Asia Japan Proof of proficiency in Japanese will be required to apply for a working visa for engineering, humanities or international services; policy will be revised tightening screening after workers entered Japan under a specialized job visa but do unskilled jobs
Oceania Samoa Bee Educated, an initiative by the Samoa Agricultural Organisation funded by the Global Environment Facility through the UNDP, has trained over 100 new beekeepers since 2022 and distributed 2.000 hives across both islands of Upolu and Savai'i
Asia Iran Iran's National Virtual Space Center will take legal action against Google and other international platforms over the distortion of the historical name of the Persian Gulf, considering the use of other names a violation of national identity and of ICCPR
Europe Belgium A new legislation came into effect in Brussels to regulate rental property prices in a bid to preserve housing access; affecting over 30.000 homes, mostly short-term rentals, it establishes a rent exceeding 20% of the regional rates would be a violation
Africa Rwanda University of Rwanda’s School of Science and Technology will soon launching a Bachelor of Science in Nuclear Science and Technology; university officials say it will support the country’s strategy to harness nuclear energy for socioeconomic transformation
Oceania Australia 500 rescues were performed in New South Wales, with 50.000 people still isolated by the flood waters; over 120 alerts are in place for the region, including major warnings, as more rain is expected after 4 months of rain came in 48 hours
Europe Bosnia and Herzegovina Bosnia and Herzegovina is not doing enough to support the potential of small entrepreneurs and sole proprietors, experts say; on the contrary, it still has too much bureaucracy, red tape, high taxes and limited access to financing
America Barbados Beekeeping in Barbados is on the rise: a sustainable source of income and a critical service to the environment, it is supported by growing honey consumption, public interest and structured training from the Ministry of Agriculture
America Bahamas The Bahamas is taking part in the wider push to eliminate cervical cancer by 2030, focusing on administering the HPV vaccine to boys and girls across the country, Minister of Health and Wellness said at the WHO 78th World Health Assembly
Africa Burundi Burundi's media regulator has issued a directive requiring both public and private media to adhere to strict principles of fairness and balance in view of the upcoming elections; until 2 June all political actors must be given equal airtime and coverage
Africa Angola Luana Gomes became the first Angolan individual gymnast to win gold medal in all-around at the 2025 African Championships in Cairo on top of bronze in team and silver in ball, clubs and ribbon finals
Asia Bahrain Water meter boxes on the ground level across Bahrain are being moved to more accessible locations, like nearby walls, to improve safety on streets and sidewalks and modernise the country’s utility infrastructure
Europe Serbia Award-winning visual artist, professor and digital rights defender Vladan Joler said increase in digital surveillance in Serbia is not normal, noting this led students to move back to more face-to-face communication and involvement than just 'likes'
Asia Afghanistan Hazara Culture Day was celebrated in Kabul; featuring women and girls it honored the rich heritage of the Hazara people, with handmade clothing and traditional Hazara foods, aiming to introduce Hazara culture to other ethnic groups in Afghanistan