America Ecuador Trade unions in Ecuador have called a national strike against a government labour decree allowing the 40-hour workweek to be reorganised into shifts of up to 12 hours a day, arguing it undermines workers’ rights
Europe Bosnia and Herzegovina Police agencies in Bosnia are increasingly using new technology with facial recognition capacity, such as drones and cameras, to fight crime; doubts are rising over the legal frame allowing their use
Africa Sierra Leone Sierra Leone, with Morocco, ratified a landmark UN treaty to safeguard marine biodiversity on the high seas known as BBNJ which took over two decades to negotiate; with their vote, it has has met the 60 ratifications required for entry into force in 2026
Europe Lithuania 15 people have been charged in Lithuania over an alleged plan for arson attacks through courier services backed by Russian military intelligence service GRU; suspects include citizens from Russia, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Ukraine
Asia Kyrgyzstan AI-integrated surveillance cameras have been introduced in test mode; capable of facial recognition and of detecting emergencies, can alert staff at 'situation centers' if they spot fire, frostbite or crowd gatherings
Africa Liberia The DayLight investigation "How a Family Smuggled Timber for over a Decade" has been recognized by Global Investigative Journalism Network GIJN as one of the best in Africa, highlighting illicit activities and impactful outcomes in Liberia
Africa Democratic Republic of the Congo Response to the Ebola outbreak is accelerating, with control measures being scaled up leading to quicker detection of the virus, early start of treatment; over 90% of contacts of confirmed cases are monitored and followed up, from just 19% a fortnight ago
Asia Maldives The government is planning to seek public support for major constitutional changes using a new law that the opposition claims is a "tool" for President Dr Mohamed Muizzu to prolong his five-year term beyond 2028
Africa Madagascar Updated 10.000 and 20.000 ariary banknotes have been released to curb counterfeiting; with overall design similar to the previous series, new notes incorporate a two-tone green and red security thread as well as printing changes
Asia Palestine Ten EU countries, including France, Belgium, Monaco, Luxembourg and Malta, announced recognition of a Palestinian state during summit at the UN General Assembly, joining Britain, Canada, Australia and Portugal; 157 member states now recognize Palestine
Europe Kosovo Enver Petrovci, one of Kosovo’s most renowned actors and directors, has died at 71; known for his roles at home and abroad, as well as for his contributions as an educator, Petrovci leaves behind an impressive legacy in the world of theatre and film
Asia Bahrain The Russian Film Festival was held at Reel Cinemas Bahrain, Marassi Galleria, as part of the Russian Seasons, and in cooperation with the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities, the Russian Ministry of Culture and ROSKINO
Europe Czech Republic The Czech crown hit a near eight-year high against the US dollar and is at its strongest against the euro in over two years, with notable benefits for those earning a Czech salary and for Czechia-based travelers, challenging investors with foreign assets
Africa Mozambique Two insurgents attacks in two weeks in Mocímboa da Praia can have ethnic grounds, as neighbourhood is largely inhabited by Makonde residents, from the interior of Cabo Delgado, who have historically had tense relations with native Mwani community