Asia Taiwan Free single-use toiletries are banned in hotels from today 1 January 2025, for obvious environmental reasons; the move is expected to impact over 14.000 hotel operators on top of the relative supply chain
Asia Maldives The National Disaster Management Council has approved the 'Maldives Disaster Risk Reduction Strategy 2024-2030', which focuses primarily on protecting the environment and safeguarding against natural and other disasters
Asia China Sales of electric vehicles in China are set to overtake those of conventional cars for the first time in 2025, with sales of electric vehicles expected to rise 20% this year to over 12 million units, more than double the 5,9 million of 2022
Asia Japan Emperor Naruhito, first emperor born after the war, and Empress Masako will visit Hiroshima and war-related sites in 2025 to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, and pass on the tragic memories to young generations in the pursuit of peace
Asia Myanmar The collapse of public health infrastructure has left communities to address widespread trauma independently; Kawthoolei Care Hospital in Kayin is training community health workers to provide mental health support amid ongoing conflict and displacement
Asia Sri Lanka The prices of vegetables have risen sharply in several economic centers last week compared to the previous week, causing concerns among consumers and traders alike
Asia Nepal In Karnali Province, pervasive poverty compels thousands to migrate to India for work, leaving behind villages populated mainly by women, children and the elderly; despite government efforts, significant progress remains elusive
Asia Bangladesh Inland water transport strike disrupted Bangladesh supply chain: crisscrossed by hundreds of rivers, over 80% of its cargo imported in bulk is delivered at sea and transported through waterways to its destination
Asia Japan A government-commissioned panel of experts largely supported the proposed new energy policy that calls for bolstering renewables up to half of electricity needs by 2040 while maximizing use of nuclear sources to accommodate Japan's growing power demand
Asia Jordan Latest report by Ipsos found that Jordanians are looking towards 2025 with renewed optimism, as 69% believe the coming year will be better personally and 55% expect people in Jordan to start feeling more optimistic about the long-term future
Asia Qatar News updates on referendum, budget announcements, cabinet reshuffle, holiday announcements for Eid Al Fitr and Eid Al Adha, and weather reports were some of the most viewed articles by The Peninsula readers in 2024, the news outlet reports
Asia North Korea The first high-quality photos of a new warship currently under construction have been revealed by Korean Central Television, indicating that it is likely to be the largest in the navy and will be equipped with a missile launch system
Asia Turkey The country's first domestically produced communication satellite has successfully entered its permanent geosynchronous orbit at 42 degrees east; the announcement came on 28 December