Every evening, at 8 pm, we turned on the TV, sat quietly on the couch, and listened to the news. First it covered everything local, then the rest of Austria. From there it went to Switzerland and Germany, a bit of the Italian news and the rest of Europe-before the European Union existed. Then the rest of the world—by distance: first Africa, then the Middle East, Australia, America, and Asia last. I miss this form of news. Today I share my sources.
Africa
Uganda — First national fistula-treatment network
Uganda has launched a coordinated network linking the Health Ministry with seven organizations providing prevention, referrals, surgery and rehabilitation. A government survey estimates that approximately 74,000 Ugandan women live with obstetric fistula. Daily Monitor
Uganda — Hospital serving 4.5 million loses oxygen plant
Jinja Regional Referral Hospital’s oxygen plant has been out of service for about four months, forcing staff to obtain cylinders from outside the region several times a week. The 500-bed hospital also has only 408 of its 1,261 approved staff positions filled. Daily Monitor
Asia
India — First Indian genetic study of endometriosis
An 18-centre study identified 21 genetic regions potentially associated with endometriosis among Indian women. Researchers said the findings are not yet suitable for clinical testing or predicting an individual patient’s risk. The Indian Express
India — Dedicated freight corridor completed
India inaugurated the final sections of its Western Dedicated Freight Corridor, completing approximately 2,800 kilometres of dedicated freight routes. More than 430 trains now use the corridors daily. The Indian Express
China — Special-education plan through 2030
A seven-department plan seeks to maintain at least 97% compulsory-school enrolment among children with disabilities and expand vocational, secondary and university access. China recorded 2,464 special schools, 927,000 pupils and 85,100 specialist teachers in 2025. China Daily
China — New 134-kilometre canal ready to open
The Pinglu Canal has passed acceptance inspections and is scheduled to open September 16. The waterway will accommodate vessels of up to 5,000 tonnes and shorten southwestern China’s route to the sea by more than 560 kilometres. China Daily
Japan — Shinjuku proposes broad short-term-rental ban
Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward plans to prohibit short-term rentals in residential-only and educational districts, including existing properties after a grace period. More than half of the ward’s approximately 3,900 registered rentals could be affected. Jiji Press via Nippon.com
South Korea — Subway stations join dementia-safety network
Seoul’s Songpa District has introduced dementia-response services at eight subway stations. Trained station staff, police, health services and participating shops can locate missing residents, provide temporary shelter and arrange cognitive screening. The Korea Times
Australia & Pacific
Australia — CTE found in former rugby-league players
Chronic traumatic encephalopathy was identified in 31 of 51 donated brains from former rugby-league players, including amateurs and professionals who died in their twenties, thirties and forties. The examinations were conducted by the Australian Sports Brain Bank. ABC News
Australia — Users may receive an algorithm off-switch
Draft Digital Duty of Care legislation would require social-media platforms to let users reject personalized recommendation algorithms. Proposed protections for children under 16 also include disabling endless scrolling; maximum penalties could exceed A$100 million. ABC News
Australia — 80-tonne flood barrier installed above station
Engineers have completed a 22-by-10-metre retractable barrier above Brisbane’s Albert Street underground station entrance. The barrier lowers from the ceiling to seal the deepest point in the Cross River Rail tunnel system against flooding. ABC News
Middle East
Israel — Experimental blood test detects later-stage lung cancer
A study involving 103 participants found that a new blood test identified 93% of stage 2–4 lung cancers and correctly excluded cancer in 90% of healthy controls. The test analyzes chemical patterns on circulating DNA without conventional sequencing; larger trials are continuing. The Times of Israel
Israel — Universities and hospitals establish biotechnology centre
Fifteen universities, medical centres and health organizations have formed the nonprofit Israel National Biotech Innovation Center. It plans to raise $500 million over ten years to develop early academic research into potential medicines and biotechnology companies. The Times of Israel
Scandinavia & Nordics
Sweden — Voting brought into a residential-care home
