Europe Spain A massive counterfeit perfume factory has been dismantled; the plant produced tens of thousands of liters of counterfeit fragrances, imitations of around fifty luxury brands, to be marketed to the rest of Europe via France
Oceania Australia Off Shark Beach, a shark attacked a boy of about 13 who was swimming in Sydney Harbour, leaving him in critical condition with serious leg injuries
Europe Czech Republic 935.000 legal foreign workers, 360.000 from Ukraine, were employed in the Czech Republic in 2025, +11% on 2024; despite this, firms still face a shortfall, with the Chamber of Commerce estimating a need for around 250.000 more workers
Africa Guinea Soumbara, a traditional condiment made from fermented néré seeds essential in many West African cuisines is becoming increasingly scarce with prices rising sharply in the markets of Lélouma where is called brown gold
America Bahamas Committed to the support of Eleuthera and the Family Islands by modernizing aviation infrastructure, government announced a $14,525M contract for the full reconstruction of the Rock Sound International Airport runway, to be completed in 12 months
Europe Albania For many families in Tirana buying an apartment, a realistic goal up to a short time ago, is now unaffordable: wages haven't risen at pace with apartment prices surging up to 5.500 euros sq/m in a market that experts say is distorted by speculation
Asia Brunei As Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah underwent knee replacement surgery, with a two to three months expected recovery period, a special Doa ceremony at Religious Teachers University College and nationwide prayers were organized for his well being
Africa eSwatini The songs for the 2026 Ingwenyama Cup Culture, combining football with Swazi heritage, will be released next week to give time to prepare for the competition as they will provide insights into the theme of the contest this year
America Cuba Plans and measures 'for transitioning to a state of war' have been approved; a brief note indicates that the decision was made as part of Cuba's preparation of the mobilization of workers and civilian officials to confront a presumed US invasion
Asia Iraq A middle school inside Nasiriyah Central Prison will open as part of Ministry of Justice efforts to strengthen rehabilitation and reform programs by supporting inmates’ educational pathways within a comprehensive correctional environment
Europe Malta Malta national waterpolo team players are being investigated for allegedly betting on their own matches at the European Championships; currently in Belgrade for finals, they are suspected of having bet on the goal difference of game against Montenegro
Europe Croatia Political magazine Globus, admired in the 1990s and 2000s for its independent stance, published its last issue in 2025 and will not update its website in 2026; the Croatian weekly suffered shrinking advertising revenue and collapsing print sales
Asia Taiwan Many school-aged children in Taiwan take jobs to assist their families, about 20% underpaid or working in unsafe conditions, World Vision Taiwan WVT reported; in underprivileged families 26% of children work while in school, 80% of them for economic help
Africa Sao Tome and Principe To combat gender-based violence and bring justice closer to communities, multi-front actions have been launched with UNDP, local authorities and the civil society in the frame of the project "Proximity Justice: Bringing Justice Closer to the People"