Asia Brunei The Basic Haj and Umrah Course 1448H/2026M has began at selected mosques nationwide to equip prospective haj and umrah pilgrims with essential knowledge on the rites and provide physical, spiritual and mental guidance
Africa Namibia Speaking at the University of Namibia's April graduation ceremony in Windhoek, president Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah confirmed the institution recorded a 747% increase in student enrolment since 1992, with its student population rising from 3.639 to 30.836
Africa Mali Mali has been hit by a surge of coordinated attacks by jihadist groups linked to al-Qaeda and Islamic State, targeting military bases, towns and key infrastructure; Authorities have responded with intensified military operations and security measures
Asia Vietnam Local firms are testing AI-driven commerce tools: pilot chatbots for customer service, AI-powered product recommendations, demand forecasting and automated ad targeting; trials focus on e-commerce platforms to boost sales and efficiency
Europe Italy Alex Zanardi, whom BBC called 'a 21st century hero who inspired millions through his unquenchable spirit in the face of unbelievable adversity', an icon of different sports, died at 59 following sufferance from a 2020 devastating accident
Africa Niger World Press Freedom Day was celebrated under the theme "Shaping a Future in Peace", focusing on the role of the media in social cohesion, ethics, and peace; press operators remind that Niger sits amidst a struggle for sovereignty and independence
America Dominica Dominica joins regional effort to prevent youth crime and violence in the Eastern Caribbean through UN joint programme
Africa eSwatini The joint venture that signed a contract to build stretches of MR14 and MR21 consists of companies that were ordered to pay a million-worth penalty for tender collusion in the construction of the Cape Town Stadium in South Africa
Europe Finland A proposal to reduce and clarify the goals of Finland’s basic education curriculum has drawn resistance from politicians, business representatives and municipal leaders, who warn that falling learning results must not lead to lower standards in schools
Europe Germany NATO is reviewing a US plan to withdraw 5.000 troops from Germany amid political tension with European allies over US-Israel attacks on Iran; around 36.000 US troops are currently stationed in Germany, the largest US military presence on the continent
Oceania Fiji Pacific Polytechnic has been ordered to vacate a property in Samabula after High Court in Suva ruled in favour of the Trustees of Sanatan Dharm Pratindhi Sabha of Fiji in a long-running dispute; the order is suspended for 30 days to allow time to vacate
Asia Myanmar One month after Min Aung Hlaing was been installed as president of Myanmar, consolidating his power after leading the 2021 military coup, critics say it formalized military rule, undermining democratic transition amid ongoing conflict and repression
America Colombia FARC dissident organization EMC declared in a statement that a guerrilla attack that killed 20 civilians in the southwest was a “regrettable incident” resulting from “errors in military maneuvering during combat”, civilian deaths “were not premeditated”
America El Salvador The Minister of Housing announced the delivery of new housing projects in downtown San Salvador, where the final details are being completed on cooperative housing units ready to be handed out to rightful occupants