Europe Montenegro Montenegro will be first country to join the European Union under the new safeguards designed to ensure all new members uphold agreed democratic standards, preventing backsliding on the bloc’s values
Africa Ethiopia Connected Banking Summit was held in Addis Abeba, confirming Ethiopia’s will to advance towards digital finance; the annual event has seen 112 countries represented so far and 10.000 partnerships signed
Africa Equatorial Guinea A court convicted a son of the President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo for illegally selling off a plane belonging to Equatorial Guinea's national airline, a court official said, ordering six years in jail unless he compensates the state for the aircraft
Africa Malawi Thin plastics have been addressed in Kasungu, with the Malawi Environmental Protection Authority warning residents and traders to abandon outlawed products or face legal action, supporting alternatives as paper or cloth bags and biodegradable packaging
Africa Djibouti Back-to-school sees a ferment of families getting ready, schools refurbished, trafficked streets; ministry stressed new year is an opportunity to elevate quality supporting rural areas, guarantee equity reducing disparities, integrate digital technology
Asia Taiwan A new employment support program targeting age 15-29 entering the job market for the first time will begin on 1 September, raising monthly allowances to NT$6,000 (US$196) and offering additional incentives for those getting stable employment
Africa Nigeria The Nigeria Immigration Service has doubled the cost of acquiring the Nigerian international passport from N50.000 to N100.000, slightly under €56, for a 32-page passport with 5-year validity; new tariffs will be effective starting 1 September 2025
Africa Kenya The Kenyan Revenue Authority will not require salaried workers to file annual tax returns manually; thank to the integration of its internal systems, salaried workers will just be required to key their national ID number into the taxman's system
Africa Libya The UN Special Representative to Libya Hanna Tetteh presented to the Security Council a new roadmap aimed at resuming the political process and holding general elections, emphasizing the urgency to end transitional phase and unify the divided institutions
Europe Ukraine Kyiv was attacked yesterday with missiles and drones that killed at least 18 people, including children; the largest since the Alaska meeting, it also targeted British offices in the capital and showed that peace talks haven't brought peace any closer
Africa Sao Tome and Principe Moratorium on the use of plastic bags has ended: a public awareness campaign announced that starting in September the use of plastic bags will be officially banned in São Tomé and Príncipe; inspections and sanctions will begin in the last quarter of 2025
Asia Sri Lanka Sri Lanka Air Force has warned the public regarding the potential dangers of flying kites near airport premises; kite flying, a popular activity in the country, in the vicinity of runways can be cited as one of the main causes of accidents in the world
Africa Burundi Qatar's Al Mansour Holding, spanning infrastructure, mining, banking, tourism, agriculture, cybersecurity, reaffirmed its commitment to invest in Burundi during an official meeting in Bujumbura with President Ndayishimiye
America Uruguay A civic-military parade and official ceremony led by President Yamandú Orsi have marked Uruguay's 200th anniversary of its Declaration of Independence, emphasizing historical reflection, national unity, and future social and economic challenges