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
Europe Lithuania The Tripartite Council, representing the government, employers and trade unions, agreed that the monthly minimum wage should be increased from January 2024, but failed to agree on the amount
Asia South Korea A survey conducted with 130 presidents of universities showed 52,7% saw attracting foreign students as a key to secure operations of their institutes, as more and more universities in South Korea face financial crises due to a shrinking student population
Europe Slovakia The disputed reform of local public television, has been approved by parliament; it provides for greater government control over the media and against it protests for the freedom of expression had been organised in recent months
Africa Tunisia European tourists will no longer be able to enter only with an identity card ss of 1 January 2025, and passports will be compulsory for all regardless of the type of trip; tourism professionals fear that this could be a brake for customers
America Brazil FAO and the Brazilian government celebrated 15 years of the Brazilian School Feeding Law, a global model that currently serves 40 million students daily
Oceania Tonga The first National Standards Roadmap was launched at the Liku'alofa Centre in Tofoa, contributing to the implementation of quality standards for development in Tonga, in collaboration with Pacer Plus and Standards Australia
Europe Portugal The PS Madeira party has submitted a proposal to the regional parliament to open an international public tender for the concession of a maritime connection via ferry between the region and the continent
Asia Jordan 68 burial permits, at the request of their families, have been granted to Jordanian pilgrims to be buried in Mecca, thus facilitating concerned Saudi authorities that have begun the procedures for burying pilgrims who died in the country
Africa Kenya More protests took place against the controversial tax bill that provides for tax increases that opposers claim will raise the cost of living for people already struggling to make ends meet
Africa Togo In Lomé there are more than 500 children between the ages of 5 and 17 wandering the streets, as shown by the results of a survey presented by the National Human Rights Commission; 52% are Togolese, the others are Niger, Burkinabé, Beninese and Nigerians
Africa Guinea-Bissau The city council of Maputo, Mozambique, handed over the keys of the city to the president of Guinea-Bissau, Umaro Sissoco Embaló, in a ceremony boycotted by the Mozambican opposition, which considers the Guinean head of state 'not a good example'
Oceania Micronesia Elina Resepwil and Martha Asher are the first young UN national volunteers at the WHO North Micronesia National Liaison Office that will leverage community engagement to increase measles-mumps-rubella vaccination in the Federated States of Micronesia
Africa Nigeria 7 million Nigerian girls have been vaccinated against the papilloma virus in the last two weeks thanks to collaboration with UNICEF and WHO