America Guatemala Indigenous communities in Guatemala are facing a high 18% illiteracy rate and have launched initiatives like floating schools—classrooms on boats reaching remote areas—but struggle as many children are pulled from school to work in agriculture
Europe Portugal Octopus fishing vessels must remain in port during fishing seasons, starting from the northern border on July 17 down to 14 October; vessels licensed for shelter traps, cage traps, spearfishing that intend to suspend activities must notify the DGRM
Africa Togo For local and municipal elections in 117 localities, polls opened on 17 July at the nation’s police stations; after the violent protests over the last month, security forces were deployed to protect citizens on the way to the vote, but turnout was low
Asia Indonesia Indonesia will build a dedicated “Hajj village” about 400 meters from the Grand Mosque in Mecca, Saudi Arabia; the project, part of deepened Jakarta–Riyadh cooperation, aims to ease pilgrimage logistics for Indonesian worshippers
Europe Bosnia and Herzegovina The 30th anniversary of the 1995 genocide of Bosniaks by Bosnian Serb forces was celebrated with the mass funeral of seven more victims in a ceremony at the Srebrenica Memorial Centre
Africa Seychelles The Seychelles Swimming National Age Group Championships are bringing together swimmers of all ages from three foreign clubs and four local at the Roche Caïman swimming pool
Europe Belgium Shops in Belgium will soon be allowed to remain open until 21:00, and seven days a week; the measure is expected to be validated to relax businesses' opening hours and meet modern needs
Asia Mongolia The traditional long-distance horse race was held as part of the Naadam festival, showcasing the endurance of the Mongolian horse, a symbol of national pride; Riders, often children, covered vast steppe terrain, in a centuries-old nomadic heritage
Africa Mozambique A health emergency is reported by NGO MSF in Cabo Delgado, incapable of guaranteeing response to local health needs: the destruction of 52 health units by cyclone Chido in Oct 2024 added to fragility of the system itself and jihadist insurgency since 2017
Africa Madagascar Lemurs are key players in the health and stability of Madagascar's ecosystems because they do the very important work of dispersing seeds, but they first need to be protected against human impact; as a recent article explains why taking action is urgent
Africa Lesotho Lipholo, the 51-year-old leader of the Basotho Covenant Movement, has been taken into custody and charged with sedition; he appeared before the Maseru Magistrate Court where Magistrate Letsika and Crown Prosecutor Hlophe presented the charges against him
Europe Lithuania A passenger boat service in the Neris River will be launched by the end of July in Vilnius and the first electric vessel of the fleet has been unveiled; for Mayor Valdas Benkunskas the new type of transport could fulfill the city's recreational potential
Europe Latvia The concert "Te–aust" closed this year's School Youth Song and Dance Festival: it presents works of contemporary composers who have chosen lines written by prominent poets and sequences of Latvian folk songs for their compositions
Asia Cyprus Rules regarding swimming pools serving multiple households have been relaxed: a special category clearly differentiates obligations of pools 'for private use serving up to five residential units', recreational/competition pools and hotel/resort pools