Haiti, Iran, Gambia.
Today's three stories you should know.
Haiti
Haiti is pleading for international help as it struggles to contain escalating gang violence. According to several reports, the government wants foreign police forces to send in officers and may even appeal for a combined “specialized armed force” to get the situation under control. Haiti has largely ground to a standstill after a coalition of gangs blocked its main fuel terminal last month, causing diesel and gas shortages. The country has gone through myriad crises in recent years, including the assassination of its president in July 2021 and a massive earthquake a month later. A previous outbreak of gang violence killed more than 200 people in just 10 days last July.
More from the Guardian here.
Iran
Protests in Iran over the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody have entered their fourth week. The sustained nature of the demonstrations - and their international support - makes them the most serious threat to the Iranian government in years. Late on Saturday, Iranian state television was apparently hacked when the nightly news bulletin was interrupted. A large mask appeared on screen followed by an image of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei with flames burning around him and a gun sight on his face. Amini, 22, was detained by morality police for allegedly not covering her hair properly. She died three days later and the protests erupted almost immediately.
More from BBC here.
Gambia
Gambian police have launched an investigation after 66 children died, most from acute kidney failure, sparking suspicions that cough medicine imported from India may be to blame. The World Health Organization (WHO) has now issued a global alert against the use of four different cough syrups manufactured by the same Indian company, Maiden Pharmaceuticals. The WHO identified the medicines as Promethazine Oral Solution, Kofexmalin Baby Cough Syrup, Makoff Baby Cough Syrup and Magrip N Cold Syrup. Indian Authorities are reported to have asked WHO to provide evidence linking the syrups to the deaths of the children in Gambia.
More from France 24 here.