently struggling; the fund aims to boost production, distribution and marketing of Ghanaian films, creating jobs and driving cultural tourism
Africa Gabon The wife of Ali Bongo, ousted leader whose family ruled Gabon for 55 years, had been accused of manipulating her husband to embezzle taxpayers' money and has been sentenced to 20 years for graft together with their son Noureddin after a two-day trial