Asia Sri Lanka Unprecedented visitors' arrivals have been registered in 2026, marking a strong recovery in numbers; However, the tourism boom has not translated into higher earnings, as shorter stays and lower spending per visitor have led to declining dollar revenues
Europe Romania The movie Fjord, a cultural clash drama about a Romanian immigrant family integrating into a Norwegian village, directed by Cristian Mungiu, won the Palme d'Or for Best Film at the international 79th Cannes Film Festival
Europe Montenegro Former head of Montenegro’s Anti-Corruption Agency ASK, Jelena Perovic, was sentenced to 26 months in prison for abuse of office and falsifying an official document, her deputy, Nina Paovic, to 6 months of house arrest for abuse of office; both were fined
America Saint Lucia Saint Lucia is a model for public debt management among Small Island Developing States; the recognition comes from the Commonwealth Secretariat following reforms carried out by the Island's Department of Finance
Oceania Vanuatu The Vanuatu Government says it remains committed to rebuilding national carrier Air Vanuatu, but warns that future financial support must come with major structural reforms to avoid repeating past losses
Africa Tanzania The global shock caused by disrupted global energy and freight flows due to the closure of Strait of Hormuz are accelerating structural shifts that could redirect investment towards emerging markets such as Tanzania, stakeholders and policymakers said
America Suriname Persistent rainfall will result in the flooding of fields and airstrips, National Coordination Center for Disaster Control said, making it impossible to reach remote areas that depend on planes for food, portable water, medical aid and other essentials
Asia Turkmenistan “Architecture. Innovation. Sustainable Development” was the theme of the XXV International Exhibition and Conference White City Ashgabat 2026, a platform for discussing critical aspects of sustainable urban development and infrastructure in the region
Africa Sierra Leone In open letter to President Bio, the opposition leader stressed that Spanish Interior Minister linked “Mocro Mafia” to the MV Arconian investigation and said presence of fugitive Bolle Jos in Sierra Leone indicates organized transnational criminal links
Europe Netherlands Bird flu outbreaks have been confirmed in Friesland and Flevoland, forcing the culling of over 135.000 birds
Africa Gabon Gabon returned to continental diplomacy after taking part in the African Union Coordination Meeting; The government said the renewed engagement marks the normalization of ties with African partners following its suspension after the 2023 coup
Oceania New Zealand An award-winning Auckland bakery has temporarily closed after receiving E-grade, the lowest possible food safety rating for a risk associated with its pest control
Asia Kazakhstan As mountain tourism grows, rescuers, tourism officials and mountaineers are raising concerns about increasing number of unprepared hikers venturing into dangerous terrain influenced by social media; mandatory registration for tourists is being considered
Africa Mali Trade with China increased by 170% thanks to customs exemption; figures have been revealed during a press conference, as the Ambassador of PRC discussed the advantages of zero customs tariffs for Mali