America Brazil 180,1 million tonnes of soybeans are expected to be harvested in the 2026/27 season, with exports forecast to reach a record 110 million tonnes; Domestic crushing is expected to rise to 63,5 million tonnes, also driven by stronger biodiesel demand
Europe Bulgaria Bulgarians should be allowed to vote on whether the country ditches the lev in favour of the euro, according to President Rumen Radev; critics say the proposed plebiscite is more about his post-presidency political ambitions
Europe Slovakia PM Fico held negotiations with US officials and nuclear energy company Westinghouse regarding the construction of a new reactor at the Jaslovské Bohunice site; the next-generation reactor could be built near the existing Soviet-designed nuclear facility
Asia Singapore Ancient Asians who migrated 20.000 km to South America have been traced by a study by Nanyang Technological University; using ancient DNA, researchers showed how this journey reshaped the genetic makeup of indigenous populations across the Americas
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 Moldova About 17.000 voters were called at the polls yesterday to elect mayors in several localities; the elections have been monitored by 21 national observers accredited by the Central Election Commission
Asia Palestine The “Baghdad Declaration" issued at the end of the 34th Arab League Summit calls for immediate ceasefire in Gaza and the deployment of UN protection and peacekeeping forces in the Palestinian territories until a two-state solution is implemented
Asia Taiwan Foreign caregivers, organised in a union, protested outside the Ministry of Labor in Taipei calling on the government to remove the 12 years limit a migrant worker can remain in Taiwan and to abolish the compulsory use of intermediaries, or brokers
Oceania Tonga The development of the private sector is the primary focus of Tonga's new budget, the Prime Minister Hon. Dr 'Aisake Eke said as his Cabinet finalized the budget for 2025-2026, to be presented to the Legislative Assembly this week
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
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
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
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