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Putin’s State Visit To China: Results, Signed Agreements and Analysis

By M. Khatun,First published,May 21,2026 President Vladimir Putin concluded his state visit to China yesterday (May 20), marking what appears to be one of the most productive, forward-looking, and strategically significant Russia-China summits in recent years. The visit generated substantial outcomes across trade, investment, energy, technology, connectivity, and geopolitical coordination, while also reinforcing the long-term trajectory of the Russia-China comprehensive strategic partnership through 2030 and beyond. During the visit, Putin held extensive meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Qiang, and other senior Chinese leaders. The diplomatic program included closed-door discussions, small-group talks, large-group talks, expanded delegation meetings, personal tea conversations, joint cultural and photo exhibition events, a…

31st IRENA Council Ushers New Era of Global Energy Transition

More than 300 delegates to discuss the expanding role of renewables in powering energy security, resilience and digital economies. The thirty-first Council meeting of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) has started in the United Arab Emirates(UAE) in a hybrid format according to an official statement issued in Abu Dhabi,Thursday Over 300 government representatives,the statement said, are attending the meeting at IRENA Headquarters in Abu Dhabi, both in person and virtually. Over the course of two days,it said, the Council will review progress on the Agency’s work and discuss collective…

Uganda-Dangote Group join hands for East Africa’s Energy Security

Ugandan President has expressed his support for the construction of a proposed regional oil refinery valued at USD17bn, aimed at strengthening industrialisation and energy security in East Africa (Ugandan government statement, 17/05/2026). According to the statement, the President made these remarks during a meeting with visiting Nigerian industrialist Aliko Dangote, the project’s proponent. He stated that the refinery would contribute to broader efforts to advance regional integration, value addition, and industrial development across Africa. The proposed refinery is estimated to cost between USD15bn and USD17bn, with a designed processing capacity of 650 kb/d of crude oil. The facility is intended to supply Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic…

Australia’s First-ever Islamic Bank Launch on Course

Story: Mohammed A. Abu Islamic Money Australia Pty Ltd’s Chief Executive Officer, Dean Gillespie,promoters of the country’s first-ever fully fledged Islamic bank has assured potential customers in the country and potential investors worldwide that everything is still on course. In a February  official progress update,Mr.Gellespie assured, his company was  continuing to work on launching Australia’s first-ever Islamic bank and we are hoping to launch home finance soon in 2026.  We’re aiming to launch the full bank in 2027. Meeting the Minimum Capital Requirement  “We always knew when starting this business…

Russia To Expand Islamic Banking Services

First Published,May 19, 2026 Russia is to expand a pilot Islamic banking program as demand for Sharia-compliant financial products continues to grow, according to the country’s largest lender, Sber. Islamic banking follows Sharia principles that prohibit interest-based lending and speculative transactions. Instead, it relies on mechanisms such as leasing, installment sales, profit-sharing arrangements, and asset-backed financing. It also restricts financing for sectors such as gambling, alcohol, tobacco, and weapons production. Russia launched the pilot initiative in 2023 in four predominantly Muslim regions, including the Republic of Tatarstan, and later extended…

Goodbye Plastic? Scientists Create New Supermaterial That Could Transform Modern Manufacturing

By Rice University,First Published,May 19, 2026 A newly developed bacterial cellulose manufacturing technique could lead to strong, multifunctional materials capable of replacing plastics. What if the next generation of high-performance materials did not come from a factory filled with petroleum-based plastics, but from living bacteria? Scientists at Rice University and the University of Houston have developed a new way to turn bacterial cellulose into an ultra-strong, multifunctional material that could eventually replace plastics in products ranging from packaging to electronics. Their findings, published in Nature Communications, describe a scalable manufacturing process that guides bacteria to…

Seychelles-Greece Reaffirm Bilateral Relations…As Prez receives Ambassador Designate

The President of the Republic of Seychelles, Dr. Patrick Herminie, received the Letters of Credence of His Excellency Mr. George Psiachas, Ambassador-Designate of the Hellenic Republic of Greece to Seychelles an official statement issued in Victoria,Teusday,has disclosed. The accreditation ceremony the statement said,was held in the morning at State House. During their discussions,it added, President Herminie congratulated the new Ambassador of Greece and highlighted that Seychelles and Greece have enjoyed warm and longstanding f relations since the establishment of diplomatic ties in July 1980. The President further expressed Seychelles’ appreciation…

LSEG Islamic Investment Review 2025 Launched in London

Story: Mohammed A. Abu The London Stock Exchange Group(LSEG) Data & Analytics, has announced in London,Teusday, the launch of its latest report “LSEG Islamic Investment Review 2025: 50 Years of Exponential Growth”. The report provides a comprehensive, data‑driven assessment of global Islamic investment markets, examining developments across sukuk, Shariah‑compliant equities and Islamic funds at a time of heightened macroeconomic uncertainty and market volatility. Offering a detailed snapshot of market size, growth and structural evolution in 2025, the report highlights the continued expansion and resilience of Islamic investment markets despite tighter…

AI Skills and Compute Africa Foundation Launches in Rwanda

The AI Skills and Compute Africa Foundation (AISCA Foundation) (https://AISCAfrica.org) officially launches in Kigali to dismantle the barriers to AI innovation, strengthening Africa’s artificial intelligence ecosystem says an official statement issued in Kigali,Monday. Through this initiative,it noted, AISCA Foundation aims to provide equitable access to compute, skills development, research support, and community building. Backed by seed funding from founding technology partner Cassava Technologies, AISCA Foundation is bridging the “compute gap” to ensure African AI researchers and innovators can develop world-class AI solutions locally, while building a scalable pipeline for continental talent development.…

Rethinking BECE in the Era of Free SHS: From Gatekeeping to Placement Reform

By Kofi Asare,Executive Director,Africa Education Watch,Ghana Background Before the introduction of Free SHS, the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) primarily functioned as a gatekeeping mechanism that determined whether a child could progress to secondary education. Admission into second cycle institutions depended heavily on aggregate performance, and for many candidates, BECE effectively separated progression from exclusion. In that context, its broad, high stakes structure was aligned with a system in which access to secondary education was limited and competitive. Emergence  of the Free SHS Policy The Free SHS policy fundamentally changed…