Africa Zambia Authorities and environmentalists fear catastrophic consequences and long-term impact from an acid spill at a Chinese-owned mine that has contaminated the Kafue River, with signs detected over 100 km downstream; 20 million people live in Kafue basin
Asia Malaysia PM Ibrahim said religious mockery cases will be investigated fairly; his statement comes amid rising religious sensitivities and judicial shifts, with concerns over political interference and the balance between religious harmony and judicial independence
Asia Vietnam The China Railway No.2 Group has proposed restoring Vietnam's 84-kilometer Da Lat-Thap Cham railway, which ceased operations in 1968; the plan was discussed with Lam Dong officials, who indicated that investment procedures would be outlined
Africa Lesotho The government was 'shocked and embarrassed' by Donald Trump's remarks in a speech to Congress calling Lesotho a country 'no one has ever heard of', thus justifying US aid cuts
Asia Afghanistan The country is facing a critical health emergency with a dramatic rise in acute respiratory diseases, affecting children in particular; WHO has documented a 54,1% increase due to environmental and social factors and the use of poor quality fuels
Africa Senegal 3.000 employees in the parastatal sector and public administration have been laid off due to the country's economic crisis and years of mismanagement of government funds
Asia Indonesia A proposed revision of TNI Law would expand army presence in civilian sectors: officers could hold government positions and extend retirement age; critics warn it could undermine army professionalism and revive Suharto-era military influence in politics
Africa Democratic Republic of the Congo Over 2.500 schools have been destroyed or occupied due to the ongoing conflict in the provinces of North Kivu and South Kivu; the crisis has affected more than 1 million students
Europe Poland The novel 'Blackbird Blackberry', by Georgian writer and a feminist activist Tamta Melashvili, was awarded best book of the year in Poland
Asia Laos Luang Prabang, UNESCO World Heritage city, got 3rd place in the Green Destinations Top100 Story Awards for Destination Management at the ITB Berlin; the accolade recognizes commitment to sustainable tourism, responsible visitor management, crisis recovery
Asia South Korea South Korea and the US held joint live-fire drills near the inter-Korean border ahead of the Freedom Shield exercise with over 160 military assets, including F-35A jets and Apache helicopters; North Korea condemned the drills as invasion rehearsals
Asia Thailand Samitivej Hospital, a regional medical leader, opened an expanded International Children’s Hospital for advanced pediatric care in Bangkok; a $59,4 million investment, it offers heart treatments, cancer care, specialized surgeries, and digital healthcare
Asia Iraq Fortified exhibition halls have been allocated to store and display recovered antiquities, including artifacts previously stored at the Central Bank of Iraq or recently repatriated from abroad
Asia Singapore Government proposed to empower victims of online harm to take legal action against tech platforms; the initiative aligns with the set up of an agency to address online safety and responds to public demand for stronger measures against online harassment