Asia Israel Local Al Jazeera offices have been searched, its TV channels and websites will no longer be accessible from Israeli territory, following recent law allowing temporary closure of foreign broadcasters considered a threat to national security
Asia Armenia The annual report for 2023 issued by the Central Bank of Armenia presents several key changes in the country's financial system
Asia Azerbaijan Azerbaijan could invite countries to conclude a truce during the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Baku
Asia Bahrain A major contract to provide EPC services and technology for the modernisation of the wastewater treatment plant in North Sitra has been awarded to Bluewater Bio, one of the fastest growing water technology companies in Europe
Asia Bangladesh The average rainfall in Bangladesh was one millimetre in April, the lowest in the country in 43 years, since 1981; the average rainfall in April is 134 mm
Asia Palestine On the occasion of World Press Freedom Day, Palestinian journalists from Gaza received the UNESCO World Press Freedom Award
Asia Singapore Sport Singapore will launch a new booking platform in June to contrast the use of bots and multiple accounts to book its sports facilities after reports emerged that slots were being booked by accounts using bots or scripted programmes
Asia Sri Lanka Sri Lanka's anti-drug campaign has led to the arrest of more than 50.000 people and the seizure of over US$20 million worth of drugs, but has drawn criticism for accusations of human rights violations from UN and other rights groups
Asia Thailand Thailand, traditionally the largest exporter of fresh durian to China, sees its position falter; Thai exports decreased by 59,5%, while Vietnamese exports increased by 48,1%
Asia Turkey Annual traffic congestion in Istanbul causes a loss of 288 hours per person, adding that 'the annual economic loss due to traffic congestion in Istanbul amounts to an incredible $10 billion'
Asia North Korea The country is estimated to earn around $500 million annually in remittances from its workers abroad, despite the UN Security Council sanctions banned the export of this type of labour since 2019
Asia Philippines The rehabilitation of Manila's iconic Central Post Office will begin this year, starting with a tender for an architectural and engineering study on the rebirth of the structure gutted by fire last year
Asia Oman Muscat hosted the regional consultation meeting of the secretaries of the Arab National Commissions for UNESCO, aiming to align the aspirations of the Arab world and UN guidelines and strategies