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
Asia Kazakhstan From today until 31 October, the Barys Arena in Astana will host the Denis Ten Memorial Challenge, the international figure skating event in memory of the unforgettable Kazakh champion
Europe Slovakia Council of Europe Human Rights Commissioner Dunja Mijatovic has expressed her concerns about a Slovak bill, currently in second reading in Parliament, that aims to make abortions less accessible
Oceania Tonga 1.090 students aged 12 to 17 have been vaccinated with Pfizer since the roll-out in Tongatapu schools began on 21 October
Oceania Solomon Islands A World War II bomb under a family home killed two people and injured two others, and earlier this month a 300-kilogram bomb was safely removed from under another house in Honiara
Asia Qatar The country has announced its commitment to plant one million trees before the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, which will be the first zero-emissions tournament, and to plant 10 million trees by 2030, as part of its support for the Middle East Green Initiative
Oceania Papua New Guinea The Red Cross urges action in the country given the new wave of Covid-19; less than 1% of the population has been fully vaccinated, even though the government anticipated months ago that it would have enough vaccines by now for all those who wanted it
Europe Spain A Burger King in Madrid is going entirely meatless for a month, after teaming up with the Vegetarian Butrcher to offer plant-based food only in order to raise awareness about vegetarian options for people's diets
Asia Oman For the first time in 18 months, Sohar Hospital has no Covid-19 patients currently being treated
Africa South Sudan Parts of the country are experiencing the worst flooding in 60 years and the United Nations is linking the situation to climate change; the livelihoods of 700.000 people - some already facing enormous difficulties - have been impacted
America Saint Lucia The Saint Lucia National Trust recently hosted two stakeholder consultations for an ecological assessment of the Ma Kôté mangrove forest; the team recorded data and collected water and soil samples at various locations to ascertain the cause of the die-of
America Chile Thousands of protesters took to the streets to mark the second anniversary of the first manifestations against inequality that led to the still ongoing re-writing of the Constitution
Africa Lesotho The Vodacom Lesotho Foundation this week delivered 1000 reusable menstrual towels to 10 schools in Mafeteng and Quthing as part of the foundation's Dignity campaign, which aims to provide girls with reusable sanitary towels with a five-year shelf life
Europe Ukraine More than 1.200 people have already been killed and more than 1.000 have been injured in fires in Ukraine this year, the State Emergency Service of Ukraine has reported