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
Asia Thailand The Thai National Identity Committee has announced that Thailand will officially recognise the iconic 'wai' gesture, a traditional Buddhist greeting of joining palms in a prayer-like gesture, as a fundamental part of its national identity
Asia Laos A new agroforestry coffee plantation project dedicated to promoting sustainable agriculture and environmental conservation is about to take off to create a prototype coffee plantation for local farmers, implementing the agroforestry rotation system
Asia Uzbekistan The 'sandal', a low wooden table covered with a blanket and equipped with a heat source underneath, is becoming popular in modern Uzbekistan due to the country's energy crisis
Europe Montenegro The Montenegrin Environmental Protection Agency stated that the China Road and Bridge Corporation has not yet rectified the damage done to the Tara River, part of which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, during the construction of the Bar-Boljare motorway
America Brazil Western donors to the Amazon Fund have warned Brazil against using it to pave a major road in the rainforest; the German government, the fund's second-biggest donor, stated that supporting such a project is against the fund's rules
Europe Slovenia The country will participate in the proceedings starting next month, in which the UN General Assembly will request an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice on the legality of Israel's actions in the occupied Palestinian territories
Europe Luxembourg The number of new cars registered in Luxembourg rose last year by 16%, after a historic drop in 2022, although volumes remain below pre-pandemic levels and delays continue to affect vehicle delivery
Asia Malaysia The application for a temporary amendment of the festive licence, open from 5 January to 5 February 2024, is limited to economy express bus services and buses less than 10 years old, the Land Public Transport Agency stated
Asia Singapore Singaporeans are less happy today than 5 years ago, but those who have a more balanced outlook on life are more satisfied, says a National University of Singapore survey; from 2016 to 2022, Singaporeans enjoyed life less and experienced a less fulfilment
America Bolivia On January 11th, Bolivia celebrated the ancestral activity of chewing of coca leaves, known as the "Day of Acullico" — President Luis Arce, a proponent of removing coca leaves from the list of controlled substances, led the ceremony in major cities
Europe Lithuania The European Commission has allocated almost €10 million to strengthen the refugee reception system in Lithuania, to improve infrastructure and to implement more projects
Europe Slovakia The International Women's Club of Bratislava, founded in 1991, now brings together 110 women from over 30 countries around the world, along with the established circle of Slovak women
Africa Tanzania The country will participate, for the first time in its history, in Venice Art Biennale 2024, from 20 April to 24 November; Tanzania pavilion will be hosted in the Fabbrica del Vedere with artists Happy Robert, Naby, Haji Chilonga and Lute Mwakisopile