Asia Israel The Knesset has passed a media overhaul law giving government greater regulatory control; PM Netanyahu attended the debate, skipping the vote; the news has been released by a number of online media in the late hours of 16 July
America Uruguay Uruguay has introduced a visa-free policy for 157 countries, including the UK, Brazil, and Malaysia, to boost tourism and economic growth; citizens from 85 more nations, including the US, Schengen countries and Chile can now enter without a visa
Africa Malawi Malawi and Germany signed a financial agreement for an additional €19 million to support the programme, which will significantly strengthen efforts to provide essential aid to the country's most vulnerable families
Europe Latvia Wheelchair users of the Latvian railway operator must now request a ride only 24 hours in advance instead of three days as before, a small improvement in the face of the difficulties still present for people with disabilities
Asia Iran A runoff will be held between former nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili (who got 9,4 million votes) and heart surgeon Masoud Pezeshkian (10,4 million) after no one got more than 50% of the vote in the presidential election; turnout was 39,9%
Asia Oman As of today, the use of plastic bags will be banned in health care facilities, pharmacies, hospitals and clinics
Africa Democratic Republic of the Congo After 22 years, the United Nations Organisation Mission for the Stabilisation of the Democratic Republic of Congo (Monusco) has definitively ended its operations in the South Kivu region
Europe Belarus According to experts, human errors were made in the triple election held on 9 June, which allowed 16-17 year olds, who could only vote in the European elections, to also vote in the federal and regional elections
America Paraguay Authorities met with Argentina representatives to set a roadmap for collaborative work, focusing on issues like the Paraguay-Paraná Waterway toll, an international bridge construction, and a proposed gas pipeline
America Peru The creation of the Grau Tropical Sea National Reserve has been approved, a milestone after 10 years of negotiations, aimed at protecting the biodiversity-rich area off the Piura and Tumbes coasts
Europe Slovakia Parliament has passed the 'Assassination Attempt Lex', which introduces new grounds for banning public meetings and official state residences for the Speaker of the House and premier
Asia Brunei The Sultan of Brunei Hassanal Bolkiah is reportedly interested on Villa Certosa, in Porto Rotondo (Sardinia, Italy), Silvio Berlusconi's historic summer residence, for sale for €500 million
Europe Iceland A new technical trade school will be built in Hafnarfjörður, to be completed in the autumn of 2029, following an agreement among the government, the city of Hafnarfjörður and Tækniskólinn
Africa South Africa South African researchers have injected radioactive material into the horns of 20 rhinos as part of a research project to reduce poaching, so that radiation detectors present at national borders can detect horns and help the authorities arrest poachers