Asia Israel Netanyahu declared Israel “on the eve of a forceful entry to Gaza" as security cabinet voted to approve a plan for tens of thousands of additional soldiers to seize and hold Gaza territory, relocating Palestinians south, raising international bewilderment
Asia Kyrgyzstan Roads leading to Three Peaks ski resort in eastern Issyk-Kul will be expanded, demolition works are underway; a central street in the village of Jyrgalan, the most remote village in the Ak-Suu district of the region, will also be enlarged
Asia Taiwan Growing popularity of Matsu pilgrimages has brought a 50% increase in bookings this year across Taiwan; Dajia Matsu pilgrimage and Baishatun Matsu procession, symbolizing the sea goddess spiritual journey in the human world, draw thousands of devotees
Asia United Arab Emirates With RTA parking often full, motorists spend up to an hour searching for spots — wasting fuel, causing traffic, and turning to costly private lots, whose fees double in some areas: motorists urge action amid soaring parking rates
Asia Sri Lanka The three major pharmaceutical industry associations openly oppose the decision to import medicines from seven countries under the proposed Government-to-Government G2G import scheme, warning that it threatens to collapse the local pharmaceutical industry
Asia Azerbaijan Scattered human remains and fragments of clothing of at least seven individuals could lie in the grave excavated in April in the liberated Khojaly district near the Asgaran-Khojaly road, one of two burial sites recently uncovered in the area, media report
Asia Kuwait With high capacity energy storage, solar initiatives and a full round of maintenance of energy generating units - now 76% complete - Kuwait is preparing to face the summer heat
Asia Cyprus Paphos fishermen complained of a lack of support and limitations to their work imposed on them by the municipality and the Ports Authority; they asked better infrastructure and the creation of a dedicated area to directly sell their catch to the public
Asia Kazakhstan New rules for investor visas have been implemented to support long-term business partnerships; foreign nationals who invest $300.000 or more in the charter capital of Kazakh companies or publicly traded local securities can apply for permit up to 10 years
Asia Lebanon Lebanon is now open for entry to the citizens of the United Arab Emirates that will lift a travel ban imposed during a diplomatic row in 2021; both countries made the announcement in a joint statement
Asia Maldives Proposed amendments to the Tobacco Control Act – the chief of which is the enforcement of a smoking ban for the post-2007 generation – have been accepted into the Parliament and sent to a select committee for review, approved with a majority vote of 63-2
Asia Bangladesh Bangladesh has restored "except Israel" on passports, thus barring citizens from travelling there; the phrase "valid for all countries except Israel" was printed on Bangladeshi passports for decades and removed in the later years of ex PM Sheikh Hasina
Asia Georgia Though festivities and events have been taking place in Georgia to celebrate Europe Day since 2014, this 11 May the country will celebrate its first Europe Day as a candidate of the European Union at the Expo Georgia exhibition center in Tbilisi