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
Africa Malawi Parliament legalized the cultivation of a very potent local variety of cannabis for industrial and medical use; the rule requires the government to issue a license for cultivation and transportation, while consumption for personal use remains illegal
Africa Ghana The local national communications authority has revealed that repair operations on the two submarine cables damaged on March 14 are proceeding, with two ships tasked with tackling the repair expected to be completed by early May
Europe Norway Over half of Norwegian teenagers enrolling in high schools in the country listed crafts and vocational trades as their first choice of study; government officials are pleased and relieved given the country's shortcomings
Asia South Korea An activist group led by ecologist Shin Joon Hwan would like to gradually replace all cherry trees of the Yoshino, or Tokyo cherry, variety with a type it claims is native to the country, since cherry trees are symbolic of Japanese colonial rule
Asia Philippines President Marcos Jr. has ordered the country's government to strengthen the navy's security activities to prepare for "a number of serious challenges", making no clear reference to China
Asia Iran 3.000 foreign traders and businessmen are expected to attend the Islamic Republic of Iran's 6th International Exhibition of Export Potential called "Iran Expo 2024" this month at the Tehran International Permanent Fairground
Asia Bahrain Europcar Oman & Bahrain, a leading mobility services company, held its much-anticipated annual staff event at the Crowne Plaza Hotel OCEC, bringing together employees from across the organization for a day of celebration, team building and recognition
America Panama Panama has introduced a new tool, the Taxonomía de Finanzas Sostenibles, in collaboration with various banks, aimed at developing environmentally-related banking activities and promoting a sustainable and low-emission economy
Africa Morocco An agreement has been signed with Italy on the mutual recognition of driving licenses, an arrangement to remove obstacles faced by Moroccans residing in Italy when converting their licenses with Italian registration authorities
Africa Ethiopia Throughout Ethiopia, seedlings are being prepared for tree planting as part of the Green Legacy Initiative, for integrated management of existing forests and biodiversity, to restore degraded landscapes and improve the ecosystem
Europe France The National Assembly, the lower house of the French parliament, approved by 44 votes to 2 a bill banning discrimination based on hair, preventing employers from requiring their employees to iron afro and dreadlocks and braids
Africa Eritrea The Russian frigate Marshal Shaposhnikov called at the port of Massawa, becoming the first Russian warship to dock in an Eritrean port
Africa Burkina Faso Over 40.000 Burkinabe nationals have arrived in Mali since December, says UNHCR, which also claims that every day "hundreds of people" continue to arrive on Malian soil from neighboring Burkina Faso NOTA