Focus on Nigeria’s Aviation sector ahead of Christmas celebration

Ivory Coast, the world's top cocoa producer, is facing mounting demand from Western consumers for ethical chocolate -- a product that is ecologically sound and made without child labour. In a widely publicised operation named Nawa 2, police picked up dozens of children in a crackdown in Soubre, the country's cocoa-producing heartland 400 kilometres (250 miles) west of the economic capital Abidjan.

Hotel and restaurant workers hope Cuba's decision to gradually reopen its border from November 15 will be a boost for business.

In Nigeria, the government has launched a drive to revive the country's once thriving palm oil business, part of a bid to diversify away from petroleum and help create jobs. But small-scale producers say that loans from the Central Bank of Nigeria are only going into the pockets of bigger factory owners.

Nigeria’s economy has not been all rosy for a few years and people’s purchasing power has taken a massive hit as unemployment rates are spiking. The COVID-19 pandemic worsened the situation, plunging the economy into the second recession in less than five years. GuardianTV spoke with these women whose main income comes from driving commercial minibus 'Korope' and tricycle 'Maruwa' through the chaotic road of Lagos, Nigeria to make ends meet.

Chinese property developers have met with a government think tank, amid increasing concern over the real estate sector's heavy debt burden. The liquidity crisis goes well beyond the high-profile firm Evergrande. Also, Australia unveils a €114 million investment aimed at boosting sales of electric vehicles, and Virgin Galactic sells another 100 tickets for sub-orbital space flights.

Since 2018, Portugal has seen a boom in farming, made possible in large part due to cheap labour from Asia run by mafia networks. Migrant charities estimate that around 30,000 Indian, Nepali, Thai and Pakistani labourers work on broccoli fields, pick berries and tomatoes in greenhouses or pick grapes in vineyards. In return they receive poor salaries and face difficult living conditions. Our regional correspondents report.

International travel picked up over the summer, but Covid-19 is still expected to cost the global tourism industry some €1.8 trillion in 2021. Also, French finance minister Bruno Le Maire remains optimistic about the recovery despite concerns over the Omicron variant, and farmers in India continue their protest movement despite concessions from the government.

France is home to some of the biggest luxury brands in the world. While many everyday businesses have struggled to bounce back from the health crisis, it’s been just the opposite for the most exclusive French labels. Jean-Noël Kapferer, professor emeritus of marketing, talks us through the success of luxury brands bouncing back from the pandemic. We also see how the luxury sector is making its way into the second-hand market, bringing in a whole new clientele.

Germany is Europe's economic powerhouse, with fantastic medical facilities and highly qualified professionals. But the fourth wave of the pandemic is threatening to bring the health care sector to its knees.

Bavaria's restaurants struggle to find staff as the sector slowly recovers.The problem is unlikely to go away anytime soon.

Western nations have agreed on more economic sanctions against Russia, but the energy sector is a delicate issue, says Theresa Fallon, director of the Centre for Russia Europe Asia Studies.

Crude oil futures touched 13-year highs on Monday as the US and UK signalled a willingness to include the previously untouched Russian energy sector in sanctions. Meanwhile, more US firms and Chinese social media giant TikTok are suspending Russian operations, and new UK laws to sanction Russian oligarchs could mean big changes for London's luxury real estate market.