Europe France Nearly 300.000 passengers across Europe have been affected as French air traffic controllers began a two-day strike that led to the cancellation of hundreds of flights at the start of summer season to protest against understaffing and “toxic management”
Asia South Korea The presidential election have been officially scheduled for June 3, following the Constitutional Court's impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol; Candidate registration closes May 11, with campaigns starting May 12
Asia Malaysia Curtailments to gas flow are expected to end on 20 April; they have been imposed after a fire in Petronas Putra Heights on 1 April resulted in a mushroom cloud in a residential area, where 50 houses were damaged by temperatures reaching over 1.000 °C
Africa Ethiopia 40 trade investment permits for export, import, retail and wholesale will be granted to foreign companies as part of the government’s steps to liberalize economy; the Ethiopian Investment Commission said the permits follow months of work on guidelines
Asia Georgia “The Blitz: A Georgian Daughter’s Rise to CFO in the Post-Soviet Era”, the autobiography by Tamar Gakharia, has reached the top of Amazon charts, earning the #1 New Release badge and becoming a bestseller in selected categories in record time
Europe Slovakia While Slovak president condemned Russian strike on Sumy and urged to make pressure for peace, the parliament refused to sign the international document condemning Russia for those deadly attacks
Asia Taiwan Taiwan’s youth suicide rate has risen above the OECD average of 6,5, up from 4,5 in 2021, latest comparative report says, and mental health problems are worsening according to a National Taiwan University survey
Asia Bahrain Councillors have unanimously approved an urgent request to preserve a historic natural spring in Samaheej; members of the Muharraq Municipal Council stressed the heritage value of ‘Ayn Aloudah’, one of the island’s archaeological water sources
Europe Albania 16 out of 41 migrants transferred earlier this year are claimed to have disappeared from the Italian-run Gjader Repatriation and Detention Centre, CPR, in Albania, according to a claim made by an Italian opposition MP after a visit to the camp
Asia Iraq A sandstorm swept through Iraq, filling the air with choking dust that closed airports and put over 3.700 people in hospital with breathing difficulties; Visibility fell to less than one km in central and southern cities cloaked in an orange haze
Africa Zambia A training for licensed artisanal miners has started; the pivotal Ministerial initiative addresses several critical aspects regarding these key workers contributing to local and national economies especially in rural areas, with safety at first place
Asia China All Chinese airlines have been ordered not to take further deliveries of Boeing; authorities open new chapter in response to the US decision to impose 145% tariffs on Chinese goods, Bloomberg News reported, citing people familiar with the matter
Asia Lebanon "Nobody will lose their deposits but it may take time" Economy Minister Amer Bisat declared to Bloomberg, adding that parliament is expected to pass a draft law on restructuring Lebanon's banking sector within few weeks
Asia Iran A 100-million-dollar fund for the development of the artificial intelligence sector in Iran has been launched; the NDF will also grant specific loans to those companies that financially support AI-based projects in universities and scientific centers