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 Botswana A total of 98 children were born on 1 January 2025, more than doubling last year's 46 children; the figure is seen as a good omen after President Duma Boko recently announced new programmes to encourage citizens to generate more children
Europe Austria The liberal party NEOS announced the abandonment of negotiations to form a coalition government together with the centre-right People's Party and the centre-left Social Democratic Party; in September the extreme right failed to form a coalition government
Europe Montenegro Montenegro is holding three days of mourning after a gunman killed 12 people, including two children, in the city of Cetinje – the worst mass shooting in the country’s history; the perpetrator of the murders committed suicide
America Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Government called on global leaders to urgently negotiate peace, writing in quest for justice, security, prosperity for all humanity, grounded in the fundamental tenets of international law, precepts of the Charter of the UN and multilateral engagement
Asia India The removal of 337 tonnes of toxic waste left in a factory in Bhopal, where the worst industrial disaster ever occurred in 1984, has been completed; the disaster had killed several thousand people and caused serious health problems for many more
Africa South Sudan Malual Bol Kiir, a South Sudanese Peace and Human rights activist, has made public his wishes for a 2025 of hope, renewal, and collective resolve calling for a responsible, active role of the people to set a lasting foundation for peace and prosperity
Asia Jordan As Jordan braces for its winter peak, authorities have implemented precautionary measures to help farmers safeguard their livelihoods against the challenges posed by frost and heavy rainfall, as this year’s unpredictable conditions have amplified concerns
Africa Comoros More than 108.000 direct beneficiaries will benefit from the activities of the 'Agricultural Value Chain' project, launched in Idjinkudzi, Dimani region, to strengthen agricultural systems and climate-smart value chains
Europe Bulgaria In the historic town of Koprivshtitsa, 591 songbirds of a protected species died due to stress caused by fireworks on New Year's Eve, environmentalists from 'Green Balkans' reported
Europe Latvia AirBaltic is forced to cancel 19 routes and reduce operations on other 21, for a total of 4.670 flights cancelled from all its bases for summer 2025, losing over 67.000 passengers, due to shortage of engines and maintenance service of its A220-300 planes
Africa Egypt Egypt's population grew by 1,4 million in 2024 to 107.205.591, an increase of 1,3%, according to data provided by the demographic watch of the Central Agency for Public Mobilisation and Statistics
Africa Ghana Ghana became the fifth African country to apply visa-free travel for all African passport holders, joining Rwanda, Seychelles, Gambia and Benin; the new policy follows the introduction of chip-embedded passports and is expected to take effect early 2025
Europe Serbia Like their parents challenging Milosevic’s regime in the 1990s, university students have taken to the streets to change what they see as the corruption, secrecy and deception endemic in the Serbian government; younger pupils have now joined protests