Africa Cameroon In an unprecedented disruption to academic calendar, the Ministry ordered the immediate rescheduling of all remaining papers for the ongoing 2026 examination session after a severe security breach compromised confidential materials across digital networks
America El Salvador Congress has approved a law that would end the country's seven-year-old ban on mining for metals: president Nayib Bukele pushed to lift the ban, imposed in 2017 due to environmental concerns, claiming the country has vast gold deposits
Europe Netherlands Traffic congestion in the Netherlands increased by 8% last year, according to new data from the ANWB motoring organisation, based on information from TomTom satellite navigation systems
Europe Norway Although the price of stamps has increased over the years, postal revenues do not cover the costs of delivery to residential addresses; daily delivery has already been discontinued and Norwegians only receive mail at home two or three days a week
America Mexico Mexico will open 25 shelters for deported migrants to house Mexican citizens for a few days before sending them to their hometowns, in response to expected US deportations under the Trump administration
America Guatemala A 6% minimum wage increase for textile factories and 10% for other sectors has been announced, based on technical analysis and sector consultations
Oceania Micronesia The Micronesian Climate Change Alliance announced the recipients of community grants for food sovereignty and energy democracy in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
America Panama US President-elect Donald Trump has threatened to reclaim control of the Panama Canal, criticizing Panama’s toll fees as excessive and warning against alleged Chinese influence, despite China's lack of administrative control over the canal
Africa Guinea-Bissau The Ghanaian ECOWAS contingent offered a solidarity lunch to the children and staff of the 'Lar de Vida - Betel' orphanage in the Quelele district on the outskirts of the Guinean capital Bissau
America Cuba Former players Lázaro Junco and Lázaro de la Torre lead the teams from Matanzas and Havana, respectively, for the 150th anniversary tribute game of the first official baseball game in Cuba
Asia Laos Houaphanh Province,will recognize Tai Daeng singing and Pa Bum sauce as cultural heritage on 30 December; Tai Daeng features traditional instruments in ceremonies, while Pa Bum is a fermented fish sauce central to local cuisine
Asia China The World Bank, in its latest economic update on China, revised upwards - even though minimally - its economic growth forecast for 2024 to 4,9%
America Dominican Republic The Dominican government, through the Ministry of Energy and Mines, signed a memorandum of understanding with the French Development Agency to launch a three-year technical cooperation programme to support a sustainable and equitable energy transition
America Chile Doctors have warned of a growing health crisis among children in Antofagasta's mining region, citing rising autism and cancer rates linked to pollution from copper mining, a key industry in Chile