Asia Bangladesh Prisoners in Bangladesh legally earn Tk2, € 1 cent, per day for their labour: so low that it undermines efforts to rehabilitate inmates through meaningful work; the inspector general of prisons raised the issue amid reforms in the prison employment system
Asia Syria Five days into the start of fires in the forests of Jabal Turkman, Lattakia countryside, firefighters continue their effort for the fifth consecutive day while strong winds and a significant rise in temperatures brought to expansion and increase of blazes
Oceania Tonga Unauthorised entry to uninhabited Crown lands, including the remote ‘Ata Island, has been banned and similar uninhabited territories are off-limits without prior written approval; permission is needed for any purpose including tourism, research or filming
Africa Zambia Lusaka Times dedicated a column to World Migratory Bird Day 2025 'Creating Bird-friendly Cities and Communities', highlighting the need for healthy coexistence of humans and birds, key indicators of environmental health, among expanding urban developments
America Bolivia A decree to regulate fintech companies and tokenized virtual assets has been approved in Bolivia, aiming to ensure legal clarity, transparency, and user protection amid growing national adoption of blockchain and cryptocurrency services
America Brazil Brazil has strengthened its strategic partnership with Russia by signing nuclear and defense cooperation agreements during Lula's Moscow visit, despite Western backlash over his participation in Russia's Victory Day amid the Ukraine conflict
America Chile Chile has supported sustainable potato farming through the INIA Kampenaike program, which has benefited over 300 farmers by introducing climate-adapted varieties, eco-technologies, and value-added products, with plans to expand to 500 beneficiaries
Asia Bhutan Bhutan's Druk Green Power Corporation and India's Adani Group signed a MoU to develop 5.000MW of hydropower projects; the partnership builds on the ongoing collaboration on Wangchhu Hydropower and pursues regional energy security and economic integration
America Saint Kitts and Nevis The Nevis Cooperative Credit Union has officially adopted two primary schools under its Schools Outreach Assistance and Rewards programme for the 2024-2025 academic year as part of its commitment to community development and youth empowerment
Africa Burundi The 2025 election campaign season was officially launched on 9 May with a symbolic ceremony in Gitega, Burundi's political capital; the event marked the formal beginning of the pre-campaign period for the legislative and communal elections of June 5
Europe Sweden Legionella Bacteria was found at Södersjukhuset Hospital in Stockholm; patients who need to shower are advised to remove the mouthpiece so that the water runs directly from the hose and drink tap water, which is safe, pouring into a glass or a mug
Asia Indonesia The free meal program, launched in January, has faced at least 10 mass food poisoning incidents, affecting hundreds of students; despite government pledges to safety, lapses in preparation and hygiene persist, raising concerns over the program's oversight
Asia Singapore 137 km from the equator, Singapore is ideal for efficient rocket launches and aims to become a space hub; through national space agency OSTIn it is investing over €40 million in R&D, satellites and commercialization, exploring future offshore spaceports
Asia Mongolia Year-round children's camps will be launched with tutoring, mental health support, traditional crafts, music, sports, life skills training; camps will be tailored to local conditions, with heated yurts and outdoor-focused activities where possible