Oceania Vanuatu In view of Provincial Councilors and a few Municipal By-Elections on 08 July, a campaign by Transparency International Vanuatu reminded that vote is a right, a power that can make a change, inviting to Vote freely and not for money, foodstuff or gifts
Africa Gabon Military leader Gen Brice Oligui Nguema has won presidential election with around 90% of the vote according to provisional results; it was the first election in Gabon since the Bongo near-60-year dynasty was overthrown by Nguema in the 2023 coup
Asia Georgia “The Blitz: A Georgian Daughter’s Rise to CFO in the Post-Soviet Era”, the autobiography by Tamar Gakharia, has reached the top of Amazon charts, earning the #1 New Release badge and becoming a bestseller in selected categories in record time
Asia Armenia In Jan-March 2025, 988 road accidents where recorded in Armenia, resulting in 60 deaths and 1.391 injuries, confirming an alarming trend of the past 10 years; lawmakers held hearings on Road Safety to identify key problems and find systemic solutions
Africa South Africa Google plans to invest $90 billion in economic output and help create 300.000 jobs in South Africa by 2030; among the fastest-growing tech giants globally, with 30% y-o-y growth, Google claims AI will bring a wave of new jobs, not just tech roles
Europe United Kingdom The Supreme Court ruled that trans women do not fall within the legal definition of women under UK's equality legislation; the landmark judgment says the legal definition of a woman is based on biological sex, a blow to campaigners for transgender rights
Asia Vietnam 11 island districts will be turned into “special zones”, areas directly managed by provinces with no district-level administration; This reform simplifies governance, boosts development, and strengthens national sovereignty in strategic maritime regions
Asia Iraq A sandstorm swept through Iraq, filling the air with choking dust that closed airports and put over 3.700 people in hospital with breathing difficulties; Visibility fell to less than one km in central and southern cities cloaked in an orange haze
Asia Malaysia Curtailments to gas flow are expected to end on 20 April; they have been imposed after a fire in Petronas Putra Heights on 1 April resulted in a mushroom cloud in a residential area, where 50 houses were damaged by temperatures reaching over 1.000 °C
Asia Mongolia “National AI” Program will train 250 AI specialists and 2.250 teachers over five years; In partnership with global institutions, it will offer AI education in Mongolian to bridge the digital divide and foster innovation nationwide
Asia Bahrain Councillors have unanimously approved an urgent request to preserve a historic natural spring in Samaheej; members of the Muharraq Municipal Council stressed the heritage value of ‘Ayn Aloudah’, one of the island’s archaeological water sources
Asia Taiwan Taiwan’s youth suicide rate has risen above the OECD average of 6,5, up from 4,5 in 2021, latest comparative report says, and mental health problems are worsening according to a National Taiwan University survey
Europe Slovakia While Slovak president condemned Russian strike on Sumy and urged to make pressure for peace, the parliament refused to sign the international document condemning Russia for those deadly attacks
Africa Zambia A training for licensed artisanal miners has started; the pivotal Ministerial initiative addresses several critical aspects regarding these key workers contributing to local and national economies especially in rural areas, with safety at first place