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Australians get their dental work done in Vietnam; daughters have (almost) the same inheritance rights as sons in Africa. An emergency heart transplant…so much is going on in this world. All newsworthy, in my humble opinion.

Africa

DR Congo — Ebola response

The Ebola outbreak in eastern Congo has passed 6,200 confirmed cases and 3,000 deaths. Seventy-six security incidents against Ebola and aid teams have injured 45 workers; contact tracing, safe burials and treatment are also being hindered by staff shortages and community mistrust.

South Africa

South Africa’s Human Rights Commission has received more than 250 submissions concerning the water, electricity, land and environmental effects of rapidly expanding data centres. South Africa already hosts about 70% of Africa’s data-centre capacity; one proposed Cape Town facility could require about 160 megawatts of electricity.

Kenya

Kenya has begun importing milk from Uganda after domestic supplies fell below demand. Formal deliveries to processors dropped from 84.4 million litres in June to 81.3 million in July; dry conditions, high feed costs and insufficient fodder have reduced production. Retail prices have risen in some areas.

A Kenyan court ruled that daughters cannot be given lower priority than sons when administering a parent’s estate. The court said succession law provides no superior entitlement based on gender.

Kenya Power is investing about Sh765 million in two substations in Kwale and Kilifi counties. The projects are intended to improve electricity capacity and reliability in the two coastal counties.

A five-day national school-selection period begins today for Grade 9 students. Schools must help pupils choose subject combinations, schools and career pathways; the Education Ministry says students and parents cannot be charged for participating.

South Africa

Illegal chrome mining around Rustenburg has developed into a substantial underground economy. Workers enter abandoned or unsecured mining areas to extract ore, while South Africa remains one of the world’s largest sources of chrome, a key ingredient in stainless steel.

DR Congo

More than 20 people were killed when a fire broke out during a wedding celebration in the Democratic Republic of Congo on September 6.

Asia

India — Drug dependence in prisons

The Punjab and Haryana High Court was told that about half of inmates in Punjab’s prisons are drug-dependent. The court called the figures a serious challenge and ordered Haryana and Chandigarh to submit corresponding data on their prison populations.

Seven people were killed and six injured when a five-storey student hostel collapsed in New Delhi’s Satya Niketan district. Twelve people were pulled from the rubble. The owner has been arrested, and five municipal employees have been suspended.

Indian authorities are increasing food inspections after checks identified hygiene and food-handling violations. The enforcement campaign includes restaurants, food businesses and other commercial food operations.

ISRO is responding to concerns surrounding India’s expanding private space industry as the government transfers more launch, satellite and technology work to commercial companies. India has been opening parts of a sector previously dominated by the state space agency.

Indonesia

About 2,000 suspected food-poisoning cases have been linked to Indonesia’s free school-meal program in recent outbreaks. The national program has previously faced repeated contamination incidents as well as corruption allegations.

Vietnam

Australians now make up the majority of foreign dental patients treated in Vietnam. Lower prices and shorter waiting times are driving the increase, particularly for implants and major restorative work.

Nepal

Nepal reported 1,356 deaths from the Bhote Koshi flooding by Monday evening. Search and rescue operations continued in affected areas.

China

Authorities in China’s Jilin province have introduced a smoking-cessation competition. Participants are monitored while trying to quit, adding incentives and public participation to existing anti-smoking programs.

South Korea

South Korea continues to record cases involving teenagers creating and distributing sexually explicit deepfakes despite strengthened criminal penalties. The issue has prompted additional attention to school-age offenders, online distribution and victim protection.

Malaysia

Deaf Malaysians interviewed about employment barriers report difficulties obtaining jobs despite qualifications, including workplace communication barriers and employers’ assumptions about disability. Some are moving into leadership and advocacy roles aimed at increasing employment opportunities.

Indonesia

Indonesia is considering a limited form of dual citizenship intended to attract skilled members of its large overseas diaspora. President Prabowo Subianto has said the proposal would target people capable of making significant contributions to the country.

Indonesia

The eruption of Anak Krakatau has closed several Indonesian airports. By Monday, 1,558 flights had been delayed or cancelled, leaving about 170,000 travelers affected. Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta airport was among those disrupted.

Australia & Pacific

Australia

Australia’s university regulator found the Australian National University had failed three national higher-education standards involving governance, accountability and sustainable operation. ANU must appoint an independent expert within 30 days and complete governance, financial, risk-management and council reforms. It is currently Australia’s only public university operating with conditions on its registration.

Australia/New Zealand

Education provider Mathspace says information belonging to 1,079,819 students, parents and staff was accessed between August 10 and 27 through an unpatched reporting system. Names, email addresses, usernames and login information were among the data taken; passwords and academic records were not exposed.

Australia

A community organization in Kilkivan, Queensland, is seeking funding for housing for older residents leaving large rural properties but not yet requiring residential aged care. The organization already provides home care and community transport.

Video interpreting, apps and AI-based services are increasing remote access to interpreting for deaf and hearing-impaired Australians. Regional Auslan interpreters report that the same technologies are reducing demand for some face-to-face interpreting work.

