Asia Georgia The EU annual Report on Human Rights and Democracy in the World noted “severely curtailed” human rights in Georgia, reduced bilateral political contacts and dialogue between Brussels and Tbilisi amid “significant democratic backsliding”
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
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
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'
Oceania Australia The UN Human Rights Committee has ruled that Australia has violated the rights of asylum seekers held in migrant centres set up by its government in neighbouring countries, in breach of its international treaty obligations
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
Africa Sudan There are 3,2 million children under 5 years of age who suffer from hunger in the country, of whom about 772.000 are expected to suffer from severe acute malnutrition, said Eva Hinds, Unicef Sudan's Protection and Communications Officer
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
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
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 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 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 Greece After years of reporting by NGOs and newspapers, the European Court of Human Rights has recognised for the first time as a 'systematic practice' the refoulement of migrants trying to enter Greece from Turkey, an illegal practice under the law