Europe United Kingdom The Labour Government is set to close down migrant hotels, moving residents to former military barracks; the new policy follows recent criticism on PM Starmer's immigration policies after new official figures showed asylum claims hitting a record high
Africa Zambia Thousands of University of Zambia students were hosted at State House and introduced their newly elected student leadership for the academic year; President Hichilema emphasized that education remains a cornerstone of his development agenda
Europe Portugal The derailment of Gloria funicular, one of Lisbon landmarks, at evening's rush hour, resulted in at least 15 casualties and a number of injured, including locals and foreigners; the city's other funicular railways have been shut for inspections
Oceania Tonga An official tree planting ceremony at the St George Building recognised Tonga's commitment to hosting the Pacific Resilience Facility, during a visit of a technical mission from the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat
Asia Singapore Singapore announced it will host the World Bank’s ICSID Investment Disputes Centre first office outside the United States; the new hub will handle investor-state arbitration cases in the region and provide related training
Asia Kyrgyzstan Volume of pharmaceutical production in Kyrgyzstan in the first 7 months of 2025 has increased by 2,4 times on 2024 figures, driving the country's industrial production growth compared to January–July 2024
Asia China Over 12.000 Chinese troops participated in the parade celebrating the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second Sino-Japanese War and World War II; the leaders of China, Russia and North Korea have appeared in public together for the first time
Africa Niger Women of the collective "Keki Bon Sé" in Dosso are building their financial empowerment through the processing and marketing of peanut-based products, an income-generating activity that is booming in this area of Niger and throughout the country
Europe Spain Thousands of supporters flocked to the Barcelona on Sunday 31 August pier to salute the departing Global Sumud Flotilla carrying aid for Israeli-blockaded Gaza; the convoy was then forced to return to port due to storm and set sails again this week
Europe Sweden The 'cultural canon', or the list deemed to define what it means to be Swedish, was unveiled; part of the election manifesto of the right-wing and nationalist parties, it includes Pippi Longstocking, IKEA and the Nobel Prize, but not the Abba
Asia Iraq Mosul, 2.500-year-old city whose landmarks were hit by ISIS destruction, has seen the completion of a seven-year restoration of l Nuri Mosque and its leaning minaret, along with the churches of Our Lady of the Hour Convent and Al Tahera, a UAE-led project
Europe Montenegro New navy breast badges depicting the ship Jadran, The Adriatic, sparked Croatia's resentment and a claim for $2 billion for “illegally seized military property”; this was of words is rooted in unease over the rise of a pro-Serbian faction in Montenegro
America Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Over 50 schools have undergone repairs, construction or upgrades under the School Summer Repair Programme; among upgrades are major improvements at the Emmanuel High School, where works are underway in the science laboratory
Europe Bulgaria Von der Leyen’s trip to Bulgaria included a visit to state-owned weapons plant in Sopot, where expansion is planned for a thousand new workplaces; as she praised aid given to Ukraine’s defence, supporters of Revival and Greatness party staged a protest