Africa Zimbabwe The tourism legislation will be amended to make local holidays more affordable and encourage Zimbabweans to travel within the country, Tourism and Hospitality minister said; the move comes as the industry recoveries after years of declining activity
Asia Singapore Digital banks serving retail customers are trimming deposit interest rates in line with traditional lenders; cuts reflect the ongoing global decline of interest rates and could push customers to look for alternative investments with more attractive yields
Asia Mongolia “Ebarimt” the VAT receipt system that issues lottery-based tax receipts to encourage compliance will be fully digitalized; Led by the Digital Development Ministry with the central bank, it will replace paper receipts with mobile and card-based tracking
America Haiti A press release on key contract involving Haiti's biggest port and two elite members was allegedly published without the consent of council's leader, deepening fracture government-private sector as a wealthy businessman is taking over presidency on 15 Aug
Africa Gabon Full membership of Gabon within the Commonwealth has been restored: it had been partially suspended in 2023 out of violation of the democratic principles of the Charter; progress towards fulfilling obligations remains in the agenda of upcoming meetings
Asia Nepal On August 1, Bagmati Province was officially declared fully vaccinated for children aged 16–23 months, with all districts achieving complete coverage
Asia Palestine UN rice resold at 10€/kilo, 50% commissions on cash: this is how people survive in the northern Gaza Strip, a local journalist shows in a video published in El Pais, saying that only those receiving a salary can resist the absence of humanitarian agencies
Asia Malaysia Up to $150 billion over the next five years will be spent for equipment from U.S. multinationals for semiconductor, aerospace and data center industries in an articulated plan that reduces threatened U.S. tariff on Malaysian goods from 25% to 19%
Asia Pakistan Over 200 supporters of former PM Imran Khan were detained during countrywide rallies marking his arrest anniversary; Clashes in Lahore and Karachi saw police using force to disperse crowds
Asia Philippines Government will convene a “conclave-style" gathering of stakeholders to develop a comprehensive policy on online gambling, as announced by President Marcos; The initiative signals a renewed effort to address concerns surrounding internet gaming regulation
Europe Monaco A criminal investigation is underway following the collapse of Monegasque travel agency Star Croisières, which has been officially declared bankrupt by a Monaco court after leaving hundreds of holidaymakers stranded
Europe North Macedonia State postal service is declining, service and business wise; experts say to revers the trend money and political will would be needed, and both are lacking
Africa Morocco Forsa entrepreneurship program, launched in 2022 with a budget above MAD 1.25 billion ($138.300 million) to support business creation through interest-free loans, faces implementation challenges and structural problems, beneficiaries lament
Europe Portugal A firefighter in Ourém was arrested for fires he is believed to have started with devices set with timers between June and July this year out of the money he would received to combat them; the episode exposes a suspected plague affecting other countries