Asia Sri Lanka Unprecedented visitors' arrivals have been registered in 2026, marking a strong recovery in numbers; However, the tourism boom has not translated into higher earnings, as shorter stays and lower spending per visitor have led to declining dollar revenues
Asia Bahrain The Bahrain International Jazz Festival, the kingdom's premier celebration of jazz music, is set to return for its seventh edition, to be held on April 26, 2024 at the Royal Golf Club
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
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
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
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
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
Europe Norway The Norwegian Nobel Committee, responsible for awarding the Nobel Peace Prize, has elected its youngest leader ever: Jørgen Watne Frydnes, 39; he led the revival of the Utøya site and first joined the committee in 2021 as one of the Labour Party’s choices
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
America Trinidad and Tobago The holiday known as Emancipation Day will be renamed African Emancipation Day on August 1
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
Europe San Marino A bike parade organized by the Cyclist Federation of San Marino will take place tomorrow to remember Stefano Michi, who died last week in a tragic road accident on the border with Italy
Africa Namibia Namibia's Minister of Health and Social Services stressed the importance of partnerships in the fight against infectious diseases and pandemics, highlighting the need for regional and international cooperation
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