Asia Bangladesh Prisoners in Bangladesh legally earn Tk2, € 1 cent, per day for their labour: so low that it undermines efforts to rehabilitate inmates through meaningful work; the inspector general of prisons raised the issue amid reforms in the prison employment system
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
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
Africa Gabon Military leader Gen Brice Oligui Nguema has won presidential election with around 90% of the vote according to provisional results; it was the first election in Gabon since the Bongo near-60-year dynasty was overthrown by Nguema in the 2023 coup
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 Vietnam 11 island districts will be turned into “special zones”, areas directly managed by provinces with no district-level administration; This reform simplifies governance, boosts development, and strengthens national sovereignty in strategic maritime regions
Asia Mongolia “National AI” Program will train 250 AI specialists and 2.250 teachers over five years; In partnership with global institutions, it will offer AI education in Mongolian to bridge the digital divide and foster innovation nationwide
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
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 Pakistan Security forces reportedly killed 9 militants of the Pakistani Taliban TTP, active in the northwest region, in a raid in Dera Ismail Khan, near the Afghan border; Among them was Shireen, linked to the killing of army captain Hasnain Akhtar
Africa Lesotho The Lesotho Electricity Company lays in a financial crisis, according to an external audit, with liabilities exceeding its assets; as LEC imports all its electricity from South Africa and Mozambique, it can't cover costs of electricity for distribution
Europe Belarus Belarus is moving to boost bilateral air transport cooperation with Iran; plans include the launch of direct flights between Tehran and Minsk, the head of Iran’s Civil Aviation Organization said
Asia Japan Around 119.000 people visited the Osaka Expo on its opening day Sunday 14 April, the Japan Association for the 2025 World Expo said that over 140.000 people had made reservations 20.000 appear to have changed their dates to avoid bad weather
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