Asia United Arab Emirates To ensure safety and privacy of both students and teachers, a new ministerial directive has been issued requiring all public and private schools to enforce measures for the confiscation and safekeeping of students' mobile phones in school premises
Asia China A record number of university students will graduate next year, with the Ministry of Education predicting as many as 12,22 million graduates, 430.000 more than this year's number of graduates, that set latest record
Asia Bhutan Events like the Snowman Race and the rising popularity of cricket have fueled growing enthusiasm for sports; Bhutan has thus launched training programs to develop professional commentators, aiming to improve sports coverage and audience engagement
Asia Bangladesh Bangladeshi expatriates sent about $655 million in remittances in the first nine days of November of the 2024-25 fiscal year, according to Bangladesh Bank data
Asia Myanmar The junta is urging citizens abroad to return for mandatory military service; the move follows intensified recruitment efforts amid escalating conflicts with ethnic minorities within the country displacement and humanitarian crises
Asia Vietnam The Bac Ninh festival celebrates 15 years of Quan Ho singing being recognized by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage; known for its male-female duet style, Quan Ho is celebrated for its melodic richness and cultural importance
Asia Georgia In Sukhumi, the capital of the region of Abkhazia, hundreds of people stormed the complex where the local parliament is located, protesting against an agreement with Russia to facilitate investment in local real estate
Asia Mongolia Youth chess team returned with three medals from the 2024 FIDE World Youth Chess Championship in Brazil: Margad Munkhpurev got silver in Girls' Blitz, Tenguundalai Ganbat bronze in U14 Boys' Blitz and gold in Solving, Urangoo Gurvanbaatar got Master Title
Asia Thailand In a landmark move towards ending statelessness, Thailand’s cabinet has approved an accelerated pathway to permanent residency and nationality for nearly half a million stateless people, marking one of the region’s most significant citizenship initiatives
Asia Philippines The Malabon-Navotas Waste Workers' Association is tackling flooding prevention by educating residents on proper waste disposal, clearing blocked drains and replanting mangroves to absorb waters - essential efforts in Malabon, a city steadily sinking
Asia Kuwait Despite ongoing efforts to curb drug trafficking and addiction, a surge in consumption is prompting authorities to take new measures, including actions that involve communities, specially as there is a clear link with a surge in domestic violence
Asia Bahrain The Bank of Bahrain launched first bitcoin investment fund in the Gulf; the country had been proactive in establishing crypto banking regulations and confirms its attitude with the offer of a structured instrument to institutional investors
Asia Cambodia Streamlined filmmaking guidelines have been introduced to boost the local film industry; the new regulations aim to simplify the process for filmmakers, reducing bureaucratic hurdles and promoting the country as a creative hub