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
Africa Ivory Coast Chef Melanie Zenaib Bancé has not left the cooker since 17 December to conquer the Guinness Book of Cooking Marathon; the goal is to make 16.000 dishes from 293 menus from all regions of the country, that will be donated to needy people and hospitals
America Barbados Two cases of Oropouche virus, both involving adults, were officially reported; the Pan American Health Organization had recently raised concerns about the spread of Oropouche virus in the Americas, along with dengue and avian flu
America Antigua and Barbuda The Salvation Army launched its annual Christmas hamper distribution programme, with the aim of providing basic necessities to almost 1.000 families; 2024 was the first time this included Barbuda in 60 years
Asia Jordan The Royal Hashemite Documentation Centre has published a historical document dated 10 April 1938 on the occasion of the World Arabic Language Day, showing H. M. King Abdullah I's, the founding king, devotion to Arabic and his dedication to preserving it
Africa eSwatini An unprecedented record number of people were seen at this year's Incwala Main Day, held at the Royal Residence in Ludzidzini - Incwala Festival is most important cultural event in Eswatini, a ceremony that has lasted for hundreds of years
Asia East Timor East Timor signed a visa waiver agreement with Bangladesh to strengthen bilateral ties as East Timor President Jose Ramos-Horta was on a three-day visit to Dhaka
Africa Algeria The MyGeocycle platform was launched in Algeria by Holcim Geocycle, a major step forward in solid waste management to digitise and optimise waste collection, transport and treatment
America Saint Vincent and the Grenadines The red and black angus beef cattle have been introduced to increase the productivity of St Vincent and the Grenadines national herd; SVG is currently the largest exporter of live animals in the OECS, its main market being Grenada
Europe Germany Amid workforce shortages, healthcare leaders hope Syrian doctors working in Germany will decide to stay; they return to motherland after the fall of Bashar al-Assad in Syria would have a hard impact on the health system
Oceania Papua New Guinea A young woman has started an online business to help her parents pay for her tuition fee; the ‘boutique’ sells locally made, heritage-style garments and accessories and is going online to reach customers out of her physical range
Asia North Korea The US has warned that Russia seems close to accepting North Korea as a nuclear weapon state in a context of increasing military cooperation between the allies
Asia South Korea Novelist Han Kang won the 2024 Nobel Prize in Literature for her poetic prose addressing historical trauma and humanity’s fragility; her works, including famous 'The Vegetarian and Human Acts', explore violence, love, and resilience
America Grenada Soroptimist International Grenada concluded the project 'Empowering Girls in Grenada to Navigate Their Periods with Dignity' which aimed to provide essential support to young women to manage menstrual health with confidence