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 Ivory Coast A bill to protect the elephants, the country's symbol, has been adopted; compared to about 3.000 in the 1970s and 1980s, there are now only about 500, thus wildlife sanctuaries will be created in national parks and reserves
Europe United Kingdom Medicines are becoming more and more unavailable in the country, with the President of the Association of Independent Multiple Pharmacies stating that the 'situation is the worst ever'; shortage includes drugs to combat cancer and depression
Oceania Fiji A Fijian academic challenged the Pacific region's media and politicians on their coverage of the climate crisis, asking whether the discriminatory style of reporting is a case of climate injustice
Africa Sierra Leone Former Sierra Leonean President Ernest Bai Koroma has been granted permission by a Freetown high court to travel abroad on medical grounds, while being charged with treason and other offences for the failed November coup
Europe Andorra The first meeting of Desir, Cross-Border Cooperation Project with Spain and France for Sustainable Economic Development, focused on strengthening and improving connection, booking and accommodation management and knowledge of protected refuges in Pyrenees
Africa South Sudan South Sudan and Uganda are ready to harmonise grain sampling, testing methods and certification processes to improve bilateral trade, especially for products from the two countries
Oceania Solomon Islands The Japanese Ministry of Defence said it will provide capacity-building aid to the Solomon Islands National Police for the disposal of unexploded shells
Asia Afghanistan The United Nations Development Programme for Afghanistan has presented a socio-economic report highlighting that restrictions on women's rights and the weakening of the banking system are urgent problems that require international cooperation
Asia Armenia Armenia held 13th Human Rights Dialogue in Yerevan with EU, focusing this year on gender equality and non-discrimination, freedom of assembly, expression and information, electoral and constitutional reform, refugee rights and strengthening labour rights
Europe Sweden Sweden's new right-wing government is distancing itself from the goals of the UN2030 Agenda, a crucial change in the country's approach to environmental and sustainability issues
Asia Tajikistan The Kazakh authorities sent the innovative Bark VibroLUNG medical equipment to health workers in Tajikistan after 40 Tajik specialists, including some pulmonologists, attended a special training course in Kazakhstan on how to use the device
America Saint Kitts and Nevis The package of good governance laws passed in 2023 by the National Assembly of St. Kitts and Nevis was highly rated by Adlai Smith, Director of Public Prosecutions, being the strongest in the Caribbean
Europe Austria A political party born as a joke, the Beer Party, has announced that it will participate in this year's parliamentary elections, stating that it could make "a positive contribution in Parliament"