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
Europe Kosovo The removal of 4 Albanian Kosovar mayors elected in the North will be voted on today, after months of tension and violence; Serb majority boycotted last local elections and may do it again, letting everything stay the same
Oceania Solomon Islands Outgoing Premier Manasseh Sogavare, who is credited with bringing the Pacific archipelago closer to China, retained his seat in parliament and could thus be reelected, securing the strategic alliance with Beijing and Chinese influence in the region
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
Asia Kyrgyzstan The ban on demonstrating and gathering in Bishkek has been recognized legal by the Kyrgyz Supreme Court
Asia Azerbaijan Following an agreement between the two sides that is seen as a step toward launching peace talks, Armenia will withdraw from four towns on its border with Azerbaijan
Europe Monaco The Monaco Energy Boat Challenge, in collaboration with Fondation Prince Albert II de Monaco, has announced a new category for the 2024 edition of the event that will promote innovative and sustainable solutions for the marine industry
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 Indonesia Over 2.100 people have been displaced after Mount Ruang in Northern Sulawesi began erupting, producing a column of smoke and ash, and a possible tsunami also caused by lava and rocks falling into the sea
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
Europe Spain Government announced its decision to modernize and purchase more NASAMS air defense systems from Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace in a deal worth about €410 million
America Suriname Plans have been announced to boost police visibility with over 200 new recruits as part of Operation Zero Tolerance, targeting criminal offenses and enhancing national security through improved logistics
Asia Sri Lanka The Vedda, an indigenous group in Sri Lanka, have been found to have a significant genetic link to the ethnic populations of India, according to scientists at the CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology and four other research institutes
America Venezuela Oil sanctions on Venezuela have been reinstated by the US, criticizing President Nicolás Maduro's attempts to solidify his rule just 6 months after the US had relaxed restrictions in an effort to support “now-faded hopes” for democracy in the nation