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
Africa Ghana Major General Anita Asmah has been appointed as Head of Mission and Force Commander for the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force UNDOF, making her the first African woman to hold this position
Europe Serbia Students and their supporters, including teachers' unions, blocked a major junction and part of the Belgrade-Zagreb motorway, as protests continue, sparked by the deaths caused by an infrastructure collapse at the Novi Sad railway station on 1 November
Africa Sao Tome and Principe The Basta Movement, one of the opposition parties in Sao Tome and Principe, called for the resignation of the government as a 'necessary and long overdue measure' and awaits a new prime minister 'who is up to the country's challenges'
Africa Benin A new attack attributed to jihadist groups in the north, near the border with Niger and Burkina Faso, resulted in the death of 28 soldiers; attacks have increased in the area in recent years, with 121 soldiers killed from 2021 to the end of 2024
Europe Latvia The supervision committee of the Bank of Latvia issued an electronic money institution operating license to company Paytegra, granting the operator the right to issue electronic money and offer payment instruments
Africa Tunisia The 100-seat travelling cinema Cinématdour, run by a private cultural organisation, Agora, and a non-profit organisation, Focus Gabès, continues to tour the country, opening up to those who have no money to pay for a ticket or get to a cinema
Europe Sweden In 2024, Sweden granted the lowest number of residence permits to asylum seekers and their relatives ever recorded; the right-wing government pledged to continue with the reduction policy
Europe Slovenia Slovenians voted genocide (genocid) as the word that most marked 2024, while the sign language gesture of the year is peace and preturizem (overtourism) became the new word of the year 2024
Africa Gabon Four political leaders opposed to the military's transitional management called for the publication of a clear timetable for elections scheduled by August 2025; "failure to publish it immediately will be considered a major obstacle to democratic process"
Africa Ivory Coast The Hôpital Mère-Enfant in Bingerville, near Abidjan, has confirmed the success of the country's very first operation to separate Siamese twins
Asia Afghanistan The South African sports minister joined calls to boycott the cricket match against Afghanistan next month, criticising the International Cricket Council for not following the rules as Talibans disbanded the women's national team and banned women's sports
Africa South Africa The South African Communist Party will participate in local elections as an independent formation; it is the first time in the history of democratic South Africa
Europe Italy The cathedral of Monreale, built in the 12th century under Norman rule, is now fully open after over one year of experts' restoration; it boasts Italy's largest Byzantine-style mosaics, second in the world only to those of Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, Turkey