Asia Laos The programme for the Laotian New Year festival in Luang Prabang has been announced, with a range of activities for visitors and residents from 11 to 20 April
Asia Kazakhstan It has been announced that Russian President Vladimir Putin will visit Kazakhstan this year, although the dates of Putin's visit have not been specified
Asia Kyrgyzstan The National Bank of Kyrgyzstan entered the foreign exchange market with an intervention for the first time in the past month, selling USD 35 million
Asia Saudi Arabia Oil giant Aramco announces historic $161bn profit in 2022, highest-ever annual profit by a publicly listed company; Saudi Arabian Oil Co. performance was also driven by energy prices rising after sanctions against Russia
Asia Oman The opening of the Oman Across Ages Museum in the Wilayat of Manah, Governorate of Al Dakhiliyah was held yesterday, officially patronized by His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik
Asia Jordan On the World Happiness Report 2022, Jordan ranks the second unhappiest country in the Arab world; the Kingdom’s ranking in the World Happiness report has been declining since 2017
Asia Georgia Dream ruling party, in the face of days of violent local protests and sharp criticism from the West, is withdrawing its controversial "foreign agents" legislation; the bill would have considered as such ONGs and media with over 20% foreign financing
Asia Lebanon As the Lebanese pound lost 98% in value since late 2019, the government began allowing grocery stores and restaurants to be paid in dollars; this would help ease inflation without much-needed structural reforms, but will deepen inequalities
Asia Iran The five young women from Ekbatan, who filmed a video in which they danced without veils, were reportedly detained for 48 hours and forced to repent for dancing in defiance of the bans imposed by the authorities
Asia Maldives 417.070 tourists have visited the Maldives as far as 11 March this year; Russia is the leading country in terms of entries, with 52.291 visitors
Asia Malaysia Iconic electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla will open an office in the country and create a network of charging stations for its cars, according to Malaysian sources
Asia Cyprus After the period to renew road tax expired at midnight on Saturday, police on Sunday warned they will start checking for those who have not paid up and eventually report them
Asia Jordan Vice President of Al Balqa Applied University Nidal Younes on Saturday confirmed the signing of an agreement to provide Al Hussein New Salt Hospital with medical staff