Looking forwards, looking back with our correspondents in Brussels, Paris, Kyiv and Berlin. Plus a special feature-length focus on The West-Eastern Divan Orchestra at 25.

The African Union's inclusion in the G20 represents a significant shift in global governance and the continent's place at the big table. With concerns of the Global South often appearing to be ignored, will Africa's voice be capable of shaping policies that directly impact its future when it comes to issues like debt relief, and trade reforms like climate change?

Several global events will occur across Africa in 2025. Why should that matter to Africa, and how should it reposition itself amid global challenges?

In 2024, Kenya and Uganda both experienced civil unrest and protests, as citizens tried to hold their governments accountable. So what were the highs and the lows of 2024 in both countries? And what lies ahead in 2025? We're talking to Shikoh Kihika, a youth activist from Kenya and Frank Yiga, DW correspondent in Kampala, Uganda to assess why East African countries dominate the news agenda.

The year 2024 has been a turbulent one in Africa's hotspots and volatile regions like eastern DRC and the English-speaking regions in Cameroon. DW's Eddy Micah Jr. talks to Ivan Mugisha, a social and political commentator on the Great Lakes region, and Jean Marie Ngong Song, DW's correspondent in Bamenda, Cameroon.

Nigeria faced surging inflation and living costs in 2024 after President Bola Tinubu ended a fuel subsidy, tripling food and transport prices. Once Africa's largest economy, Nigeria grappled with insecurity and hardship. Analyst Adamu Kabiru and DW's Ben Shemang analyze the country's struggles in 2024 and its outlook for 2025.

Before we ring in the New Year, Living Planet has some answers to your listener questions. Which is better for the environment: reusable or paper coffee cups? And what about the water footprint of the meat industry? Does it really take 15,000 liters of water to produce one kilo of beef? Plus, our favorite moments of 2024.

As Russian president Vladimir Putin marks 25 years in power, experts analyze his country’s influence across Africa. So what is Russia’s historical relationship with the continent of Africa, and how is it manifested on the ground today?

The Inside Europe Secret Santa Speed Date Extravaganza! Consenting correspondents have their names drawn out of a hat in pairs. They then have four minutes before the buzzer goes to find out as much as possible about each other as they can. What could possibly go wrong?!

DW correspondents in Kenya, Zambia, and Ghana speak about Christmas in their countries and what ordinary people think about the coming year 2025.