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 Belarus The final stage of the 14th national beauty pageant Miss Belarus 2025, held at the Palace of Sports, was attended by President Lukashenko to underline the cultural significance of the event; 854 girls took part in the selection process
Europe Croatia Amid discontent over the frequent public display of World War II-era Ustasa symbols and ‘Za dom spremni’ salute, Croatia's centre-left opposition has called for new penalties, but with exceptions that have sparked criticism
America Dominica Dominica, with Barbados, Belize, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, will implement full free movement for citizens starting 1 October 2025; CARICOM describes it as a major step towards regional integration
Asia Georgia Elene Khoshtaria, head of the opposition party Droa, has been detained by law enforcement officers, the party confirmed on social media making video footage circulate online; authorities allege that Khoshtaria was involved in damaging election banners
Asia China Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge has undergone a five-day load test ahead of the opening later this month: 96 trucks drove onto designated points to test the bridge's structure; 625m above a river, it will be the world's highest and longest mountain bridge
Asia Philippines A fire broke out among buildings in the Tondo district of Manila, displacing 700 families, according to local media and the Manila Public Information Office, which said the fire is under control, only three people are injured; cause are being investigated
Asia Iran Since the 12-day war with Israel in June, Iranian athletes have been performing military-style salutes to the flag at international competitions and face conflicting pressures: the state demands public displays of loyalty, opponents expect defiance
Africa Equatorial Guinea All amateur radio licenses are temporarily suspend for irregularities in their issuance; the measure seeks to establish a new regulatory framework for effective control of telecommunications frequencies and equipment within national security guidelines
America Suriname Suriname and Guyana have agreed to deepen bilateral cooperation to jointly develop their economies beyond oil and gas, focusing on infrastructure, energy, and trade, with the goal of fostering regional prosperity and Caribbean integration
Africa Chad Al Jazeera reported voices of women speaking from refugee camps in Chad, were hundreds of thousands of women and girls have fled leaving Sudan, only to encounter more merciless violence
Asia Nepal Former chief justice Sushila Karki was sworn in as Nepal's interim prime minister, the first woman in the role, following anti-graft protests that forced K.P. Sharma Oli to resign; the oath of office ceremony was broadcast live
Africa Burundi Construction costs have increased 40% y-o-y due to a surge in price of materials (+35%), equipment rentals (+61%) and labor (+60%), the later due to higher demand of skilled workers and wage adjustments in the sector
America Venezuela Venezuela has accused the US of provoking conflict by seizing a fishing boat in its exclusive economic zone, amid rising tensions over US military patrols targeting drug cartels in the Caribbean