Asia Japan For the first time since 2016, a typhoon made landfall on Hokkaido coast; Typhoon Nari crossed near Cape Erimo before weakening to a storm according to the Japan Meteorological Agency
Africa Guinea Nobody was injured as a violent wind took off the roof of a primary school in Koyékoyé district, Linsan, Kindia, making the whole structure come to pieces; it was built by community effort last year to give local children the premises they were missing
Europe Luxembourg Ten of Luxembourg’s most promising startups have been selected to compete in the Startup World Cup, a prestigious global competition organized by Pegasus Tech Ventures; the winner will access the San Francisco challenge against 100+ global competitors
Asia Syria Over 100 chemical weapons sites, many not secure, could have remained after the fall of Bashar al-Assad, according to a leading chemical weapons watchdog, a number higher than any previous estimate; government pledged to destroy any remaining weapons
Asia Nepal Thousands of teachers of the Nepal Teachers’ Federation protested in Kathmandu earlier this month wearing black masks and demanding the long-delayed School Education Act; a nationwide strike closed schools and put more pressure on the government
Asia Iraq A sandstorm swept through Iraq, filling the air with choking dust that closed airports and put over 3.700 people in hospital with breathing difficulties; Visibility fell to less than one km in central and southern cities cloaked in an orange haze
Africa South Africa Google plans to invest $90 billion in economic output and help create 300.000 jobs in South Africa by 2030; among the fastest-growing tech giants globally, with 30% y-o-y growth, Google claims AI will bring a wave of new jobs, not just tech roles
Asia Taiwan Taiwan’s youth suicide rate has risen above the OECD average of 6,5, up from 4,5 in 2021, latest comparative report says, and mental health problems are worsening according to a National Taiwan University survey
Asia South Korea The presidential election have been officially scheduled for June 3, following the Constitutional Court's impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol; Candidate registration closes May 11, with campaigns starting May 12
Africa Zambia A training for licensed artisanal miners has started; the pivotal Ministerial initiative addresses several critical aspects regarding these key workers contributing to local and national economies especially in rural areas, with safety at first place
Africa Burundi Over 70.000 people have arrived in Burundi since January arriving from DR Congo; they include some returning Burundians as well as rural and urban populations fleeing local conflict, seeking international refugee protection and humanitarian assistance
Asia Malaysia Curtailments to gas flow are expected to end on 20 April; they have been imposed after a fire in Petronas Putra Heights on 1 April resulted in a mushroom cloud in a residential area, where 50 houses were damaged by temperatures reaching over 1.000 °C
Asia Mongolia “National AI” Program will train 250 AI specialists and 2.250 teachers over five years; In partnership with global institutions, it will offer AI education in Mongolian to bridge the digital divide and foster innovation nationwide
Africa Gabon Military leader Gen Brice Oligui Nguema has won presidential election with around 90% of the vote according to provisional results; it was the first election in Gabon since the Bongo near-60-year dynasty was overthrown by Nguema in the 2023 coup