Asia Georgia Amendments to the Broadcasting Law have been passed; new regulations tighten oversight measures for radio and television broadcasters; amendments were justified as setting stricter guidelines on reporting accuracy, fairness and the protection of minors
Africa Algeria Six additional seawater desalination plants will be constructed to meet 72% of Algeria’s drinking water needs; President Tebboune added that integration of groundwater, surface water, dams and other sources is now essential given the scarcity of rainfall
Europe Finland Restaurant Palace in Helsinki has been voted the best restaurant in Finland for the sixth consecutive year; in the Suomen 50 Parasta Ravintolaa /Finland’s 50 Best Restaurants list BasBas and Grön follow and new entries Jason and Teller are 4th and 5th
Europe Greece A draft law would abolish the special statute for offenses and crimes committed by ministers: limitation period would be 5-8 years for misdemeanors and 15-20 for felonies; now offenses expire if prosecution isn't initiated within 2 parliamentary sessions
Oceania Australia Doctors threaten to walk off the job for the first time in decades upon a pay dispute and exhausting shifts; thousands say they will strike for three days next week in a move that will dramatically impact non-urgent care and defy a court order
Europe Kosovo Kosovo signed a defence agreement with Croatia and Albania, calling for joint responses to common security challenges; the pact has drawn a furious response from Serbia, which called it a threatening move
Europe Iceland The education system is not yielding the expected results according to OECD, which conducts the PISA assessments; Icelandic students receive high grades that don't accurately reflect performance, raising concerns about the country’s academic standards
Europe Albania Opposition leader Sali Berisha is borrowing MAGA-style rhetoric for his campaign in view of May’s elections - many experts doubt that will work as corruption charges he faces in court and his age (81) weigh against his chances of victory
Africa Ghana Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, Ghana’s former foreign affairs and regional integration minister, has taken up the position of Commonwealth Secretary General, pledging to advance the values of the Charter amid growing global tensions and shifting alliances
Europe Bosnia and Herzegovina The Republika Srpska assembly adopted a draft constitution and law allowing for the formation of a separate army and judiciary; according to OHR, which oversees the accords that ended the 1992-95 war, it is a violation of the Dayton Peace Agreement
Europe Hungary 67% of Hungarian voters oppose Ukraine's accession to the EU according to latest poll by the Nézopont Institute and this decisive position spans all demographic categories
America Antigua and Barbuda Additional 200 condominium units to broaden affordable housing will be granted by the extension of China's housing grant; the Chinese construction company involved plans to conduct preliminary studies and soil testing soon and begin construction by 2025
America Grenada EC$4.445.000 (EUR 1,5 million) were allocated to ONG Nation Builders Inc. to implement a new Water Access and Sanitation in Homes (WASH) project; funds will be used to construct toilets and bathrooms for vulnerable citizens across various constituencies
America Dominican Republic The #HaitianosRD collective has urged the government to cease what it describes as "racial hate speech" that stigmatizes immigrants, violates labor rights, and fuels xenophobic violence in the Dominican Republic