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
America Colombia Collaboration with Ecuador against human trafficking has strengthened; officials from over 20 institutions in both countries updated their joint action plan to enhance prevention, investigation and support for trafficking victims in the border region
America Costa Rica Costa Rica has become the first country to use artificial intelligence to create its national branding strategy, "Essential Costa Rica," aiming to position itself as a global leader in climate change and sustainability for 2035
Asia Afghanistan USAID announced a contract to sell 600 kg of Afghan saffron to Paris Exposition 2024, worth over $1million; Afghanistan’s Ministry of Industry and Commerce said that saffron cultivation has expanded to 26 provinces following ban on opium poppy cultivation
Africa Algeria Kamel Daoud won Prix Goncourt 2024, the most prestigious French literary award, becoming the first Algerian to win the prize; his novel 'Houris' is a gripping evocation of Algeria's 'black decade' (1992-2002)
Europe Andorra The school in Andorra will phase out iPads and start introducing Chromebooks that will be acquired by the ministry; authorities say the move should limit distracting elements outside the teaching environment
Europe Belgium The Belgian potato will be the focus of the 12th edition of 'Potato Week', which will take place from 8 to 15 November, at the initiative of the Walloon Ministry of Agriculture
Asia Armenia Targeted grants for judicial reform and education will be provided in 2025 in the frame of EU's support program for Armenia, entitled 'Resilience and Development', with a budget of €270 million over four years
Oceania Australia Skyscanner's Travel Trends 2025 report shows that the most popular place Australians want to travel next year is Siem Reap in Cambodia, home to the famous Angkor Wat temple, with a +529% interest; up to now, Japan was the most desired country to visit
Asia Syria Hezbollah is continuing to reduce its presence in Syria by bringing back to Lebanon its fighters who had supported the Syrian regime
Asia Indonesia A female Sumatran elephant, a subspecies of the Asian elephant considered to be at serious risk of extinction, was born in the Buluh China Nature Park in north-west Sumatra; the WWF estimates that there are now only between 2.400 and 2.800 individuals
Africa Namibia Coca-Cola Beverages Africa invested $50 million in a new bottling line in Namibia, which will produce 27.000 bottles per hour, increasing production capacity by 30%
Africa Zimbabwe President Mnangagwa joined the voice of other countries urging the British government to apologise for the century of colonial rule (1890-1980), during which indigenous peoples were dispossessed of their land and subjected to gross abuses
Oceania New Zealand The Royal New Zealand Air Force has welcomed its 4th C-130J-30 Super Hercules transport aircraft in Whenuapai, continuation of a NZ$1,5 billion (US$899,9 million) programme to replace the service's C-130H fleet, which has been operational since the 1960s