Asia Brunei The Basic Haj and Umrah Course 1448H/2026M has began at selected mosques nationwide to equip prospective haj and umrah pilgrims with essential knowledge on the rites and provide physical, spiritual and mental guidance
Africa Libya A 'large-scale' crackdown was launched on crime in Zawiya, a major oil city: authorities in western Libya, an area that houses a key oil terminal and a large refinery, said they started a targeted operation on oil-related crime
Asia Indonesia The House of Representatives is pushing to lead revisions to election laws in Indonesia, amid stalled talks with the government; The dispute could affect oversight, candidate requirements and institutional balance
Europe Hungary A festive atmosphere celebrated the inauguration of prime minister Péter Magyar, who said "You are showing the world there is no need to be afraid" to the tens of thousands present; the symbolic day formally ended Viktor Orban's 16-year rule
Asia Bhutan National Statistics Bureau Bhutan is pushing to centralize data systems by integrating fragmented databases across ministries into a single platform, aiming to improve data sharing and support evidence-based policymaking and digital governance
Africa Mozambique Public passenger transport may be subsidized to avoid the impacts of the fuel crisis on the populations, admitting that the lack of foreign currency limits imports of these products in a short time, it was announced today
Asia Cambodia Tourism minister said future growth will depend on stronger ties with China, highlighting rising Chinese visitor numbers, investment in transport and infrastructure, and partnerships aimed at reviving the sector and supporting economic recovery
Asia China Unilateral zero-tariff treatment is now applied to all African countries except Eswatini, which maintains ties with Taiwan; duty-free policy for 33African countries was introduced in 2024, now covers 53 countries and will be in place until 30 April 2028
Asia Singapore The bus arrival timing system was damaged by drilling works, with failure affecting real-time arrival displays and app updates across parts of the network; the Land Transport Authority launched an investigation
Oceania New Zealand Major changes to school curriculum and secondary qualifications bring "knowledge-rich" learning from this school year; The reform mandates evidence-based learning in literacy, numeracy and introduces subject-based assessment system in year 12,13
Africa Central African Republic "When a state institution fighting corruption publicly admits its impotence, the entire system collapses": with these words the President of Good Governance Authority exposed corruption rampant for years, even unpunished, and its consequences on citizens
Europe Italy Made in Italy companies could hire over 900.000 workers, approximately a third of the total, in 2026-29, new data reveal; the main challenge concerns the quality of skills: for many professional profiles, the difficulty in recruiting reaches 55% of hires
America Antigua and Barbuda The protracted battle within the national fishermen’s cooperative has paralyzed the industry's evolution for almost a decade: unlike neighboring islands, local mariners can't access international funding, specialized training, or commercial infrastructure
Europe Russia A drone attack hit a building in the air traffic control center in Rostov-on-Don, which manages air traffic in southern Russia; flights to and from over 10 airports in the area have been suspended up to 11 May, international links are also disrupted