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 Greece The recent spike in migrant arrivals and the problem of where to house them is laying bare social tensions on the island of Crete, were at least 500 people have been rescued at sea in a single night and summer sea conditions are favorable to more arrivals
Asia Japan Researchers from major universities, including Tokyo's Waseda, have used prompts in their papers to get positive AI-based reviews, raising concerns about integrity, amid a surge in peer-to-peer review exploitation in academic publishing
Asia East Timor The Samoa Agreement was ratified by National Parliament in a Plenary Session with 58 votes in favor, no abstentions or votes against; signed on 15 November 2023, it establishes the new legal framework for partnership between the EU and OACPS countries
Asia Azerbaijan Two Azeri brothers died in Russian custody, enlarging a diplomatic rift between the to countries; experts say Azerbaijan is challenging Moscow's dominant role in the South Caucasus and establishing itself as a regional power
Europe Serbia Police in Belgrade worked to remove roadblocks set up by protesters over the weekend, while protesters moved to reinstall them, amid continuing civil disobedience caused by anger at arrests of eight people accused of plotting to “overthrow the state”
Africa Botswana One of the three main distributaries of the Okavango Delta, the Jao/Boro system, appears to be dying; though scientists haven't confirm its potential demise, local communities point to an evident, deliberate diversion of water towards private properties
Europe Albania Beachgoers across Albania can access designated public beach areas free of charge in summer 2025 following a decades-awaited regulation that mandates 30% of every 1.000 meter of coastal stretch be open to the public
Asia Pakistan The Dhabeji pumping station remained without power for over 96 hours due to cable faults worsened by rain, deepening Karachi’s water crisis with a daily shortfall of up to 350 million gallons and residents forced to rely on expensive water tankers
Europe Slovenia Ljubljana's Stožice national stadium has a new turf: after years of puddles and patchy grass, the pitch now has undergone a complete €1,8 million renewal
America Suriname Suriname is the first country of the Amazon region to be certified malaria-free by the WHO; the historic achievement follows 70 years of commitment by the government and people to eliminate the disease across its vast rainforests and diverse communities
Asia Taiwan The Penghu Water Recreation Activities Association is offering a bounty of NT$300 (US$10) for each crown-of-thorns starfish caught in local waters: feeding on coral polyps, the living tissue of coral reefs, the are killing off large tracts of reefs
Africa Benin Producers, directors and other film industry professionals are setting a link between Los Angeles and Cotonou, aiming to develop Beninese cinema and hoping to make it essential across the African continent
Europe Romania VAT has been risen from 19 to 21% on most goods (11% on food, medicines, books, public utilities, district heating, water and sewage services), excise duties on fuel and alcohol brought up 10%, public-sector wage freezed to curb a surging budget deficit