Europe Spain A full majority of Spaniards approve the position of Pedro Sánchez, the President of the Government, who at the NATO summit refused to pledge for 5% GDP for military expenditure; the under 28 are one of the clusters not approving
Asia Indonesia Indonesia’s top court is now reviewing 14 petitions against the new law letting more military officers hold civilian roles, as critics warn it undermines democracy and reform, fearing a return to military dominance seen during Suharto’s authoritarian era
America Trinidad and Tobago Hannah Janoura, businesswoman and philanthropist, distributed 190 wheelchairs to members of the public in what has become an annual appointment: media report she has been doing this for so many years, she has handed out at least 1.400 wheelchairs
Oceania Papua New Guinea PM Marane issued a nationwide call to government, communities and citizens to actively prepare for Papua New Guinea 50th anniversary of independence in September; he urged organizing meaningful celebrations to make it a day of reflection pride and unity
Europe Latvia 91% of Liepaja residents would be happy to participate in Liepaja European Capital of Culture 2027 or Liepaja 2027 events as audience and are less keen on more active forms of involvement - a study on local and regional cultural habits has concluded
Africa Morocco Morocco is among 64 countries where the majority of people believe the top purpose of democracy is to improve living standards and well-being, not just as a system to protect freedoms, according to 2025 Democracy Perception Index
Europe Lithuania Within the plan to extend the high-speed railway Rail Baltica up to 114 km in Lithuania by 2025, a new tender has been issued for a 12,4 km stretch
Asia Qatar Free admission to Qatar Museums venues and exhibitions today 18 May and educational activities will celebrate International Museum Day; museum should evolve to remain an essential connection amid ongoing changes, actively shaping resilient communities
Europe Estonia A cultural cooperation programme until the year 2029 has been signed with Ukraine at mInisterial level
Africa South Sudan South Sudan must repay $657 million to the African Export-Import Bank over unpaid pandemic and trade-related loans; according to Global Trade Review, the British court ruling followed gov and central bank failure to respond to lawsuit or attend hearings
Africa Sudan Widespread and systematic violations against women and girls in Sudan: conflict-related sexual violence, abductions, killings - many attributed to the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces - have been reported and condemned by independent human rights experts
Asia Kuwait 3rd Gulf Housing Week, 18-22 May, will be hosted in Kuwait under the theme “Real Estate Development for Sustainable Housing”; the event is part of ongoing efforts by Gulf Cooperation Council states to strengthen regional cooperation in the housing sector
Europe Kosovo Former Kosovo Liberation Army guerrilla Pjeter Shala appealed against the ICC Hague Trial verdict jailing him for 18 years for war crimes; the prosecution and victims’ representative insisted the sentencing was fair
Oceania Tuvalu At a panel with the advertising industry at Cairns Crocodiles - an international festival - the groundbreaking campaign presenting Tuvalu as first 'digital nation' has been recalled as powerful tool to address climate issues with truly impacting results