Asia Bangladesh Recent studies demonstrated that microplastics are present in water, sediments, fish, salt, soft drinks, milk, edible oil and more products in Bangladesh, underscoring the growing concern that these pollutants are transferred to humans through food
Africa Sierra Leone Citizens expressed dismay following the release of 2024 Auditor General Report, which shows that one of the key institutions they anticipated could be implicated in the embezzlement of public funds, the Office of the President, was not in the document
Europe Russia Two maritime patrol aircraft have made a 30-hour Arctic flight, including a mid-air tanking that would account a the first-ever North Pole aerial refueling; for the unique mission, the crews reportedly entered the Book of Records of the Armed Forces
Africa Democratic Republic of the Congo Food prices have increased tenfold in Walikale market, as North Kivu is facing rampant inflation hitting households already weakened by the dramatic security crisis; local civil society raised the alarm as food staples like cassava have come unaffordable
Asia Taiwan Many school-aged children in Taiwan take jobs to assist their families, about 20% underpaid or working in unsafe conditions, World Vision Taiwan WVT reported; in underprivileged families 26% of children work while in school, 80% of them for economic help
Europe Croatia Political magazine Globus, admired in the 1990s and 2000s for its independent stance, published its last issue in 2025 and will not update its website in 2026; the Croatian weekly suffered shrinking advertising revenue and collapsing print sales
Africa Sao Tome and Principe To combat gender-based violence and bring justice closer to communities, multi-front actions have been launched with UNDP, local authorities and the civil society in the frame of the project "Proximity Justice: Bringing Justice Closer to the People"
America Brazil Harvesting of açaí berries is being automated, with machines that climb 10-meter trees and can pick up to 500kg in 4 hours, making the process 10 times more efficient and safer than manual labor
Europe Slovenia Police handled 28.200 cases of irregular migration were handed in 2025, -40% on 2024, the lowest number in 4 years; illegal migration has been falling since Slovenia reintroduced controls at its Schengen borders and the measure extends until 21 June 2026
Europe Bulgaria Bulgaria will hold early elections, President Radev announced after the Alliance for Rights and Freedoms became the third party to reject the president’s invitation to form a government to replace the last one which resigned amid widespread protests
Europe Germany A record 1,4 million affordable apartments are currently lacking in Germany, according to latest study by the Pestel Institute; to correct this deficit by 2030, 400.000 units are needed to be built per year while 200.000 are likely to be built annually
America Antigua and Barbuda Health prevention for women will focus on molecular HPV testing as the national cervical cancer task force issued a warning that cervical cancer can grow silently within the body for up to 15 years without a single physical symptom
Oceania Micronesia The first Executive Meeting of 2026 with Cabinet members and key staff set a coordinated agenda for governance and development; focus is on legislative readiness, infrastructure, budget, postal services to the outer islands, international partnerships
Asia Bahrain 128 competitors, 59 male and 69 female, took part in this year's Mutun competition; the event awards the three best in seven categories, each focusing on the memorization and comprehension of foundation texts related to Quranic sciences