Asia Thailand Rubella has been eliminated in Thailand as a public health threat, achieving the WHO criteria for interruption of endemic transmission; imported cases is now the key concern, especially for infections during pregnancy
Asia South Korea Major local-based global technology companies have agreed on US$700 million worth of cooperation projects; The initiatives involve collaboration in advanced technologies, including AI and semiconductors to expand South Korea’s global tech leadership
Asia Mongolia A 40-metre replica of Japan’s historic Illustrated Account of the Mongol Invasions was donated to Mongolia by a Japanese collector; The replica, depicting the Yuan dynasty’s invasions of Japan in 1274 and 1281, will be housed at the Kharakhorum Museum
Africa Malawi Agriculture Minister has responded to claims swirling around her reform of Malawi’s fertiliser procurement system and her team suggested that trading cartels are orchestrating a smear campaign to discredit her
Europe Ireland The first person extradited from UAE to the Republic under the new, permanent treaty, which came into force last year has landed in Dublin, carried by an Air Corps flight following years of investigations by Garda Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau
Africa Uganda Taifa Group has announced the resumption of Nation Media Group’s operations in Uganda following Presidential authorisation; the move is described as a boost to regional investment, media development and East African integration
Europe Denmark Around one million students in primary and secondary education started their school year across Denmark; Most are primary and lower secondary school students 6-16 years old and the exact starting date can vary town by town
Europe Finland Helsinki Region Transport will introduce its winter timetable today, with more frequent services across the capital region as commuters return after the summer break; several routes suspended for the summer will return to operation
Africa Democratic Republic of the Congo 42 years after last census in 1984, when DRC still went under the name of Zaire, authorities are preparing to count the population to gather reliable data for planning public services; millions of people with no official ID will be recorded by the state
Europe Switzerland Several cantons have cancelled the traditional firework displays for the national holiday on 1 August due to fire risk, including Basel, that reinforced ban on any fire in the city except the beloved lantern parade, involving several hundred children
Asia Japan The US and Japan made a coordinated intervention in the currency markets to stabilize the weakening yen, a rare move that last occurred more than ten years ago
Africa Togo Spending on HIV programs helped consolidate progress in prevention and treatment; international partners funded 86,44% of total expenditure and as foreign contribution declines, Togo seeks to secure more sustainable domestic resources for its HIV response
Oceania Fiji The Land Transport Authority is introducing a mandatory Learner Driver Course for all Class 2 Learner Permit applicants from today; The new requirement is aimed at standardizing driver education and improving road safety outcomes in Fiji
Africa eSwatini Macadamia industry, rapidly expanding in eSwatini, is poised to strengthen export capacity and increase agricultural value as Elangeni Food Group moves closer to commissioning its macadamia processing facility