Africa Somalia New EU VISA restrictions make it more difficult for Somalis to travel to the bloc; the recently approved measures intensify an ongoing dispute with Mogadishu over the return of Somalis living irregularly in the EU
Africa Madagascar A new 0,5% tax on mobile money transactions exceeding 150.000 ariary (€0,03), announced by the Directorate General of Taxes, prompted a strong reaction from Madagascar's three main mobile money operators
Europe Luxembourg According to an OECD report, one in four premature deaths in Luxembourg, or before the age of 75, is related to cancer, the leading cause of mortality in the country and a significant public health challenge
Africa Kenya In his State of the Nation address, President Ruto said he had blown the procurement process for the expansion of Nairobi's main airport and a multi-million dollar power line deal with Indian group Adani
Oceania Palau A government proposed plan to allow fishing in 50% of Palau waters (now 20%) has heated a debate that is becoming one key issue dividing voters in this year’s general elections, which will take place on 5 November
Europe Switzerland From January 1, 2025, it will be forbidden to cover the face in public places throughout Switzerland; violations can be fined up to CHF1.000 (about $1.143); the new law does not apply in diplomatic premises and exceptions span from art to health reasons
Asia Turkmenistan In honor of the 300th anniversary of the great Turkmen poet Magtymguly Fragi, an unusual competition of artists was held in Urgench: participants created a portrait of the classic from memory after viewing the original for five minutes
Europe Finland One in four men in Finland under the age of 35 believe women may be deserving of violence due to behaviour or how they dress, showed survey on men's attitude commissioned by the Coalition of Finnish Women's Associations; it called findings "alarming"
Africa Chad A MoU was signed with neighboring Libya aimed to enhance joint cooperation in several areas, including moving workforce, protecting the rights of workers and employers and organize the presence of Chadian labor in Libya legally
Asia Palestine Pre-Trial Chamber I of the International Criminal Court, in its composition for the Situation in the State of Palestine, unanimously issued a warrant of arrest for Hamas leader Mohammed Diab Ibrahim Al-Masri, for war crimes committed from at least 7 10 23
Africa Zimbabwe Unemployment is the most important problem that Zimbabweans want their government to address, new Afrobarometer survey indicates; citizens’ other top priorities are food shortage, health, education, water supply, corruption and management of the economy
Europe Ukraine According to President Volodymyr Zelensky, Russian leader Vladimir Putin is using Ukraine as a weapons testing ground
Asia Singapore Tailored on Asians, the Centre for Advanced Metabolic Imaging is addressing the gap in diagnostics, traditionally based on Caucasian body types; with cutting-edge technology like 320-slice CT scans, it provides more accurate heart and metabolic diagnoses
Europe Sweden Four out of ten social workers responding to a union survey say they have been subjected to threats or violence in the past two years, Swedish Radio News reports