Asia Brunei The Basic Haj and Umrah Course 1448H/2026M has began at selected mosques nationwide to equip prospective haj and umrah pilgrims with essential knowledge on the rites and provide physical, spiritual and mental guidance
America Paraguay Paraguay remains cut off from Chile: the border closure caused by extreme weather has left nearly a hundred vehicles and truckers with cargo stuck at the frontier; Susques Hospital is assisting dozens stranded by snow at Paso de Jama
Europe Norway Norwegian air traffic controllers called off the strike they had launched last week, impacting tourist and business flights; Their labour organization came to terms with state aviation agency Avinor after nearly six hours of renewed negotiations
Africa Mozambique Maputo Central Hospital, the largest in Mozambique, treated over 3.000 road accident cases in the first half of this year, ten of whom died, amid concerns over an increase in accidents involving motorbikes
Asia Kyrgyzstan The bodies of two foreign climbers who went missing early this month below Korumdu Peak have been found by rescuers dropped by helicopter at 4.300m, search for third member still ongoing; on the ascent of the 6.613 meters peak, a storm caught the team
Africa Ethiopia The Ethiopian Sugar Industry Group ESIG posted comprehensive losses of 5,4 billion Birr (€28 million) for 2024; while a number of its members are recovering, climate, government’s indecisiveness and financial pressure over suspended sugar projects persist
Asia Israel A man was shot dead at a Caesarea gas station was identified as the person described in Hebrew media as the head of Israel’s Caucasian Mafia; well known to police, he had been repeatedly arrested on suspicion of violent crimes but never convicted
Africa Guinea-Bissau Writer, biologist and researcher Queita Embaló has published Kingdom of Gabú, his first literary work; dedicated to Mandinga Royalty, a political and historical formation in the region, it also explores aspects related to their legacies
Africa Ivory Coast Evangelicals pastors are more and more involved in politics, town councillors, presidential candidates: Ivorian evangelicalism is putting down roots across parties, raising questions about balance between spiritual calling and electoral ambition
Africa Lesotho The Lesotho Taekwondo Association has confirmed that taekwondo star, Michelle Tau, is no longer a Lesotho athlete after formally requesting to represent South Africa and subsequently being released by the association
Europe Liechtenstein The Royal House announced that the rules of succession will be changed so that a woman could in the future inherit the principality's throne
Europe Malta The Floriana Local Council will close its doors today in a symbolic protest over the locality's worsening depopulation crisis; the one-day shut down aims to raise public awareness after years of unsuccessful call on authorities to address the issue
Asia Kazakhstan A national credit rating agency will be established as part of a broader effort to develop Kazakhstan domestic capital market; its success will depend on the creation of a new regulator-approved rating system, the confidence of investors and risk pricing
America Ecuador 40.000 women entered the ‘Futuro Femenino’ higher education scholarship program, aiming to guarantee the right to quality higher education for women, specially prioritizing women with disabilities, victims of gender violence, people in limited resources