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
Oceania Nauru Nauru has transitioned to the Commonwealth Bank of Australia as banking provider and account holders are encouraged to make the switch to ensure relevant payments from government are smooth; Bendigo Bank had served the community for 10 years
Oceania Tonga A 11-person team led by Tonga’s ex Foreign Minister Mrs Fekitamoeloa ‘Utoikamanu, are in Georgetown, Guyana to observe regional elections set for 1/9; deployed by the Commonwealth SG, they will oversee opening, voting, closing, counting and results
Asia Cyprus Website mindsincyprus.com has been launched with the aim of persuading Cypriots living abroad to return to the island; authorities say return and reintegration of talents is an integral part of broader plan for the development and future of the homeland
Europe Lithuania Social Democratic MP Inga Ruginienė has been appointed as Prime Minister of Lithuania; following the resignation of Paluckas on 31 July, 78 parliament members voted in favor, 35 against and 14 abstained
Europe Belarus The national canoe sprint team got five medals at the 2025 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships: one gold, two silvers, and two bronzes, with Volha Klimava winning the champion title in the Women C1 5.000m
Europe Poland A change in regulations concerning reprographic fees will introduce a new tax on the most commonly used electronic devices - smartphones, tablets, computers, televisions, decoders, data carriers - without going through the normal parliamentary process
Africa Gambia Chaos spread at the Kanifing court as Police Intervention Unit officers fired tear gas to push back youths demanding the release of 23 protesters charged with holding a procession in a public place without licence from the IGP; all of them deny charges
Africa Gabon National goal of energy independence and universal access within ten years is pursued with new deals, as with Turkish Aksa Energy for design, financing, construction and operation of a 1.000MW gas power plant; the state utility SEEG still poses hurdles
Africa Burkina Faso The remains of Alain Christophe Traoré, aka Alino Faso, a social media influencer, have been repatriated from Ivory Coast, were he was found dead in his cell, detained for allegedly collaborating with foreign agents; a mourning BF calls for accountability
America Bahamas A week before schools reopen, VAT exemption allows families and educators to purchase school items, PCs, stationery, clothing, bags, hair accessories, free of VAT; the Consumer Protection urged retailers not to inflate prices, parents to shop essentials
Asia Armenia Drought has affected 97% of Armenia and Georgia according to the European Drought Observatory, and the countries are the most severely affected by drought in Europe and the Mediterranean basin earlier this August
Africa Morocco A $405.000 contract with a consultancy firm close to the US president was signed, allegedly for labelling the Polisario Front in Western Sahara a terrorist organisation to induce the group in negotiations; it is not clear how it would facilitate dialogue
Europe Estonia A national designated spatial plan for a defense industry park has been approved in a government session; it will cover a 204-hectare site in the Ermistu village, Pärnu city, and a 141-hectare site in Varinurme village, East Viru County