Bougainville

Bougainville produced about 17,000 tonnes of cocoa last year as an industry badly damaged during the island’s civil conflict continues to recover. Cocoa remains an important source of cash income for rural families.

Middle East

Strait of Hormuz

Commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has fallen to its lowest level since May amid attacks involving Iran and the United States. Iran is also planning a restricted zone in the waterway.

Lebanon

Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon killed nine civilians in Kfar Rumman, according to Lebanese authorities, including women and a child. A paramedic was killed in a separate strike.

Russia & Ukraine

A temporary local ceasefire allowed technicians to repair an external power line at the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant. The facility had been relying on emergency diesel generation after losing external electricity.

Russia–North Korea

Russia and North Korea have opened their first road bridge across the Tumen River. The crossing adds a direct road connection to existing rail links between the two countries.

Scandinavia & Nordic / Arctic

The European Union announced €200 million in additional investment for Greenland covering education, fisheries, internet connectivity, hydropower, critical minerals, housing, small businesses and tourism.

Finland

Finland continues to have the highest unemployment rate in the EU, according to the latest Eurostat figures. Spain and Sweden are also among the countries with the highest rates.

Sweden

Plans to expand mining around Kiruna include the Per Geijer deposit, described as Europe’s largest known rare-earth deposit. The Gabna Sámi community says expansion would interfere with traditional reindeer migration between calving, mountain and forest areas.

Denmark/Greenland

Danish conscripts have been deployed to Greenland for the first time. Denmark has been increasing its military presence and infrastructure planning in the Arctic.

Europe

Great Britain & Ireland

The EU’s biometric Entry/Exit System is moving into a stricter implementation phase for non-EU travelers, including British citizens. The system records fingerprints and facial images rather than relying solely on passport stamps. Some cross-Channel facilities in France are still completing implementation.

Germany

The AfD won 43.8% in Sunday’s Saxony-Anhalt state election, becoming the largest party but falling short of an absolute majority. The CDU has ruled out governing with it. It’s the first time since WWII that a right-wing nazi party won. (It’s a sad day, and sadly, this is front-page news all over the world. I broke my own rules because not talking/writing about it would be wrong).

France

French university and research representatives meeting in Paris this month are calling for changes to higher-education and research policy after budget restrictions, declining research performance and administrative pressures.

Spain

Schools are reopening during unusually high September temperatures. Teachers in several regions are protesting inadequate classroom cooling and ventilation.

Poland

More than 6,000 participants are expected at the Karpacz Economic Forum from September 8–10. More than 500 scheduled sessions cover healthcare, technology, security, sustainable development, economics and European policy.

Italy

Italy spent 6.2% of GDP on public healthcare in 2025, down from 6.3% a year earlier and the lowest proportion among G7 countries.

South America

Brazil

Brazil has been promoted to the highest international classification for mathematical research. Brazilian researchers now belong to the top group used to classify countries’ participation and strength in international mathematics.

Chile

Chile’s navy identified 21 foreign fishing vessels operating outside the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone near Easter Island but within the wider area monitored by Chilean authorities.

Canada

Data centres

Canada has introduced national principles covering electricity costs, water use, environmental effects and community benefits for new data centres.

British Columbia

Construction has begun on the North Coast Transmission Line, which will increase electricity capacity for communities and industrial development in northwestern British Columbia.

Saskatchewan

Whitecap Dakota Nation is developing a Virtual Health Hub to connect northern and Indigenous communities with medical specialists through telehealth and remote-presence technology. The first approximately 30 communities are expected to be connected in 2027.

Good News

United States — Hudson River rescue

An 8-year-old girl fell into the Hudson River in Troy, New York. A bystander jumped into the river and kept her above water until police officers lifted both over the seawall. The girl was uninjured.

United States — Hawaii teenager finds fungi that break down pollutants

Hawaii high-school student Vera Wang isolated fungi from coconut husks capable of degrading sunscreen chemicals and microplastics. The work won top honors at the 2026 Hawaii State Science and Engineering Fair and qualified her for the International Science & Engineering Fair.

United States — Aircraft navigates without GPS

An Embraer 170 completed a 4-hour, 23-minute Pacific flight using Earth’s magnetic field for navigation rather than GPS. The demonstration was part of the U.S. Defense Innovation Unit’s MagNav program.

Japan — Program improves health measures in older adults

A six-month municipal program in Kikuyo Town combining exercise, cognitive training and lifestyle monitoring produced measurable improvements in attention and dietary balance among 50 older participants.

Red Sea — Coral treated during marine heat

Researchers used probiotic and post-biotic treatments on heat-stressed Red Sea corals in open water. Treated corals showed improved health during the natural marine heatwave.

Nepal — Two people found alive after ten days

A Chinese worker trapped in a hydropower tunnel and a Nepalese woman trapped in the remains of her home were rescued alive ten days after the August 26 floods.

Australia

Australia — Dementia fundraising

Former rugby league player Royce Simmons completed a 300-kilometre walk through New South Wales, raising about A$170,000 for dementia research.

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