Oceania Tonga Heavy machinery, marine equipment and construction crews have started work at Fangaʻuta Lagoon site for Tonga’s long‑awaited US$97 million bridge; The 720‑metre infrastructure will strengthen the key transport link between Nukuʻalofa and Eastern Tongatapu
Africa Guinea-Bissau Portuguese media outlets have been expelled from the country, confirming a wider strategy to restrict press pluralism in the run-up to November's elections; Bissau-Guinean journalists' union and international press organizations have criticized the act
Oceania Kiribati Opposition is formally agains government's refusal to debate suspension of the Court of Appeal, occurred over two years ago, as the CoA quashed government's deportation order for HC Judge Lambourne as it was unconstitutional and mandating to reinstate him
Africa Rwanda Schools across Rwanda that benefit from the national school feeding program are invited to incorporate high-iron beans into their menus as the new academic year begins, to strengthen nutrition for at least 3,9 million kids from early childhood to primary
Europe Iceland Journalist Eyrún Magnúsdóttir and author Auður Jónsdóttir will launch a new media outlet, Gímaldið: the name describes a large hall with high ceilings, chosen because the channel will welcome many voices and report on various aspects of complex issues
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
America Panama A bill to regulate gambling addiction has been filed by Panama lawmakers: it would restrict advertising, protecting minors, and fund treatment programs, highlighting a growing clash between public health concerns and the powerful casino industry
Europe San Marino New law on eSports, among the most advanced, was presented at the opening of San Marino Comics, an annual gathering of tens of thousands visitors; formally approved by the IOC, eSports are fueling innovation and revenues in the digital sector worldwide
Asia Iran Agriculture has expanded to guarantee food self-sufficiency and hard currency through exports; using 77 billion cubic meters of water annually, 90% of Iran’s total, it has led to a dramatic water crises with 300 cities currently experiencing water stress
Africa Central African Republic There is suspect that 700 fake candidates jeopardized the sending of 1.400 selected young Central Africans to Uganda for military training; the program, supposed to be an opportunity looks bound to be a failure due to military maneuvers
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
Europe Italy Sexist site Phica.eu is shutting down after controversy amid complaints from several women politicians, actresses, influencers that their photos had been posted and manipulated; the forum's administrators notified users that all content had been removed
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 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