Asia Bangladesh Prisoners in Bangladesh legally earn Tk2, € 1 cent, per day for their labour: so low that it undermines efforts to rehabilitate inmates through meaningful work; the inspector general of prisons raised the issue amid reforms in the prison employment system
Asia Saudi Arabia The Al-Baha Summer Festival 2025 has been inaugurated; under the theme "Al Baha... Heritage and Tourism", it will offer over 500 events and welcome 2,5 million visitor, in a showcase of culture and heritage that aims at attracting also local tourism
Asia North Korea Inter-Korean reunions hotel is being desmantled, despite South Korea's engagement push; the current work on ROK-owned tower at Mt. Kumgang resort appears to signal DPRK will maintain anti-South policies
America Panama Panama has regained control of Bocas del Toro after violent protests over pension reforms led by banana workers resulted in one death, over 300 arrests, and major unrest, with officials linking the chaos to gang involvement and political agitation
Asia Yemen Sites have been handed out by local authority in Sana'a province for a solar power system installation that will operate water wells; the land is now ready for the implementing party
Europe Vatican City Commenting on the NATO members' approval of military expenditure to 5% of GDP, Pope Leo XIV lamented the rise of blunt power over the rules of international law and said the decision is 'unworthy and shameful for humanity and for the leaders of nations'
America Uruguay Mandatory sheltering has been enforced for homeless people after a polar front caused extreme cold and at least seven deaths, prompting authorities to urgently expand shelter availability across Uruguay
Africa Central African Republic At least 29 high school students have been killed and 250 injured in a stampede at a high school in Bangui as an electrical explosion triggered by returning power after a failure brought panic among the 5.000 students sitting their final exams
America Paraguay Electronic cigarettes are now regulated with rules mirroring those for traditional tobacco, after a new bill was approved that limits nicotine to 2%, restricts sales to adults, and imposes advertising controls
Oceania Tonga The Tongan Government is refusing to pay a USD$1 million ransom demanded by hackers who have seized control of the National Health Information System for nearly two weeks
Africa Zimbabwe 25 years after the land reform program that seized land from white Zimbabwean farmers provoking international uprising and internal chaos, some of them have accepted a compensation deal that many think unfair while other social groups find it too generous
Africa Sudan An attack on al-Mujlad hospital in West Kordofan has killed more than 40 civilians according to WHO local office, which did not assign blame to Sudanese military or paramilitary RSF; Sudan's civil war has caused the world’s largest humanitarian crisis
Europe Hungary Tens of thousands marched in opposition-run Budapest for 30th edition of the 'Pride', defying new law by PM Orban's ruling coalition banning the parade with fines for participants and arrest for organizers: a direct challenge to the nationalist government
Africa Zambia Zambia has acquired a 26% equity stake in Angola’s Benguela oil refinery, under construction in Lobito, thus transitioning from fuel-importer to strategic co-owner and making a shift toward energy independence and economic self-determination