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
Africa Niger The Autorité de Régulation des Communications Electroniques et de la Poste has equipped the third district of Niamey with a new cybercafé with modern equipment including computers, printers and photocopiers
Africa Mauritania In early September, Mauritania became the 12th country on the continent to reach the WHO target of vaccinating at least 10% of the population by the end of the month; by 7 October, more than 580.000 people had been fully vaccinated, 12% of the population
Oceania Kiribati Together with Kazakhstan, the country adopted a joint declaration to the UN on the rehabilitation of territories affected by nuclear tests; obligations include assisting residents and rehabilitating the environment
Oceania Solomon Islands The National Referral Hospital would recruit overseas doctors if circumstances are difficult, the CEO said, as 17 NRH doctors are still firm on their views of not getting the vaccine, some of whom are in very senior clinical positions
Europe Hungary The Hungarian passport enters the top ten of the Henley Passport Index, rating the best passports in the world: allowing holders to visit 183 destinations without a visa, it sits in 9th position
Asia Tajikistan A non-food items warehouse with stocks for cross-border emergency situations in Kushoniyon district, Khatlon province has been opened by UNDP and the country's Emergency Situations Committee
Europe Austria Vienna airport has started building what will be the largest photovoltaic power plant in the country, with the aim of meeting almost a third of its annual electricity consumption with solar energy
Africa Uganda The country will benefit from the US$1 million Survivor Leadership Fund to combat slavery and human trafficking; each survivor-led organization will be eligible for up to $15,000 contribute, with a wide range of possibilities on how to use it
Africa Cape Verde General elections are held today, with outgoing President Jorge Carlos Fonseca indicating that the runoff will be held on 31 October; preparations over the last few days have been made in the direction of ensuring a free and fair ballot
Africa Algeria On 17 October 1961, as the Algerian war of independence was coming to an end, the Paris police brutally repressed a demonstration of French Algerians in the heart of the city; today, 60 years after, the people celebrate the remembrance of the fallen
Asia Cambodia The Royal University of Phnom Penh has established the first digitized manufacturing centre that aims to help produce high-capacity resources and training programmes in digital manufacturing at the highest level of quality and precision