America Grenada Toll-free 988 Suicide Hotline for Crisis Response has been launched to guarantee immediate support for people experiencing suicidal thoughts, emotional distress and other mental health crises; an awareness campaign will start soon
America Brazil Brazil is racing to regulate AI and curb deepfake technology ahead of municipal polls, banning its use in electoral campaigns, requiring public notices for AI usage and threatening consequences
Oceania Micronesia The FSM national government said that, with the help of partners, it has mobilized emergency supplies for drought-affected communities; four states-Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei and Kosrae-have been experiencing drier-than-normal weather since December last year
Africa South Africa Johannesburg is facing an unprecedented collapse of its water system affecting millions of people, forced to stand in line for hours on end for water due to scorching weather that has shrunk reservoirs and crumbling infrastructure neglected for decades
Africa Somalia A recent accident involving Somali pirates underscored the renewed threat they pose to global shipping, after a Bangladeshi-owned bulk carrier fell victim to pirates in the western Indian Ocean
Africa Kenya Doctors at public hospitals have ended their 7th day of nationwide strike, accusing the government of failing to implement promises contained in the 2017 collective bargaining agreement, signed after a 100-day strike that saw people die from lack of care
Africa Democratic Republic of the Congo The government announced the end of the 2003 moratorium on the death penalty, paving the way for the resumption of executions
Africa Burkina Faso Only a third of the funds needed to cover the most urgent humanitarian needs in Burkina Faso were allocated last year, said director of the forum of international humanitarian NGOs in the country
Africa Nigeria President Bola Tinubu wrote to the Senate calling for the repeal of the Higher Education Access Act of 2023, otherwise known as the Student Loan Act, and submitted a new bill to be enacted into law
Europe Slovakia Only one Slovak company made it onto the list of Europe's 1.000 fastest-growing companies compiled by the Financial Times: Gardeon, a supplier of garages and garden sheds based in Turčiansky Ďur, northern Slovakia, came in 510th place
Europe Kosovo Kosovo's Central Election Commission set the voting date for the dismissal of four mayors of northern municipalities in one month, on 21 April; the European Union welcomed the decision and will assist the process
Asia Saudi Arabia The King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies has signed an agreement with the UNESCO to establish the UNESCO Chair of Translation of Cultures
Europe Moldova The country expelled a Russian diplomat over the opening of polling stations for the Russian presidential election in the breakaway region of Transnistria, after summoning the Russian ambassador
Europe Romania Romania's Constitutional Court has rejected an appeal by two opposition parties seeking constitutional annulment of legislation decriminalising tax evasion of less than €1 million