The Netherlands on Saturday officially handed back to Nigeria 119 precious ancient sculptures, stolen from the former kingdom of Benin more than 120 years ago during the colonial era. It is the latest return of artefacts to Africa.

Nigeria celebrated the return of the priceless "Benin Bronzes" -- metal and ivory sculptures dating back to the 16th to 18th centuries -- with a ceremony held at the National Museum in Lagos, showcasing four of them in the museum's courtyard. The selection included a bronze carving of a king's head, a carved elephant tusk and a small leopard.

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Parisians sunbathe on the lawns of Belleville Park as temperatures soar above 30 degrees in the capital and a heatwave peaks across France, with 16 departments still under an orange 'heatwave' warning, according to France's weather agency, Meteo-France.

French Health Minister urged the French public to stay hydrated and to moderate their alcohol consumption to avoid exposure to heat, especially between 11 am and 4 pm and to stay hydrated.

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The sixth Qingdao Multinationals Summit ended in the coastal city of Qingdao, east China’s Shandong Province on Friday, with the conclusion of multi-billion-U.S.-dollar agreements on 40 key projects related to foreign investment and foreign trade. Valued at 5.93 billion U.S. dollars, the projects covered by the deals signed at the event span various industries, including high-end equipment, new energy materials, and next-generation information technology. Themed “Multinationals and China: Connecting the World for Win-Win Cooperation,” the three-day summit brought together representatives from 465 multinational companies, featuring 135 Fortune Global 500 giants and 330 industry leaders spanning 43 countries and regions.

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Chairman of the State Administration Council Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing visited Shwe Pyi Agriculture and Livestock Breeding Zone under the Myanmar Economic Corporation in Hmawby Township of Yangon Region on Saturday.

In the briefing hall, officials provided update reports on work implementations, breeding of poultry and pig, cultivation of maize and construction of animal feed factory. The Prime Minister instructed for systematic sales of the produces and boosting production to meet the demand of consumers.

The Prime Minister and party later viewed the scale model of the Agriculture and Livestock Breeding Zone as well as the breeding of pig and poultry.

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Italian Prime Minister Meloni on Friday announced a new initiative to address debt burdens of African countries at an international meeting held in Rome. She co-chaired the meeting with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, which was attended by representatives from some African countries and international financial institutions.

The initiative is in part intended to reduce migration from Africa to Europe by boosting economic development in African countries, highlighting an alignment between Italy’s ambitious Mattei Plan for Africa and European Union's Global Gateway investment plan, which prioritizes investment in Africa's infrastructure.

According to her, the initiative is also expected to help reduce the debt of lower-middle income African countries by 50 percent. The "shared commitments towards the African continent" presented by the EU and Italy at the meeting were worth 1.2 billion euros, according to a statement.

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For the first time in Viet Nam, an AI-based system combining remote sensing and machine learning is being used to monitor seawater quality in Hạ Long Bay and Cửa Lục, Quảng Ninh Province. These areas are not only ecological and scenic treasures but also economic and tourism hubs, making water management a strategic priority.

The system is developed through a joint effort by Vietnamese and Polish scientists. It leverages satellite imagery, machine learning algorithms, and Google Cloud computing to analyze key water quality indicators and provide early pollution warnings. Initial tests show the AI system achieves over 73% accuracy, offering promising potential for wider adoption across Viet Nam’s coastal regions.

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The US$550 million Legoland Shanghai Resort, could attract up to 2.4 million visitors a year once it officially opens on July 5, according to estimates by local government officials. Trial operations started on Friday at the world’s largest Legoland theme park in Shanghai, as the city presses ahead with its goal to boost its status as a major global tourist destination.

Construction of the Legoland resort began in 2021 as part of the city’s efforts to establish itself as a major international tourist destination. The operators of Legoland claim the theme park has the world’s first themed land and live show based on the Monkey King literary figure from the 16th-century novel Journey to the West.

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The Dominican Republic on Friday began expanding its anti-migrant border wall with neighboring Haiti, continuing President Luis Abinader's crackdown on illegal arrivals. The new 13-kilometer section of the barrier is being built in northern Dajabon province. It will take the wall's length to around 105 miles, covering about half of the entire border between the Dominican Republic.

Minister of the Presidency Jose Ignacio Paliza and his defense counterpart General Carlos Antonio Fernandez Onofre led the groundbreaking ceremony, the government said. The wall, which is made of a concrete base and an upper fence topped with razor wire, is the brainchild of Abinader, who has taken a MAGA-style hard-line approach to migration since winning power in 2020. Construction of the barrier began the following year.

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China sent a new satellite into space on Friday from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in the southwestern province of Sichuan. The satellite Chinasat-9C was launched at 20:37 (Beijing Time) by a Long March-3B carrier rocket, and entered the preset orbit successfully. The launch marks the 582nd flight mission of the Long March carrier rocket series.

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A Myanmar delegation led by State Administration Council member, Deputy Prime Minister, and Union Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office General Tin Aung San attended the 9th China-South Asia Expo and the 29th Kunming Import and Export Fair in Kunming, from June 17 to 20 at the invitation of the Yunnan Provincial Government.

Upon arrival in Kunming on June 17, the delegation was welcomed by the Deputy Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Yunnan People’s Congress, and the Myanmar Consul-General in Kunming.

On the 19th, the delegation attended the opening ceremony of the expo, where General Tin Aung San delivered a speech alongside other dignitaries from China, Afghanistan, Maldives, Laos, and Vietnam. General Tin Aung San also met with Mr. Wang Dongming, Vice Chairman of China’s National People’s Congress Standing Committee, to discuss cooperation in energy, agriculture, and ongoing Chinese projects in Myanmar.

The Myanmar delegation later visited Myanmar Pavilion and encouraged local businesses to take advantage of the platform to expand exports.

On the 18th, the delegation met with several Chinese companies including Union Resources & Engineering Co., Ltd, Yunnan Energy Investment Group, and State Power Investment Yunnan International Co., Ltd. to discuss investment in Myanmar’s energy sector.

The delegation also held talks with Mr. Wang Ning, Secretary of the Yunnan Provincial Committee of the Chinese Communist Party, focusing on future collaboration in agriculture and energy. That evening, they attended a dinner hosted in their honor.

The delegation departed Kunming on June 20 and was welcomed back in Yangon by the Yangon Region Chief Minister, military officials, and the Chinese Embassy’s Political Counselor. More than 4,800 booths from 53 countries including China, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and others participated in the expo.

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