Asia Iran A new ballistic missile, capable of travelling 1.700 kilometres, was unveiled at a ceremony in Tehran attended by President Masoud Pezeshkian
Asia Saudi Arabia Saudi Founding Day will be celebrated on 22 February to mark the establishment of the first state in 1727 with a calendar of events celebrating history, traditions and heritage that include the concert of Arab world's icons Nawal and Ahlam in Riyadh
Asia Afghanistan In its recent annual report, the Taliban's Central Security and Settlement Commission, a division of the Afghan Ministry of Defence, accused Pakistan of destabilising Afghanistan and fostering regional terrorism
Asia Armenia International and private schools have become very popular in Armenia, especially in Yerevan; fees are high and sometimes exceed the cost of university fees, reaching up to USD 9.000 per year
Asia Bahrain The country's first café run by autistic people, Halla by Alia cafe, was recently opened at the Alia Rehabilitation and Early Intervention Centre in A'ali
Asia Taiwan The Taipei government has responded to US President Donald Trump's threat to impose tariffs of up to 100% on Taiwanese chips by pointing out that cooperation with Washington on semiconductors is mutually beneficial
Asia Tajikistan Drones have been introduced in locust control alongside traditional insecticide spraying methods, apparently marking a significant step forward
Asia Sri Lanka Members of the Association of Leasing and Debt Payers protested in front of police headquarters in Colombo, claiming that they authorised illegal seizures of vehicles, and urged the President to intervene
Asia Cyprus A landmark building in Nicosia was demolished, sparking anger and sadness among locals and architecture enthusiasts; captured on video and shared on social media the demolition has drawn sharp criticism as many see it as a big loss for the city’s heritage
Asia Kyrgyzstan Legalisation of right-hand drive cars will begin in Kyrgyzstan on 1 March 2025; there is currently a ban on the import of right-hand-drive cars into Kyrgyzstan, which is prohibited
Asia Japan Tokyo registered a net influx of around 80.000 people in 2024, nearing the pre-pandemic 2019 level and highlighting the longstanding population concentration in the capital
Asia Nepal Nepal’s healthcare sector accounts for 4,1% of the nation’s greenhouse gas emissions, a recent WHO report reveals; this is largely due to improper incineration of medical waste, which releases harmful chemicals like dioxins and furans
Asia Syria Foreign branded consumer products, for decades available only on the black market due to heavy international sanctions and restrictions imposed by the regime, have again become available and accessible in supermarkets