America Panama A tanker paid a record $5,3 million for priority passage through the Panama Canal before the number of daily transits will be reduced due to the El Niño weather phenomenon; rainfall deficits and drought deplete water reserves needed to operate the canal
Europe Lithuania Vilnius outcompeted world 600 cities and won USD 1 million in the 2021–2022 Global Mayors Challenge thank to the project of making the city ‘an open school’, with a number of learning stations to ensure the learning process in unpredictable circumstances
America Guatemala The charity organization Casa Guatemala has inaugurated the school year by opening their school registration with a fee of only US$4, thus giving hundreds of local children the opportunity to receive an education regardless of their families’ background
Asia Vietnam Thousands of people joined in mourning yesterday to pay tribute to the late Vietnamese monk and peace activist Thich Nhat Hanh, credited with bringing mindfulness to the West
Europe France A new pristine coral reef has been discovered in Tahiti, French Polynesia, at a depth of over thirty metres; experts believe that knowing its secrets could help save and protect other ecosystems, thus representing a great sign of hope for the future
Africa Madagascar Heavy floods triggered by torrential rains hit Antananarivo, leaving hundreds of displaced and at least 10 dead according to the national disaster risk management office
Asia Oman At a cost of OMR 155 million (US$ 400 million), the Sultanate today celebrates the inauguration of the Ibri solar power plant; the facility is in line with Vision 2040 to invest in available opportunities and protect natural resources
Africa Gabon Artist Pamela Badjogo has released her second album; the singer is proud of her Bantu heritage, seeking to introduce the world to the polyphony of Bantu voices, combining traditional style with a contemporary touch
Oceania Papua New Guinea Australia will provide A$580 million, about US$418 million, to the country to upgrade strategic ports; the deal will serve to enable and support Papua New Guinea's sovereignty, independence and self-sufficiency according to the Australian PM
Africa Burkina Faso There were clashes in the capital during a demonstration, banned by the authorities, organised by the Sauvons le Burkina (Save Burkina) movement, group that also staged a protest on 27/11 against the president's failure to quell jihadist violence
Asia Uzbekistan Remittances to the country totaled US$8 billion in 2021, +34% in comparison to the previous year
Europe Estonia For the first time, the Estonian Aviation Academy has opened admissions to two international fee-based curricula, Commercial Air Transport Pilot and Commercial Aviation Management; successful completion of the studies confers an engineering degree
Europe Montenegro The country ended 2021 with more than 1 million mobile users, up almost 4% year-on-year, according to the Agency for Electronic Communications and Postal Activity
America Chile Fima, an NGO, installed an ice sculpture at the Chilean Museum of Fine Arts to emphasize how the new constitution - that is yet in progress - needs to address climate change in an urgent manner