Asia United Arab Emirates Emirates customers made over one million connections to Starlink Wi-Fi in seven months, using more than one petabyte of data through the satellite internet service accessible free onboard aircraft in the fleet
Europe Slovenia Churches dedicated to the Virgin Mary are welcoming pilgrims to awe at flower-bedecked altars and processions bearing statues for the Assumption, one of the nation's most beloved religious holidays and inspiration for folk traditions in Slovenia
Africa Central African Republic Officials report that Russia has called on the CAR to replace the private Wagner mercenary group with Moscow’s state-run Africa Corps, requesting payment for security services; government sees Wagner as more effective and prefers to pay with minerals
Oceania Micronesia The new Revenue Management System has been launched: it is a major national milestone supported by the World Bank, designed to modernize collection and management of public revenue to improve service delivery, transparency, and trust in institutions
Asia Lebanon Chief of Staff of Israel's army Eyal Zamir, visiting a post in south Lebanon, allegedly said Israel is in a "multifront war" with Gaza, Lebanon, Syria and Yemen adding "we approved plans for the conquest of Gaza, and now we are in Lebanon"
Oceania Tuvalu Andrew John Fakaua Ponton, a Tuvaluan film director, has made his debut at the Whanau Marama New Zealand International Film Festival with 'Bati', a boxing drama set in Fiji, bringing to the screen the voices of Pacific culture
Africa Uganda Road maintenance works have begin countrywide following government program aimed at improving road safety and reducing vehicle breakdowns to ultimately enhance rural connectivity
Africa Burundi COMEBU, acronym that stands for Burundi Mining Exchange, will now hold exclusive rights to market extracted minerals in areas where landowners have been compensated: operators in Kabarore must now sell to Comptoires only
Africa Burkina Faso Four journalists were released from forced enlistment into the army and reunited with their families; the International Federation of Journalists, working on their release since abduction, welcomed the initiative reminding the public value of a free press
Africa Seychelles Eleven potential candidates for the upcoming presidential elections set for September 2025 have made the security deposit required prior to nomination day 19 August
Africa Togo The deep-water port of Lomé, Africa's fourth largest handling 30+ million tonnes/year, is increasing its attractiveness to global powers, as Russia and the US work to secure their influence for its key maritime access and proximity to landlocked markets
Asia Myanmar Government enacted a new electoral law imposing jail terms for disrupting planned elections while organizing dissent and destroying materials could bring life sentences; fatalities resulting from disruption may lead to execution
America Trinidad and Tobago Licensing Authority Driver’s Rehabilitation Programme has been launched to assist disqualified drivers in regaining their driving status and encourage safer road use; legislation requires a cost-free rehabilitation program as a condition for reinstatement
Africa Mali Dozens of soldiers have been arrested over suspects of plotting to overthrow the junta, which in its turn came to power in Mali in a coup; a Malian security force reports of 'arrests linked to an attempt to destabilise the institutions' in recent days