Asia Bangladesh Prisoners in Bangladesh legally earn Tk2, € 1 cent, per day for their labour: so low that it undermines efforts to rehabilitate inmates through meaningful work; the inspector general of prisons raised the issue amid reforms in the prison employment system
Oceania Marshall Islands A deep sea mapping project will focus on the Marshall Islands as one of areas in the region to have their ocean floors mapped this year: the Ocean Exploration Trust is partnering with MI Marine Resources Authority on the upcoming visit of vessel Nautilus
Europe Denmark The Danish Tax Agency has begun reimbursing 25 billion DKK to 82% of taxpayers: around 3,8 million Danes overpaid on their taxes last year, amounting to a total of 25,4 billion DKK (€3,4 billion)
Asia Cyprus Thousands of people in danger at sea have been rescued and the Cyprus government intends to continue to carry out its duties and responsibilities effectively in the search and rescue area of the Republic of Cyprus, deputy migration minister Ioannides said
Europe Ireland Thousands of people took part in an anti-immigration rally in Dublin, alongside a smaller counter-demonstration; both passed off without any major incidents with gardaí acting as a cordon between both groups on O’Connell Street
America El Salvador Strong condemnation came from Venezuela after El Salvador's President Bukele offered to exchange 252 jailed Venezuelan migrants for political prisoners, a move Caracas has labeled cynical and a violation of international human rights
Africa Kenya 400.000 students, or 60% of those enrolled in public universities in Kenya, face uncertainty as 21 out of 43 institutions are poorly run in terms of management
Asia Jordan A new tourist train service made his first trip in Mafraq, marking the launch of the first heritage rail trips in the governorate; the initiative aims to promote domestic tourism and revive interest in Jordan's historical and cultural landmarks
Africa Ivory Coast Cocoa farmers worry that they might not be able to sell enough of their produce, or at too low a price because of the 21% tariffs on Ivory Coast exports to the US recently imposed by US Cocoa is Ivory Coast's main export to the United States
Asia Iran A powerful explosion at Iran’s biggest port of Bandar Abbas caused at least 40 casualties and over 1.000 people injured, state media reported; local firefighters have been joined by Russian specialists, dispatched by plane upon President Putin's order
Europe Poland Magda Butrym is back in the news after becoming the first Polish designer to join retail giant H&M: in Warsaw crowds formed outside the downtown H&M flagship store as local fashionistas queued to be among the first to grab one of the coveted new pieces
America Haiti Reggae artist Adras Jean-Baptiste, known as GBX, died at 39 at his home in Anse-à-Foleur after battling an illness for months; his music tackled insecurity, poverty and prejudice, helped shape Haiti’s reggae scene, was one of the voices of social truth
Oceania Palau Palau abstained from a UN vote on a resolution on Russian aggression in Ukraine, focused on cooperation with the Council of Europe; in February, Palau had aligned with the US voting against another resolution condemning Russia’s aggression against Ukraine
Oceania New Zealand Speed limit on Highway 35 from Makorori to Pouawa will increase to 100km/h following public consultation of 864 people: 41% of respondents supported keeping the current 80km/h limit, introduced in 2020 to curb accidents, and proven successful