Oceania Tonga Heavy machinery, marine equipment and construction crews have started work at Fangaʻuta Lagoon site for Tonga’s long‑awaited US$97 million bridge; The 720‑metre infrastructure will strengthen the key transport link between Nukuʻalofa and Eastern Tongatapu
Africa Zimbabwe Mazowe district in Mashonaland Central province is struggling with a severe and prolonged drought due to El Nino that threatens the country's corn supply and impacts the business of its millers
Africa Libya Yet another UN envoy to Libya, Abdoulaye Bathily, has resigned; the average term of office is less than 20 months and there has been a series of resignations one after another
Europe Poland The lower house of parliament has voted to continue work on four bills that aim to liberalize abortion, after the previous government almost completely banned it, thus taking a first step toward reintroducing the right
Asia Singapore On May 15, Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong will step down after two decades at the helm of the city-state and will be replaced by Vice Premier Lawrence Wong
Africa Madagascar 27,8% of adults smoke in Madagascar according to the ranking of Afrique-Sur7's, which puts the country at the top of the list in the continent
Asia Armenia Armenia will withdraw from four towns on its border with Azerbaijan following an agreement between the two sides that is seen as a step toward launching peace talks
Asia Palestine The Palestinian Authority will "reconsider" bilateral relations with the United States after Washington vetoed the Palestinian application to join the United Nations, President Mahmud Abbas said
Africa Chad The only woman among the 10 candidates, Lydie Beassemda is running for the second time as a candidate for Chad's supreme office in the Party for Democracy and Full Independence
Asia Kyrgyzstan The ban on demonstrating and gathering in Bishkek has been recognized legal by the Kyrgyz Supreme Court
Africa Sierra Leone Several cities in Sierra Leone, including the capital Freetown, have been plunged into darknessfor several days due to the state's failure to pay electricity bills, severely affecting hospitals, families and businesses
Africa Kenya General Francis Ogolla, Kenya's Chief of Defence Forces, died in an helicopter crash with other 9 soldiers; an investigation on the accident has been opened
Asia Malaysia Malaysia expressed disappointment with the US decision to use its veto to deny Palestine full membership in the UN, questioning the sincerity of the US in realizing the inalienable rights of the Palestinians, including their right to self-determination
Asia Israel An Israeli raid on a refugee camp in the occupied West Bank caused "the worst destruction in decades," with dozens of homes destroyed - according to Al Jazeera's Zein Basravi - as US and EU sanction more settlers