Asia Georgia The EU annual Report on Human Rights and Democracy in the World noted “severely curtailed” human rights in Georgia, reduced bilateral political contacts and dialogue between Brussels and Tbilisi amid “significant democratic backsliding”
Asia Jordan His Majesty King Abdullah returned to Jordan after performing Umrah; on his two day visit to Saudi Arabia HM King Abdullah II held talks with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Jeddah, discussing bilateral ties
Asia Mongolia Mongolia ranked among the top three Asian countries in the Women, Peace and Security Index 2023 (WPS Index 2023)
Asia Vietnam The city of Can Tho will launch various cultural and sports activities to commemorate the Hùng Kings, the 48th anniversary of the liberation of South Vietnam and Reunification Day and International Labour Day
Europe Serbia The country is working to amend family law to define and recognise child marriage as a form of human trafficking; between 22 and 50% of Serbian girls marry before the age of 18
Africa Zambia The Government is amending the Cotton Act No. 21 of 2001 to address some challenges, stimulate production and attract more players to the sector
Asia Uzbekistan The Uzbek parliament recently voted unanimously on a bill that for the first time targets gender-based violence, in particular domestic violence
Asia Pakistan A 15-member National Task Force on Artificial Intelligence has been formed by the Minister of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives to achieve national development goals in the areas of economy, development, governance, education and health
Africa Senegal Senegalese singer-songwriter Baaba Maal has been appointed by the United Nations as a goodwill ambassador for Unccd, the UN Convention to Combat Desertification
Europe Romania Search and rescue teams from Brașov Mountain Rescue in central Romania have started using Elon Musk's Starlink satellite network to transmit data and images from the field in their missions
Africa Morocco A gigantic arena has been built in Ouarzazate, in south-central Morocco, where parts of the sequel Gladiator II will be filmed
America Canada The federal government has offered to buy a section of Wellington Street from the city of Ottawa with the goal of keeping it permanently closed to vehicles
Asia Tajikistan The country had reached 40% of its spring enlistment target by 12 April, according to the Ministry of Defence press centre
Africa Sierra Leone Sierra Leone Association of the Journalists and Independent Radio Network launched a fact-checking platform to counter misinformation before, during and after the June general elections