Cooperation

• Southeast Asia is experiencing an AI boom, driving significant investments in cloud infrastructure, semiconductor production, and data centers across the region. • Malaysia has become the fastest-growing data center market, benefiting from a 2019 moratorium on new facilities in Singapore due to land and energy constraints. • Major tech giants, including Google, Microsoft, and Amazon Web Services, are launching large-scale projects in Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines.

• Leading fitness trade show organizers in Asia are facilitating strategic connections between brands, manufacturers, buyers, and distributors for the 2026 event cycle. • These exhibitions span key markets including China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, and Southeast Asia to strengthen regional sports business cooperation. • The initiative is critical as China's fitness equipment export volume continues to grow, requiring organizers to balance domestic supply-chain depth with international buyer reach.

• Chinese President Xi Jinping attended the World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) in Shanghai for the first time in person to promote AI development cooperation. • The event featured high-level international attendees, including UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Prime Ministers from Cambodia and Thailand. • Xi's push for "AI diplomacy" is a strategic move intended to challenge the current technological dominance of the United States in the sector.

• India and the European Union have agreed to expand their strategic cooperation across critical technology sectors, including AI, semiconductors, quantum technologies, and clean energy. • The partnership will focus on deepening collaboration through the launch of new joint research initiatives and startup support programs to foster innovation. • This agreement matters as it strengthens the technological ties between two major global economies seeking to diversify supply chains and accelerate the transition to green energy.

Exclusive: Lewisham council’s move marks first step in Greens’ plan to create a corridor of sanctuary boroughs across LondonA Green-led London council is planning to ban its officials from working with the Home Office on immigration raids, after uncovering evidence suggesting government officials wanted to use environmental health data to target restaurant workers.Councillors on the Lewisham borough council are due to vote next week on a motion that would review its systems with a view to ending any cooperation with the government’s attempts to deport people without the right to remain in the UK. Continue reading...

Andrew Bailey warns that US will not be able to achieve its ambitions aloneThe Bank of England governor has called for international cooperation to tackle growing AI threats, warning that the US and Trump administration would not be able to achieve their ambitions alone.Andrew Bailey’s comments come weeks after the US president, Donald Trump, temporarily banned foreigners from using Anthropic’s powerful Claude Mythos model. Continue reading...

• External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday to discuss global hotspots and pressing international crises. • During the meeting, Jaishankar emphasized India's commitment to dialogue and diplomacy to bridge differences and mitigate the impact of global conflicts on the Global South. • The Minister presented a six-point manifesto titled "Shanti" (Securing Holistic Advancement through Norms, Trust and Integrity) to delegates and diplomats.

• Morocco has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening global humanitarian action, guided by the humanist vision of King Mohammed VI. • The initiative calls for systemic reforms, including increased investment in prevention, improved coordination with development efforts, and renewed global solidarity. • Key challenges identified include critical funding shortages, restricted access to affected areas, the politicization of aid, and the persistence of "forgotten crises."

• Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi concluded a diplomatic visit to Indonesia, where both nations signed 14 cooperation agreements to strengthen bilateral ties. • A primary highlight of the visit is a landmark deal to provide BrahMos supersonic missiles to the Indonesian armed forces. • This acquisition makes Indonesia the second Southeast Asian country to deploy the Indo-Russian weapons system, following the Philippines.

• Japan and India have announced new agreements to strengthen bilateral cooperation across defense, economic ties, maritime security, and artificial intelligence. • The initiative aims to deepen strategic partnerships between the two nations to enhance regional stability and technological integration. • Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun criticized the move on Thursday, claiming such alliances promote "confrontation and division" rather than peace.

• A Global Peace Conference was held in Hyderabad on Thursday, bringing together diplomats, policymakers, and social leaders from nations including Russia, France, and the United States. • Organized by a news channel and Bliss Berg Future of Hope, the event focused on promoting humanitarian values, peaceful coexistence, and collaborative diplomacy. • The meeting underscores the urgent need for international cooperation as rising geopolitical tensions continue to threaten global stability.

• Bloomberg argues that the UK and EU must strengthen their security and trade partnerships to navigate the post-Brexit landscape. • The analysis suggests that closer cooperation is achievable and necessary, even though there are no immediate plans for the UK to rejoin the EU. • This shift is critical for stabilizing economic ties and enhancing collective security measures between the two major powers.

• The Swiss Federal Council announced its international cooperation strategy for 2029–2032, shifting focus toward humanitarian aid due to pressure on federal finances. • The strategy prioritizes emergency relief and systematic action in major crises, while the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) will manage relations with middle-income countries. • SECO's mandate includes fostering trade and investment conditions and overseeing cooperation with the European Union, the western Balkans, and specific Asian nations.

