Asia Bahrain 394.000 visitors have been registered in state-run heritage sites in January-August 2026, with the Bahrain Fort accounting for 246.409, nearly two thirds of the total, and foreign visitors prevailed with the presence of 187.567 people
America Argentina The legislature of the Argentine province of La Rioja is trying to approve the issuance of an alternative currency called "El Chacho", allocating 30% for the payment of state salaries; the proposal has been endorsed by 32 out of 36 legislators
Asia Georgia Tbilisi Tango, a school teaching the iconic Argentine dance, celebrates its 16th anniversary with the 5th Tbilisi Tango Weekend, to be held from 26 to 28 January
Africa Ethiopia The Arab League also condemned the Ethiopia-Somaliland agreement granting the former access to the latter's ports in exchange for recognition of Hargeisa's independence
Europe Bulgaria The construction of two crucial motorways is about to begin; they will connect the city of Varna to Durankulak, in north-east Bulgaria, and to Silistra, on the Danube
America Saint Vincent and the Grenadines A group of American scientists visiting the country to study different animal groups found three new species of Daddy Longlegs, thus doubling the number of known long-legged species on the island
Africa Liberia New president, Joseph Boakai, was sworn in after his narrow victory in the November 2023 elections; Boakai, who at the age of 79 became the country's oldest president, promised to unite and save Africa's oldest republic from its economic problems
Oceania Tonga An upgrade of Tonga's seismic network will cover five strategically located stations, where infrastructure improvements will help to better monitor and detect earthquakes thanks to work funded by the World Bank through the Pacific Resilience Programme
Europe San Marino A new law passed by Parliament aims to ban smartphones and tablets for children under 11, first and foremost in schools but also and possibly in public places, after a group of teachers had denounced an 'educational emergency'
Asia China The number of foreclosed homes increased by 43% y-o-y in 2023, according to a private survey, highlighting a worrying upward trend in mortgage delinquencies against a backdrop of a prolonged slump in the property market and uneven economic recovery
Africa Cameroon A pilot vaccination programme against malaria is underway, the first of its kind in the world and could represent a breakthrough on the African continent
America Dominica Energy Minister Dr. Vince Henderson said the government is ready to start construction of a 10-kilowatt geothermal power plant to supplement the Dominica Electricity Company's power supply
Asia Saudi Arabia The Prophet's Mosque in Madinah is furnished with more than 25.000 carpets for the comfort of worshippers and pilgrims, Saudi Press Agency reported, mentioning that carpets in the mosque, its courtyards and roof section are sterilised and perfumed daily
America Ecuador The family of Ecuador's most-wanted fugitive, Jose Adolfo Macias "Fito," were arrested in Argentina and deported to Ecuador; Macias, leader of the Los Choneros gang, escaped from prison, triggering gang violence and prompting a state of emergency