Asia Bahrain 128 competitors, 59 male and 69 female, took part in this year's Mutun competition; the event awards the three best in seven categories, each focusing on the memorization and comprehension of foundation texts related to Quranic sciences
Asia Nepal A dialogue of government officials with Gen Z representatives and political parties will be held today; the meeting aims to create a conducive environment for the upcoming elections and ensure broad participation in the process
Europe Lithuania Repeated disruptions at Lithuanian airports caused by weather balloons drifting in from Belarus could prompt airlines to reconsider or suspend their flights to the country, the head of the Civil Aviation Association warned
Oceania Micronesia Ms. Yolanda Joab Mori has been appointed Chief of Staff to President Simina; she has been serving in an acting capacity since 2024 while simultaneously holding the role of Special Assistant to the President for Public Relations and Information since 2023
Asia Japan Lawmakers in Japan elected hard-line conservative Sanae Takaichi as prime minister, making her the first woman in modern times to lead the country; she said she formed her cabinet on equal opportunity, equal chances, participation from all walks of life
America Barbados The government is preparing a new public education drive to address lingering doubts about the country’s digital ID cards and build wider trust in its technology‑based national projects
Europe Estonia Work has started on a €14 million iron foundry in Kohila; operated by shipbuilders BLRT Grupp, it is due to open next year, will employ 70 people and will be one of the largest investments in the foundry industry in the Baltic
America Dominica A large proportion of children and teenagers across the Caribbean are experiencing symptoms of depression or anxiety, as reported in the 2025 Caribbean Child and Youth Mental Health Research Study Report, a collaborative effort of CARICOM and UNICEF
America Cuba Bracing for the impact of hurricane Melissa, Cuba has asked motorcyclists with megaphones to alert every corner of the island and dedicated teams are checking no person unable to move remains at home; churches are open as shelters
Oceania New Zealand "Alarming" gaps in measles immunization, specially among Maori and Pacific communities, should be urgently closed, the WHO advises, revealing that vaccination rates are lower than those of 2012 and another outbreak could occur with current active cases
Europe Moldova Over 1.800 cultural and historical heritage sites have been included in restoration and valorization projects on both banks of the Dniester River with the support of the European Union and UNDP Moldova
America Guyana Guyana has delivered its first fully in-country oil and gas training program as new trainees begin an 18-month diploma, reflecting efforts to build local capacity amid rapid industrial growth
Africa Lesotho Butchery operators have decried the continued ban on red meat imports from South Africa, saying the restriction imposed in August has crippled their business as they are struggling to source quality red meat locally
America Nicaragua The European Union has extended its sanctions against Nicaragua until October 2026 due to ongoing political repression and human rights abuses, maintaining asset freezes and travel bans on 21 individuals and three entities tied to the Ortega regime