Asia Sri Lanka Unprecedented visitors' arrivals have been registered in 2026, marking a strong recovery in numbers; However, the tourism boom has not translated into higher earnings, as shorter stays and lower spending per visitor have led to declining dollar revenues
Europe Hungary Prime Minister Orbán said he is seeking to 'redefine' the terms of NATO membership because of his long-standing opposition to helping Ukraine against Russia's war
Africa Guinea The head of the Guinean Transition adopted a law authorising the ratification of the agreement on the development of the liquefied natural gas project and power generation units seen as a major challenge related to energy production and services
Asia Iraq The Iraqi Drilling Company launched its largest rig, IDC 57, in the Majnoon oil field; the 3.000-horsepower rig is capable of drilling wells up to 8.500 metres deep
Europe Romania The astronomical observatory on the roof of the children's hospital, built thanks to donations from the local non-profit association Dăruiește Viață in Bucharest, was inaugurated
Europe Estonia The EU demanded explanations from Russia over what it called an 'unacceptable' provocation against Estonia, that had complained that Russia had removed without authorisation some of the navigation buoys placed on the Estonian side of the Narva River
Africa Sudan A record number of fires devastated 72 villages and own in one month; since last year, a total of 201 settlements have been impacted; fires are allegedly set by militiamen, ultimately used as weapons to force thousands of civilians from their homes
Asia Armenia The country has handed back to Azerbaijan four border towns it had occupied since the 1990s, conquered during a war between the two former Soviet republics in the Caucasus
Africa Seychelles Seychelles began administering the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine to boys between the ages of 10 and 12; a group of boys from Plaisance Secondary School were the first to receive the vaccine in the country's first campaign
Asia Saudi Arabia The Sitar Programme, designed to support theatre companies, institutions, associations, theatre groups and amateur clubs working in the performing arts sector, has been launched by the Commission for Theatre and Performing Arts
Europe Poland A $960 million deal has been signed by Defense Minister for the supply of four US-made reconnaissance balloons, or radar balloons, a crucial enhancement to Poland's reconnaissance capabilities
Europe Norway Further restrictions will be imposed on the entry of Russian citizens into the country, said the Norwegian Ministress of Justice
Asia Turkmenistan Govshut Akmyradov, 3rd-year student from the Faculty of Cyber-Physical Systems at Oguz Han University of Engineering and Technology, won first place in the 12th General Physics Competition for Engineering Students 'Ion I. Agarbiceanu' in Romania
Asia Iran The sudden death of President Ebrahim Raisi has thrown the succession plans of Iran's senior Supreme Leader into crisis, as he had long been a protégé of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was thought to be grooming Raisi as his successor