• Author Lawrence Wittner argues in a June 1, 2026, article that there is a significant disconnect between nationalist political rhetoric and the actual desires of the global population. • The piece highlights a "curious irony" where politicians frequently belittle international cooperation and rail against foreign nations despite widespread public support for solidarity. • This gap matters because it suggests that the current political trend toward isolationism and nationalism does not reflect the will of the majority of people worldwide.

• China is promoting its Global Security Initiative (GSI) to reduce international confrontation and foster security cooperation through dialogue and diplomacy. • The GSI has been implemented via mediation efforts, peace talks, counterterrorism cooperation, and support for UN-centered multilateralism. • China argues that military interventions and external involvement by certain nations have increased strategic distrust and prolonged conflicts in various regions.

• The article highlights a contradiction between the rise of nationalist rhetoric among global politicians and the actual public desire for international cooperation. • It argues that global solidarity remains remarkably popular among citizens, despite political efforts to belittle foreign alliances and promote isolationism. • This disconnect matters because it suggests that populist political trends may not accurately reflect the values or priorities of the general population.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus makes appeal after protests against protocols for handling bodies in Ituri province Containing the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo requires community cooperation and is “everybody’s business”, the World Health Organization has said.Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the organisation’s director general, made the plea on Sunday during a visit to eastern Congo where some residents have protested against stringent medical protocols for handling victims’ bodies. Continue reading...

Central American country says its president spoke with Pete Hegseth to confirm terms of cooperationSign up for the Breaking News US newsletter emailGuatemala has requested US military cooperation spanning access to equipment, training and experts to assist Guatemalan operations against drug trafficking, the country’s president, Bernardo Arévalo, said on Thursday.The joint plans stopped short of US military operations on Guatemalan soil and fall within existing bilateral agreements, the government noted. Continue reading...

• A formal review of the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) is scheduled for 2026, potentially aligning with broader efforts to reset diplomatic and economic relations. • Proposed initiatives include establishing a common sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) area for food and agricultural standards and linking the UK and EU emission trading schemes (ETS). • Further negotiations may cover UK participation in the EU’s internal electricity market and the creation of a UK-EU youth experience agreement.

• Taiwan and Paraguay signed three memoranda of understanding on May 8, 2026, in Taipei City to strengthen ties in AI, cybersecurity, and judicial matters. • Agreements cover information security, smart technology, and digital governance cooperation between the two nations. • The pacts aim to expand partnership amid growing needs for secure digital infrastructure and technological collaboration.

Rhun ap Iorwerth says he hopes to work with other parties and press the UK government for extra powersUK politics live – latest updatesThe leader of Plaid Cymru, Rhun ap Iorwerth, has vowed to form a stable minority government in the Senedd and said he would seek out mature cooperation from all opposition parties.Ap Iorwerth said his administration would press the UK government for extra powers over policy areas such as policing and justice and focus on results rather than engaging in political rows with Westminster. Continue reading...

• The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has pledged to adopt a zero-tolerance approach to the illicit narcotics trade as part of broader efforts to establish a drug-free region across Southeast Asia. • The commitment was announced during the 48th ASEAN Summit in Cebu, Philippines, reflecting unified regional policy against narcotics trafficking and consumption. • The drug-free initiative represents a significant coordinated effort among ASEAN member states including Indonesia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam to combat organized crime networks and reduce substance abuse.

• Pemerintah Indonesia dan Pemerintah Singapura menandatangani kerja sama untuk memperkuat pembangunan kepemudaan kedua negara di Jakarta. • Kerja sama ini bertujuan menyiapkan generasi pemimpin yang berdaya saing di kancah global melalui program bersama. • Inisiatif ini mendukung agenda ASEAN dalam pengembangan sumber daya muda untuk menghadapi tantangan regional.

• TNI AD dan Tentara AD Singapura mempererat kerja sama strategis di bidang pertahanan pada 5 Mei 2026. • Fokus utama pada penguatan sinergi militer regional untuk menjaga stabilitas ASEAN. • Kerja sama ini bagian dari komitmen bilateral dalam menghadapi ancaman keamanan bersama.

US senator holds panel with leading Chinese scientists and warns of risks to society unless new technology is regulated The US senator Bernie Sanders espoused the importance of international cooperation in regulating AI at a Wednesday panel on Capitol Hill alongside two leading Chinese scientists.As startups and tech giants, most prominently in Silicon Valley and Beijing, race to advance and scale their artificial intelligence, Sanders has been among the AI skeptics advocating for safeguards. Continue reading...