Asia Iraq The 7,5 km Hamrin concrete bridge in Diyala province, which will be the longest in Iraq, has been temporarily opened with 90% of construction completed after roads were damaged and traffic disrupted by rising water levels in the neighboring lake
Asia Brunei The Central Bank of Brunei and the Bank of Laos have officially joined the Regional Payments Connectivity after previously expressing their interest in participating in the initiative
Africa Gambia ChildFund Gambia donated 1.000 solar lamps and two 40-foot containers loaded with additional textbooks to the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education for later distribution to schools throughout the region
Asia Japan 157 hospitalizations have been traced back to dietary supplements at the center of an expanding health scare, an increase from the 114 cases that last week Kobayashi Pharmaceutical said were linked to its products containing red yeast rice 'beni kōji'
Africa Central African Republic Discussions have begun in Bangui on the second review of the government's economic and financial program, supported by the Extended Credit Facility
Europe Denmark Municipalities are hesitant with the unpopular ban on wood stoves, which, despite decades of evidence on the carcinogenic effects of wood stove use, remain the only non-taxable form of energy in the country
Africa Equatorial Guinea The minutes and opinion resulting from the second reading study of the bill regulating the highway code were adopted by the Senate Standing Committee on the Interior, Local Government and Public Utilities
Europe Vatican City Pope Francis encouraged people of all religions to promote diversity, peace and care for creation, stressing the importance of interreligious dialogue
Asia Taiwan Still 38 are missing from the 7,2 magnitude earthquake that claimed 10 lives, the strongest earthquake to hit Taiwan in nearly 25 years
Europe Greece Seven out of ten units of blood collected in Greece last year came from voluntary donations, according to the annual report of the National Blood Donation Center, which shows an increase in 2023
America Brazil Brazil's urban popular music genre, choro, has been officially recognized as Brazilian cultural heritage by the Institute of National Artistic Heritage, tracing its roots to the 19th century in Rio de Janeiro and still thriving today through jam sessions
Africa Djibouti Djibouti's sovereign wealth fund said it is ready to co-invest beyond ports and military infrastructure, as the country prepares to welcome investors from around the world for the inaugural Djibouti Forum in May
Europe Estonia The bill to introduce a motor vehicle tax in Estonia, currently undergoing second reading in Riigikogu, has become one of the most hotly debated issues; among the most vocal critics are car collectors, some of whom own hundreds of vehicles
America Argentina Argentina and Colombia have resolved their differences following a tense verbal exchange between Presidents Milei and Petro, with both nations taking concrete steps to strengthen their relationship, as announced by their respective foreign ministries