Europe Albania Tirana Mayor Erion Veliaj will run the capital from jail until the next elections in 2027, creating an unprecedented situation in local politics, PM Edi Rama apparently confirmed; Veliaj denies charges of corruption, money laundering and concealing wealth
Europe Malta Valletta and Swieqi will benefit from a new tourism community support pilot project providing resources and administrative support to address locality-specific challenges linked to tourism: waste management, public order, regulation of accommodation
Asia Cambodia Sides are trading blame over border violations under the current ceasefire; The Royal Thai Navy warned of action if Cambodia fails to remove structures along disputed areas; Cambodia counters that Thailand continues to intrude and escalate tensions
Europe Romania In mountain towns bear encounters and attacks are increasing; officials argue on how to manage the rising bear population, and conservationists question whether easier shooting would solve the problem; around 4.000 bears are estimated to live in Romania
Asia Turkey Several digital streaming platforms including Netflix, Prime Video, MUBI, Disney XD, HBO Max, have been fined for violating moral and family values and obscenity by Turkey’s Radio and Television Supreme Council, the regulator for TV and radio broadcasts
America Chile A national registry of victims forcibly disappeared during Pinochet’s dictatorship will be created, recognizing over 1.000 still-missing people and committing state efforts to uncover their fate and honor their memory
Europe Iceland The possibility of oil extraction in the Dreki area would bring significant benefits for Iceland whether oil is extracted or not, says Iceland Chamber of Commerce, encouraging treasury to tender concessions to explore
Europe Slovenia The wine regions of Brda in Slovenia and Collio in Italy have merged into a dispersed open-air museum showcasing natural-material sculptures by artists from both countries in the spirit of the first ever cross-border European Capital of Culture
Asia Oman Muscat Alzheimer's Forum recommended drafting a national Alzheimer's guide, devising science-based diagnostic protocols and establishing a specialised national centre for the treatment of Alzheimer's patients
Oceania Palau An undersea mountain was discovered 400km north of Palau, rising 4.400 meters from the seafloor, its peak just 240 meters below the surface; the finding was made by Beyond the Blue expedition, mapping unexplored deep-waters of National Marine Sanctuary
Asia Mongolia National Library has digitized 4.383 volumes of ancient Tibetan-language manuscripts and woodblock printed books for over 1,43m pages, 77.500 titles; in partnership with US Embassy and Asian Legacy Library, it made inaccessible works publicly available
Asia Malaysia Halal exports reached US$7 billion in the first half of 2025, making up 16,1% of Malaysia’s total exports; Main products include food and beverages, halal ingredients, and palm oil derivatives, with key markets in China, the US, and Indonesia
Asia Laos Female civil servants are now eligible for maternity leave ranging from 4 up to 6,5 months for mothers expecting twins; miscarriages earn one month of leave, with medical extensions as needed
Europe Slovakia Public broadcaster STVR’s newsroom has brought in several new faces, mainly from private TV Markíza and news channel TA3; many among media and public are voicing their concern over the risk or more pro-Russia news or even propaganda