Europe Sweden Several youths in Vallentuna were poisoned by isopropanol after drinking alcohol bought from a "vodkabil" that they got in touch with via Snapchat; according to Poison Information Centre the substance, used to clean electronics, is dangerous if ingested
America Jamaica Across Jamaica, potential candidates have been stepping forward for the 2025 General Election; before nomination day, candidates must have been nominated by 10 registered voters, pay a fee, and meet age, residency, and eligibility requirements
Europe Portugal Eduardo Serra, the most international of Portuguese cinematographers, reportedly died at 81 on 19 August; as a director of photography he collected two Oscar nominations, collaborated with Leconte, Chabrol and worked on the final two Harry Potter films
Europe Serbia Unrest escalated across Serbia, with ruling party supporters clashing violently with student-led protesters and trying to attack journalists, while in Valjevo demonstrators set fire to a ruling Progressive Party office and attacked City Hall
Europe Monaco Princess Charlene, a former Olympic swimmer, has spoken out to media about the +45% incidence in water-related deaths compared to 2024, saying this “public health emergency” calls for more safety education and supervision around pools, beaches, waterways
Africa Mauritius Local potato harvest is underway and from 25 August through December, sales will be limited to the National Wholesale Market, while imports will have to go exclusively through the Agricultural Marketing Board AMB in Moka
Europe Malta Maltese Fireworks Association rejected criticism over a display in Mosta, with horses nearby appearing panicked in a video, insisting responsibility lies with animals’ owner, duly noticed, adding that stables are illegal and subject to enforcement notice
Oceania Tuvalu PM Feletei Teo may pull Tuvalu out of the region’s top political meeting next month, after host nation Solomon Islands, a Beijing ally, told parliament that non-Pacific dialogue partners, attending the forum since 1989, wouldn't be invited
Asia Syria Women in Syria's media face a hostile or unfavorable environment that undermines their presence in the industry; they are expected to maintain far more strict composure and professionalism than men and often face insinuation about their personal life
Africa Senegal Four bales of Indian hemp, a total 243kg have been seized on a canoe, concealed under fishing nets, in an overnight operation off the Thiaroye-sur-Mer quay; intelligence information had alerted of a possible waterway delivery from a neighboring country
Asia Lebanon Pope Leo XIVcould be visiting Lebanon on his first foreign visit, Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi said, a trip that would give a chance to speak in broad terms about peace in the Middle East and the plight of Christians there
America Dominica Sharon Clifton Kelsick, from Castle Bruce, an experienced, long-serving educator, has been elected as the new president of the Caribbean Union of Teachers; it's the second occasion in the union’s history that a woman has assumed the regional role
Africa Ivory Coast Sprinter Marie-Josée Ta Lou-Smith finished third in the 200m at Diamond League event in Lausanne, Switzerland, with her best time of the season despite extreme weather; the podium grants her access to the World Championships in Japan, on 13-21 September
Asia Japan Remote-controlled robots have been deployed to one of the reactors at Fukushima nuclear plant to prepare the removal of around 880 tonnes of radioactive debris, the most daunting challenge in the decommissioning operation following 2011 earthquake damages