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
Europe Poland A buffer zone of about 60 km on the border with Belarus has been introduced; in force for 90 days, it is expected to ease the work of the Polish services facing a rise in immigration fluxes
America Brazil With fewer than 100 individuals left, Brazilian conservationists are racing to save the Muñoa’s Pampas cat, one of the world’s most endangered felines, by promoting habitat-preserving ranching, captive-breeding programs, and conservation agreements
America United States The Federal Reserve kept interest rates unvaried postponing expected rate cuts to perhaps as late as December; policymakers envisage an economy that remains virtually unchanged for 2024
Oceania New Zealand A waka tīwai originally used for transport on the Waitotara River was welcomed home in South Taranaki after an absence of 55 years
Africa South Sudan Fundamental requirement of September 2018 peace agreement is the repatriation and resettlement of millions of people forced to flee the 2013 civil war; however, land disputes continue with returning citizens finding occupied homes
Oceania Samoa A body to investigate corrupt practices within the government will soon be established, as the first national anti-corruption policy and strategy was officially launched in Apia
Asia Singapore At only five years old, Abyan Imtiaz Irkiz became the youngest Singaporean to reach Everest base camp, taking eight days, two less than planned
Africa Mauritius A Music Hall in Pamplemousses was inaugurated by President of the Republic Prithvirajsing Roopun, an initiative of the Pamplemousses Village Council in cooperation with the Council of Elders
Asia Myanmar Ruling junta imposed new restrictions on the Internet, banning the use of virtual private networks (VPNs) that will affect the 20 million social media users due to the ongoing clashes
America Costa Rica Costa Rica is leading in Latin America in electronic waste collection per capita, achieving an 8% collection rate (1 kg per inhabitant) despite a regional increase in e-waste generation, significantly outperforming the regional average of 2,7%
Europe Slovenia The house in which Prešeren was born will be restored and reinvented this year; the place were the national poet was born attracts over 20.000 visitors per year, with largest numbers on 8 February, Slovenian Culture Day the anniversary of the poet's death
Asia Saudi Arabia Artificial intelligence technologies are used to improve traffic management and ease congestion in Makkah during the annual Hajj season
America Canada A hotter-than-usual summer is expected, with slightly below-average precipitation in central Canada, government officials said, offering little relief from the ongoing drought and the risk of another bad wildfire season