Europe Spain A full majority of Spaniards approve the position of Pedro Sánchez, the President of the Government, who at the NATO summit refused to pledge for 5% GDP for military expenditure; the under 28 are one of the clusters not approving
Europe Latvia The robbery of a watch shop in Old Town Riga doesn't indicate an increase in crime in the country: it makes considerate more investment in security for exclusive goods shops, said Artis Velss, former Chief of the State Police
Africa Madagascar France President Macron seeked "forgiveness" for France’s colonisation of Madagascar, starting with the return of looted cultural artefacts, in his visit, to Antananarivo, where he announced plans for economic ties and investment in hydroelectric project
Europe Lithuania Rounding cash payments began: under the new rules, the final amount of a purchase paid in cash will be rounded to the nearest multiple of 5 cents; the new practice is part of a gradual move to phase out the use of 1- and 2-cent euro coins
Africa Zimbabwe Bulawayo, second largest city in Zimbabwe, has refuted claims on social media alleging a bedbug infestation in four of its suburbs; city authorities declared the messages as false and malicious, urging residents not to panic or spread misinformation
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
America Trinidad and Tobago The opposition centrist United National Congress decisively won parliamentary elections held on 28 April and Kamla Persad-Bissessar will be the next prime minister; 73-year-old, she held the post from 2010 to 2015 and remains the only woman leader of TT
Asia Tajikistan Illegal use of electricity for cryptocurrency mining has been discovered at three enterprises in Tajikistan, as well as in private homes, with an estimated damage amounting to over 130 million somonis (€10,7 million)
Europe Switzerland Retailer Migros is planning its first Switzerland supermarket with 24/7 opening in Herisau; the test will start this summer 2025: after normal opening hours it will be open in self-service mode, with automatic payments only and CCTV security
Europe Italy A bar in Treviso, Veneto, has decided to put a 1 euro fee on every blasphemy to fund charitable projects; blasphemy - annoying for most Italian even if not religious and formally banned by law - is on a growing trend among youn generations
Europe Malta The move to curb migrant workers could lead to a slowdown in Malta’s economic growth according to the chief economist of the Central Bank speaking at the presentation of the 2024 annual report, which reviewed Malta’s economic performance in the past year
Asia Qatar Qatari Diar has signed an agreement with Dar Global to develop Trump International Golf Club, a luxury 18-hole golf course, and Trump-branded luxury villas, part of the Simaisma coastal project located 40 kilometres north of Doha; Eric Trump was present
Europe Estonia Estonia’s first training center for unmanned aerial vehicles has been opened at the Koigi grass airfield and will support the training of the Defence League, the Defence Forces and allied units
America Venezuela The production of native maize seeds for local cultivation has begun; the initiative aims at reducing imports, saving millions, and promoting ecological farming across 40.000 hectares starting in Bolívar state