In Uganda, bamboo has government’s backing as a crop with real growth potential

ALONG RIVER RWIZI, Uganda — Along a stretch of bush by a muddy river, laborers dug and slashed in search of bamboo plants buried under dense grass. Here and there a few plants had sprouted tall, but most of the bamboo seedlings planted more than a year ago never grew. Now, environment protection officers seeking … Read more

Canadian governments commit millions to landfill search for remains of slain Indigenous women

WINNIPEG, Manitoba — Canada’s federal government and the provincial Manitoba government agreed Friday to spend tens of millions to help search a landfill for the remains of two slain Indigenous women. A sum of $20 million Canadian (US$14.7 million) from each government is to go toward a search of the privately owned Prairie Green landfill … Read more

Congolese governments denounce Trump’s baseless stories about emptied prisons

There is no evidence for former President Donald Trump’s repeated claims that “the Congo” has emptied prisons to allow violent criminals to come to the US border as migrants – and the governments of both the Democratic Republic of Congo and the neighboring Republic of Congo say Trump’s assertions are entirely false. “Everything he is … Read more

Karine Perset helps governments understand AI

To give AI-focused women academics and others their well-deserved — and overdue — time in the spotlight, TechCrunch is launching a series of interviews focusing on remarkable women who’ve contributed to the AI revolution. We’ll publish several pieces throughout the year as the AI boom continues, highlighting key work that often goes unrecognized. Read more profiles here. Karine … Read more

Taylor Swift’s Singapore-Only Shows Have Neighboring Governments Seeing Red

Fans across Southeast Asia were seeing Red when news broke last year that Singapore would be the only regional stop for Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour. But as concertgoers swarm to Singapore for the pop star’s six sold-out shows starting this weekend, it seems like Bad Blood is also brewing among neighboring government officials, amid allegations … Read more

South Korea: Thousands of Striking Doctors Defy Government’s Back-to-Work Orders

Tensions continue to soar between thousands of striking South Korean doctors and the government, as a vast majority of the protesting junior residents have refused to go back to work on Friday despite threats of prosecution for their ongoing collective action and promises of immunity from penalty if they had quit their walkout by now. … Read more

Slovak president challenges the government’s move to eliminate the special anti-graft prosecutor

BRATISLAVA, Slovakia — Slovakia’s president said Friday that she will challenge at the Constitutional Court an amendment to the country’s penal code that eliminates the office of the special prosecutor dealing with major crimes and corruption. President Zuzana Caputova said she was also asking Slovakia’s top court to freeze the legislation, which was approved by … Read more

South Korean Trainee Doctors Protest Government’s Quota Plan

South Korean trainee doctors opposing a government plan to drastically increase the number of people who can seek a medical degree threatened to resign in a move that could shake the health care system. Interns and residents at five major general hospitals groups, including Seoul National University Hospital, plan to submit their letters of resignations … Read more

Senegal court rules government’s postponement of Feb. 25 presidential vote was illegal

DAKAR, Senegal — Senegal’s top election authority on Thursday voided the government’s postponement of a presidential election scheduled for Feb. 25 and its rescheduling for December, ruling that the moves were unconstitutional. Senegal’s Constitutional Council cancelled the decree signed by President Macky Sall that postponed the election, according to a judgement approved by seven members … Read more

Bluesky opens to everyone, Rivian reveals its new SUV, and governments exploit iPhones

Hey, folks, welcome to Week in Review (WiR), TechCrunch’s regular newsletter that recaps the last few days in tech. This week, social network Bluesky opened for anyone to join — which feels appropriate here in NYC, given the sunshine and unseasonably warm temperatures we’ve been enjoying. For those more inclined to while away the days … Read more