Asia Indonesia Officials in East Jakarta faced backlash after using an AI-generated image to respond to a public complaint, raising concerns over transparency; The fact highlight risks of using AI in public communication without clear disclosure or verification
Asia China Hainan province saw a -29.3% y-o-y decrease in duty-free spending in 2024 from CNY43,76 billion in 2023 to CNY30,94 billion (US$4.23 billion), according to Haikou Customs data, confirmed in Q1 2025; This was driven by a -15.9% fall in shoppers in 2024
Africa Benin 54 soldiers were reportedly killed in the terrorist attack in northern Benin on 17 April; Beninese government spokesman Houngbedji denied rumors of over a hundred deaths spread on social networks, according to Benin's official media La Nation
Asia India 50% of student visas under revoked under new US rules belong to Indians; students have sued the Department of Homeland Security and immigration officials for terminating the F-1 visas and the lawsuit suggests the threat of deportation or visa cancellation
Africa Djibouti A new contingent of troops from Djibouti, part of the African Union Mission in Somalia #AUSSOM, has arrived in Beletweyne; The troops will be deployed to Buula Burde and Jalalaqsi, two strategically important towns in the Hiiraan region
Asia Yemen US strikes on Ras Isa fuel terminal on the Red Sea coast killed at least 74 people in the deadliest attack since the US started its bombing campaign against the Ansar Allah last year, according to the Ansar Allah-run health ministry
Asia Iran Iran filed an application against Canada, Sweden, Ukraine and the UK constituting an appeal against a decision by the ICAO Council regarding the erroneous shooting down of civil Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 on 8 January 2020
Asia Oman Ministers of Transport of the Sultanate of Oman and the Republic of Iraq met in Baghdad to discuss enhancing cooperation in transport and logistics as a driver of economic growth and regional integration
Europe Latvia Construction of Rail Baltica Riga Central Station complex has been resumed thanks to funds from the European Union's Recovery Facility; the building should be completed by August 2026 and would start serving rail passengers in the summer of 2027
Europe Lithuania The Constitutional Court ruled that the 'the institution of partnership', as now defined in Lithuania's Civil Code, is unconstitutional because it only provides for a union between a man and a woman, excluding same-sex relationships
America Saint Lucia Former magistrate and politician Dr Velon John,83, presented his latest book ‘Ramblings of a Mind and Pulsations of a Heart’ calling for changing the flag and dismantling of Colonial Vestiges; proceeds from sales fund scholarships for Laborie students
America Barbados The 2025-2026 academic year will see a return to pre-pandemic timetable with a full 38 weeks of instruction; as the education ministry restored the traditional school calendar, students will begin a week earlier in September
Asia Oman 3.407 investors from 60 countries obtained long-term residency visa by the end of February 2025; launched in 2021, Investment Residency Programs are offered through real estate, investment and long-term bank deposits on a renewable five and ten-year basis
Europe Estonia 189,5 million eggs were produced in Estonia in 2024, +6% compared to 2023 and the average annual egg production was 138 eggs per person, while consumption per person was 259 eggs, including imported eggs