Oceania Palau A historic $15 million financing agreement has been signed with Saudi Arabia, marking a shift in how Palua's National Development Bank will now operate, as the loan will be directly invested into building affordable housing
Asia Oman The Ministry of Heritage and Tourism will organise a series of events called ‘Marhaba Dhofar’ – or ‘Welcome to Dhofar’ in the coming period to attract tourists from various regional and international tourist markets
Africa Ivory Coast The first sickle cell anaemia screening and early treatment centre has recently opened its doors, an important milestone in the country, where the disease affects more than 12% of the population
Africa Niger The two-year distribution of azithromycin reduced infant mortality in Niger, as recent study shows
Asia Vietnam On the coast of Hai Phong and Quang Ninh evacuations had been ordered for 230.000 people, ports and airport closed, hundreds of cruises in the UNESCO site Ha Long Bay cancelled before Super Typhoon Yagi, one of the most powerful in a decade, made landfall
Europe Bulgaria From 2029, wood and coal heating will be completely banned in Sofia and the entire municipality will be designated as a low-emission zone
America Haiti US Secretary of State Blinken arrived in Haiti to reaffirm the US government's commitment to a multinational mission to fight gangs in the country and push for the long-awaited general elections
Africa Mozambique Sea turtles are returning thanks to conservation efforts and beach protection in recent years in an attempt to save this declining species; the country is home to five of the world's seven sea turtle species
Africa Djibouti The government expects Ethiopia to accept an offer for exclusive access to one of its ports, a proposal aimed at defusing regional tensions triggered by Addis Ababa's attempt to regain direct access to the sea
America Cuba The Catholic Church in Cuba has asked for help from Catholics on the island: it is facing critical difficulties in continuing its pastoral work due to the economic crisis and the shortage of basic necessities in the country
Europe North Macedonia Turkey's foreign minister, on a visit to North Macedonia, said he expects the country's new government to "give stronger support" to the fight against supporters of exiled preacher Fethullah Gulen, who Ankara accuses of terrorism
America Saint Lucia Amid concerns over dengue fever, 40 cases have been recorded in Saint Lucia this year, mosquito control measures have been stepped up and include house-to-house inspections to eliminate breeding grounds and treatment of abandoned or open water sources
Europe Slovakia Bratislava's Danube port can become part of the EU's strategic transport routes and can be used for goods and materials for the reconstruction of Ukraine, increasing the chance of obtaining the funds; consequently, its modernisation has now been planned
Asia Japan Japan Sumo Association announced the tearing down and manual rebuilding of the ring in Tokyo’s Ryogoku Kokugikan, with 40 tons of clay and the work of dozens of yobidashi (ring-announcers); dohyō matsuri, the ring purification ceremony, is set for 7 Sept