Asia Myanmar Construction of China–Myanmar railway, high-speed passenger and freight corridor linking Yunnan to Kyaukphyu deep-sea port on the Bay of Bengal, is being accelerated; the line will give China direct access to the Indian Ocean, bypassing the Malacca Strait
America Belize Major gaps in services for children with disabilities have been revealed in a national analysis launched with UNICEF in Belize, highlighting the urgent need for inclusive policies despite progress under the 2024 Disability Act
Asia Qatar Art installation “241” has been inaugurated within the Msheireb Museums, commemorating 241 children who died in Gaza; an illuminated light box features a photograph of each one, while designs, videos, and curated materials show their aspirations
Asia Iran Iran analyst Omid Memarian, in Eye for Iran, presents the dramatic cultural opening sweeping across Iran as a bottom-up movement driven by a young generation that is less willing to be intimidated, not as a government reform
Africa Somalia Nearly 1.000 Somali refugees stranded in Yemen returned to their home country in 2025; voluntary repatriation program was carried out by UNHCR, Somali and Yemeni authorities, and international partners, to ensure safe passage and reintegration support
Asia Singapore Nanyang Technological University building covering will be safe for birds, that have been crashing agains the glass walls for nearly two decades; student-led Project Avigate launched a fund-raiser online to fix the building, raising €40.000 in two months
Europe Vatican City The Institution for Works of Religion IOR released its first Sustainability and ESG Report, aligning with the highest international reporting principles for financial institutions and moving to an economic model consistent with Catholic ethical principles
Africa Democratic Republic of the Congo Current cholera epidemic is the worst recorded in DRC in 25 years, with over 64.000 cases and nearly 1.900 deaths this year; children account for a quarter of infections, with 14.818 cases and 340 deaths to date according to local UNICEF representative
Oceania Solomon Islands The next generation of Solomon Islands leaders will benefit from 36 Australia Awards Scholarships for top universities across Australia in 2026; the cohort includes 2 PhDs, 28 Masters, and 6 undergraduate scholars
Asia Bhutan Bhutan’s National Assembly unanimously adopted the framework agreement to join the International Big Cat Alliance, committing the country to global cooperation on big-cat conservation, anti-poaching efforts, and habitat protection
America Bolivia A record 16.600 theropod dinosaur footprints have been documented in Bolivia’s Toro Toro National Park; scientists say it the world’s largest collection of its kind and offering rare insight into dinosaur behavior late in the Cretaceous period
Asia Laos Planned its exit from Least Developed Country status, Laos set a timeline, starting work on a readiness assessment; The government aims to strengthen economic resilience and meet UN criteria, focusing on stability, human capital and sustainable growth
Africa Zambia Zesco has commissioned a 35-megawatt solar power plant in Chibombo, one of the state utility’s steps to broaden Zambia’s energy mix and security through renewable sources, including solar; the project is valued at about 30 million dollars
America Chile Undocumented migrants have dispersed across Chile’s Arica border after Peru has blocked their entry, following fears of expulsion that prompted attempts to flee through the desert frontier