Asia Syria Hundreds of Kurdish students in Hassakeh and Kobani refused to enter their classrooms as the 2026–27 school year began, protesting a decision that reduces Kurdish-language instruction to three periods per week, demanding the decision be reversed
America Chile 39.000 tons of unused fast fashion items were dumped in the Atacama desert this year since they contain chemicals that can’t be incorporated into landfills, resulting in huge textile mountains in the middle of the desert and massive pollution
Europe Slovakia Students of the Comenius University in Bratislava marched for free universities, namely to withdraw the current wording of the amendment to the University Act from the legislative process
Africa Benin 26 works of art taken in the 19th century during the colonial era that were on display at the Quai Branly Museum in Paris have been officially handed back to the country in a deed of restitution signed by the culture ministers of the two countries
Asia Taiwan A recent Airbnb survey reports that around 57% of people in the country think that travel has become a lifestyle for them; the average in six other Asia-Pacific countries is around 40%
Asia Thailand In a bid to re-launch the country's reopening, the dates for the Thailand International Boat Show have been confirmed, and it will be held from 6-9 January 2022
Africa Egypt The Suez Canal Authority has decided for a 6% tolls increase from February 2022; tourist ships and liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers will be exempted
America Canada On the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, Remembrance Day will be traditionally observed with official ceremonies across the country
Europe Latvia More than 450 restaurateurs have closed their doors in the country this year because of uncertainty about the future due to the pandemic; some are thinking about new remote format
Africa Togo Local company Kya-Energy Group, with funds provided by the US Agency for Cooperation, will develop the project to electrify 20 health centers using off-grid solar technology to provide lighting, power refrigerators for vaccines, sterilizers, etc
Asia Vietnam The country's first metro has gone into service in Hanoi, ending a 10-year project that has been dogged by delays and rising costs; a second line is expected to open in 2023
Europe Germany The government has estimated the cost of the July floods at €29 billion, making them one of the most destructive natural disasters in the country's history; the figures were provided in the application for financial assistance from the EU Solidarity Fund
Africa Ghana In the Absa Africa Financial Markets Index, which monitors the growth of the economy and the strength of its market, the country made it into the top five for the first time, placing fourth with an overall score of 62/100
America United States US food banks, already dealing with increased demand from families sidelined by the pandemic, now face the new challenge of surging food prices and supply chain issues walloping the nation