Asia Palestine Israeli settlers set fire to two mosques north of Ramallah, in the occupied West Bank, and spraied the word "revenge" on walls, according to local witnesses, in an unprecedented episode of escalating hostilities
Africa Eritrea Eritrea and Ethiopia have been trading warnings over rising tensions, with Addis Ababa stressing its need for sea access and citing the port of Assab, while Asmara rejected any pressure on its sovereignty, highlighting growing diplomatic friction
Asia Maldives A record 83% increase in private jet arrivals to the Maldives has been reported, with 128 jets landing in the country between February 28 and mid-March as regional conflict disrupts major transit hubs in the Middle East
Europe Serbia Standard and Poor's credit rating agency has kept Serbia’s ‘Stable’, citing an economic outlook at the investment-grade level but underlining that political polarisation and protests may affect its appeal to investors
Europe Slovakia Two previously unknown minerals containing both silver and gold were identified in the hills of Nová Baňa, the historic mining town; named auropolybasite and auropearceite, they were discovered by an international team led by Slovak Academy of Sciences
Oceania Palau Alingano Maisu has reached Taiwan after 1.000 miles at sea, welcomed by an official arrival ceremony in Kaohsiung; the voyage of the traditional canoe is a living classroom of Pacific navigation, cultural resilience and intergenerational leadership
Asia Myanmar Russia will train Myanmar’s first cosmonaut under a new cooperation agreement that strengthens space ties between the two countries; The initiative forms part of their broader collaboration on satellite technology and space research
Asia Bhutan The Bhutan National Identity has been launched; the secure digital wallet grants greater control to users over their personal data allowing the storage of sensitive information in a trusted digital environment
Africa Central African Republic Cabinetmakers and sculptors in Bangui complain about the poor sales of their artwork and the "high" tourist taxes imposed on their clients at Bangui-Mpoko Airport, warning that if nothing is done, woodcraft will die out in Central African Republic
Europe North Macedonia One year after the fire that killed 63 people at a nightclub in Kocani, four separate court cases are ongoing and relatives are still seeking justice for what has been the worst tragedy in North Macedonia's recent history
Africa Mali Amid recurring tensions along transhumance corridors, traditional authorities and communities focused on mediation and collective planning; in Bourem district the commune Témera is testing a local approach to prevent conflicts between farmers and herders
Asia Cyprus Water inflows into Cyprus’ reservoirs are improving compared to 2025; more rain forecast later this week is expected to further boost reserves and the latest outlook suggests water supply conditions may be less severe than initially feared
Oceania Australia A health alert was issued across Perth after a traveller returned from overseas with measles, with 10 new exposure sites listed across the city’s east and inner suburbs; measles, highly infectious, can develop 7-18 days after exposure to the virus
America Haiti BRANA, the National brewery of Haiti, earned three Gold medals at the 2026 Monde Selection International Quality Awards for its brands Prestige, Malta H and Kinanm for consistent production standards, rigorous quality controls and commitment to excellence