Asia Jordan During a meeting with His Holiness Pope Francis in Vatican City, His Majesty King Abdullah II reaffirmed that Jordan will continue undertaking its religious and historical role in safeguarding holy sites in Jerusalem, under the Hashemite Custodianship
Europe Kosovo Government plans to introduce same-sex unions this May, Prime Minister Albin Kurti announced; the measure is part of tKosovo's efforts to join the Council of Europe
Europe Moldova Beneficiaries of temporary protection working in Moldova will receive health insurance, thanks to a project approved by MPs; the persons concerned will have the same rights and obligations in the compulsory health insurance system as Moldovan citizens
Asia Brunei The first Brunei International Wushu Championship will take place from 2 to 5 May in Pusat Belia, organised by the Brunei Darussalam Wushu Federation and the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports
Africa Ethiopia The Council of the EU temporarily suspended the granting of entry visas to Ethiopian nationals following regular evaluations by the Commission on third country cooperation on the readmission of illegally residing citizens of the EU
America Panama The famed Panama Papers trial is finally beginning after 8 years, with 27 defendants facing money laundering charges related to the scandal that exposed global elites' offshore assets
Africa Somalia At least 300 goats were killed by lightning that struck their pasture in the Hiiraan region following heavy rains in the area in recent days
Asia Lebanon Students from the American University of Beirut and the American University of Lebanon called on their administrations to 'boycott companies and institutions that support Israel'; total death toll from Israeli attacks since Oct 8 is 438 people
Asia Japan In 2531 all Japanese will be called Sato, unless the old law and tradition requiring married people to have the same surname is changed, according to Hiroshi Yoshida, a professor of economics at Tohoku University
Africa Mauritania Giesecke+Devrient (G+D) and the Banque Centrale de Mauritanie signed an agreement during the spring meetings of the IMF and WB Group to jointly explore the development of a CBDC of the national currency Ouguiya
Oceania Micronesia An extreme and exceptional drought is causing severe pressure on agriculture, water supply and the daily lives of Yap Proper residents in the FSM
Europe Spain Europe's largest battery recycling factory for electric cars will open by the end of the year on Costa Blanca near Alicante
Africa Somalia Around 88.000 people were internally displaced in Somalia in the first three months of 2024, the UNHCR reported
Asia Turkmenistan Transit along the Middle Corridor through the port of Turkmenbashi should be encouraged, authorities suggest, as it would contribute to the growth of the Central Asian countries' economies by strengthening their position on the global market