Africa Ethiopia Parliament removed a controversial salary deduction clause from disaster risk bill citing ‘overlapping burden on workers’; the clause was withdrawn following “discussion and consensus” and the proclamation was unanimously approved
Africa Djibouti The growing influence of the United Arab Emirates across Africa has ben addressed by President Guelleh in an interview with Radio France International; he warns the UAE would be using economic investments to expand strategic control on the continent
Asia Armenia The Crossroads of Peace project was presented by Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan at the opening of the Yerevan Dialogue 2025 international forum as key to connecting and overcoming global crises by opening the roads with Azerbaijan and Turkey
Asia Philippines At the ASEAN-GCC-China Forum in Kuala Lumpur, President Marcos urged ASEAN and China to expedite a binding Code of Conduct for the South China Sea; he stressed its importance for maritime security, stability, and preventing conflict in disputed waters
Asia Singapore At the ATxSummit in Singapore, President Tharman Shanmugaratnam emphasized the need to harness AI for public good, preserving jobs, enhancing healthcare, and combating climate change; He warned against leaving AI development unregulated
Europe Belarus Production of wood pellets from wood waste is viewed as a very promising source of income for the country, said President Lukashenko, eyeing a sharper focus on the introduction of pellet heaters as a mean to recycle and respond to energy needs
Europe Czech Republic Czechia has adopted postal voting for its citizens living abroad, after years of debate and determined civic effort; promoters say it’s a logistical reform and a powerful act of recognition: it’s not about who you vote for, but about the ability to vote
America Dominica Ferdison Valmond, a prominent Indigenous environmental advocate from the Kalinago Territory, has been designated a Youth Ambassador for the 2nd Annual Hamburg Sustainability Summit, representing Indigenous and Caribbean youth perspectives
America Dominican Republic A minimum wage increase for workers in the hotel, bar, and restaurant sectors has been approved by the National Wage Committee and will be implemented in two phases from 1 June; government officials, business leaders and unions reached historic consensus
Asia Jordan Jordanians are now allowed to travel to Syria by land, exclusively via public transportation, through the Jaber border crossing, closed since 6 December 2024 due to escalating security issues in southern Syria; private vehicle crossing is still prohibited
Asia Azerbaijan A two-day international conference titled "Islamophobia in Focus: Unveiling Bias, Shattering Stigmas" is taking place in Baku, organized by Azerbaijan and supranational organizations, honoring 3rd anniversary of International Day to Combat Islamophobia
America Argentina 33 deaths in hospitals due to contaminated fentanyl, which has been traced to bacterial infections from batches supplied by local labs now under judicial investigation and market withdrawal orders
Europe Greece Peloponnese Trails, network of 1.730 kilometers of trails connecting the entire peninsula, easily accessible from Athens with public transport, has been presented as a holistic model for thematic tourism to revitalize the countryside and local economies
Africa Equatorial Guinea Sovereignty on the isles of Conga, Mbanié and Cocoteros, virtually uninhabited but possibly containing significant oil deposits, disputed with Gabon since the early 1970s, has been attributed to EG by the ICJ, the UN top supreme court, in latest ruling