Habo municipality sent mobile voting officers to residents of Kärrsgården who could not reach a polling place. Information was distributed directly to every resident, increasing participation in the home-voting service. SVT
Europe
OECD countries — Reading and mathematics performance falls
PISA 2025 tested approximately 760,000 fifteen-year-olds across 91 countries and economies. Since 2015, average reading performance across the OECD has fallen 28 points and mathematics performance 22 points. OECD
England — Councils paid £250 million for unlawful child placements
An investigation found that English councils placed approximately 1,800 vulnerable children in unregistered accommodation over two years. Ofsted identified 710 illegal children’s homes this year, compared with 144 in 2020. The Guardian and Bureau of Investigative Journalism
Austria — Mental-health study of farmers
A survey of approximately 2,000 Austrian farmers found higher reported levels of depression, anxiety, insomnia, stress and suicidal thoughts than among a representative adult comparison group. The study was conducted by the University for Continuing Education Krems. ORF
Austria — Deep-geothermal mapping begins
Energy company EVN will deploy 30,000 geophones across 330 kilometres of the southern Vienna Basin to locate hot water more than three kilometres underground. Two proposed geothermal plants could supply district heating to 20,000–30,000 households by 2035. ORF
Italy — 500 tonnes removed after canal contamination
Cleanup crews extracted approximately 500 tonnes of contaminated liquid from a hydrocarbon slick extending 28 kilometres along the Naviglio Grande toward Milan. Authorities are investigating a possible illegal sewer discharge. ANSA
France — Paintings stolen from Renoir’s former home
Thieves removed four paintings from the Renoir Museum in Cagnes-sur-Mer after cutting through its garden fence. Two paintings were abandoned when police arrived; two works on loan from the Musée d’Orsay remain missing. Associated Press
South America
Brazil — Families refuse 45% of potential organ donations
Families declined organ donation in 45% of interviews conducted in 2025. A national program trained 2,534 healthcare workers in death determination, donor care and communication with relatives between September 2025 and August 2026. Agência Brasil
Brazil — Quilombola families enter agrarian-reform program
Brazil’s land-reform agency recognized 2,451 Quilombola families in Maranhão as beneficiaries of the National Agrarian Reform Program. Eligibility applies to households already registered in the federal social registry. Agência Brasil
North America
Canada — Lowest national PISA results recorded
Canada’s 2025 scores were its lowest recorded results in reading, mathematics and science. The mathematics gap between the highest- and lowest-scoring students widened between 2022 and 2025. OECD country report
Canada — Endangered turtle habitat restored from former mine
A Fraser Valley wetland formerly used as an industrial marl mine is being restored for endangered western painted turtles. Wildlife Preservation Canada has bred, released and monitored turtles at the site since 2012. Wildlife Preservation Canada
Good News
Australia — Community keeps nursing home locally owned
More than 150 association members voted on the future of Proserpine Nursing Home, with approximately 70% opposing its transfer to a national provider. The 100-bed home remains owned by the community charity that established it on donated land in the 1980s. ABC News
Brazil — Women artists of the Amazon exhibited together
A free exhibition in Rio de Janeiro brings together 80 works by 21 women from Pará, Acre and Amazonas. Three works from the Amazonas State Pinacoteca are being displayed outside the state for the first time. Agência Brasil
Canada — Winnipeg’s oldest building marks 175 years
Le Musée de Saint-Boniface has received C$400,000 for anniversary programming at the former Grey Nuns’ convent, completed in 1851. The museum preserves Red River Métis, First Nations, and Francophone history.
Quite a few news articles of which I was totally unaware – as usual! Interesting to read voting information being brought into aged care homes in Sweden – in Australia voting has always been compulsory – in our recent one, every such home had voting officers going from room to room filling in everyone’s forms – for us this is totally normal and expected!
You are very lucky. Here in the US it’s made harder to vote, especially for the elderly, who can’t stand in line for hours. Some states forbid helpers to give out water to the people standing in line. Other states help people to cast their votes, especially in hospitals and nursing homes. It’s the leadership that dictates the way and sadly, sometimes they go into the darkness.