Asia Thailand Alcohol sales are allowed on five major Buddhist holidays since 10 May, but only in selected places like airports, hotels, nightlife venues and event sites; the change aims to support tourism while maintaining respect for religious traditions
Africa Guinea-Bissau A mission from the West African Regional bloc ECOWAS has left Guinea-Bissau reportedly because the president had threatened to expel it; the team had arrived last month to help build a “political consensus” on how to conduct elections this year
Asia Cyprus Paphos fishermen complained of a lack of support and limitations to their work imposed on them by the municipality and the Ports Authority; they asked better infrastructure and the creation of a dedicated area to directly sell their catch to the public
America Cuba Santa Clara, a 17th-century convent in the heart of Old Havana home to the first cloistered nuns in Cuba, has been restored and opened as a hub for preserving the city’s soul, training young craftsmen and artisans in heritage conservation techniques
Africa Kenya Thousands of students across Kenya could face disruption of school service from tomorrow due to delays in the disbursement of capitation for the second term; head teachers said the delayed funding is undermining stability, affecting essential operations
Asia Lebanon Lebanon is now open for entry to the citizens of the United Arab Emirates that will lift a travel ban imposed during a diplomatic row in 2021; both countries made the announcement in a joint statement
America Jamaica Jamaica lost 2 places in the 2025 World Press Freedom Index, 16 since 2020; Opposition People’s National Party says this reflects the growing mistrust between government officials and the press, and an increasingly autocratic posture by the administration
Oceania Kiribati Data collection was completed on local fishing activities on Arorae Island - popular fishing spots, catch volumes, fishing methods and other relevant practices - to help shape policies and guidelines to protect and sustain marine resources across Kiribati
Europe United Kingdom World-record breaking London Marathon saw 56.640 participants crossing the finish line this year, fundraising reached over 88 million euros and received 1.133.813 applications for the 2026 race public ballot, of which 870.000 from the UK
Europe Latvia The robbery of a watch shop in Old Town Riga doesn't indicate an increase in crime in the country: it makes considerate more investment in security for exclusive goods shops, said Artis Velss, former Chief of the State Police
Europe Lithuania Rounding cash payments began: under the new rules, the final amount of a purchase paid in cash will be rounded to the nearest multiple of 5 cents; the new practice is part of a gradual move to phase out the use of 1- and 2-cent euro coins
Africa Madagascar France President Macron seeked "forgiveness" for France’s colonisation of Madagascar, starting with the return of looted cultural artefacts, in his visit, to Antananarivo, where he announced plans for economic ties and investment in hydroelectric project
Asia Maldives Proposed amendments to the Tobacco Control Act – the chief of which is the enforcement of a smoking ban for the post-2007 generation – have been accepted into the Parliament and sent to a select committee for review, approved with a majority vote of 63-2
Asia China Tension escalated in the South China Sea as Chinese and Philippine personnel both raised their national flags on Sandy Cay, a contested outcropping, underscoring the persistent territorial disputes and the strategic importance of the area for both nations