Asia China "An open-source artificial intelligence zone" aimed at BRICS nations has been proposed by President Xi Jinping's at the BRICS summit in New Delhi, yet another sign of the increasingly fierce race for technological supremacy with the US
Europe Vatican City Pope Leo XIV’s first encyclical letter was issued on 25 May; titled Magnifica humanitas in Latin, it is translated as Magnificent Humanity or On Safeguarding the Human Person in the Time of Artificial Intelligence
Africa Zimbabwe Petina Gappah has been honored with the 2026 Flora Nwapa Literary Society Award, the second Zimbabwean writer after Tsitsi Dangarembga to receive the honour that recognises trailblazers in writing, publishing, scholarship, across Africa and the diaspora
Africa Tanzania At the St Petersburg International Economic Forum, President Samia, sitting beside Russian President Putin, dismissed suggestions that her presence would signal a shift in foreign policy, insisting that Tanzania would remain non-aligned
Europe Netherlands Ye's concert in Armhen registered a sold-out house; over 40.000 fans crowded the dome for one of the few European concerts of ex-rapper Kanye West, cancelled in several otherr countries over his anti-Semitic positions
Asia Turkmenistan Festival "Talyp joşguny 2026" ended in Aşgabat; the finals featured performances by groups from Turkmenistan's universities that passed qualifying rounds presenting vocal and dance numbers, folklore skits, theatrical skits, and music performances
Asia United Arab Emirates A new phase of streamlined, fully digital work permit services has been launched to speed up hiring processes; the new unified platform will offer access to 13 different permit types to boost efficiency in UAE labour market
America Suriname Following the theft of 11 out 14 cylinders of mercury placed under Police guard, the Justice and Police Minister underlined that the episodes erode people's faith in the institution; an investigation is underway
Africa Comoros A Memorandum was signed with Bahrein to strengthen cooperation in digital government development and digital transformation; the activity falls under Bahrain’s Global Digital Twinning Initiative for eGovernment Excellence in support of foreign countries
Oceania Solomon Islands The Solomon Islands Ports Authority has celebrated its 70th Anniversary; staff, government representatives, stakeholders and partners acknowledged its role in connecting communities and its contribution to the economic development of the country
Africa Seychelles ‘Status and Trend of Seychelles’ Coral Reefs 2026 Report’, one of the most comprehensive assessments of coral reef health ever conducted in the country, has been presented upon initiative of Seychelles Conservation and Climate Adaptation Trust SeyCCAT
Asia Uzbekistan The restriction that limited importing of vehicles to one per year for persons or companies, for their personal or corporate needs, has been lifted
Oceania Fiji NF Party leader, former Finance Minister Professor Prasad called on Sugar Minister for an immediate government top-up to the recently announced forecast cane price, warning that the current rate could create instability in the sugar industry
Oceania Tuvalu At the Island States Ocean Summit held in Tokyo, Japan, Tuvalu's President underlined that climate action and ocean management should merge into one single global agenda, warning that low-lying states can no longer afford to plan for the two separately