Asia

Fisheries and Livestock Adviser Farida Akhter has urged stakeholders to halt the clearing of mangrove forests to make way for shrimp farms, warning that the destruction of these vital ecosystems would undermine coastal protection

1.361 citizenship certificates have been granted this year thanks to an update of guidelines and eligibility that came into effect on 31 December 2024 and helped reduce the backlog in applications

Tandoors used for baking samsa were demolished during air pollution raids in Shakhrikhan district of Andijan province; the district mayor’s office posted photo and video footages of demolishings but later deleted them

Taiwan and India pledged to build a resilient supply chain by combining Taiwan’s advanced technologies with India’s software talent and manufacturing incentives; the official talks aimed at efforts to diversify beyond vulnerable networks

A joint action plan on emergency situations has been signed with Uzbekistan along the 26th International Conference of Heads of Firefighting and Rescue Services of the member countries of the International Sports Federation of Firefighters and Rescuers

The number of companies registered in the first 11 months of 2025 has grown at an "unprecedented" rate since 2014, rising by about 46 per cent, while total registered capital reached its highest level ever, according to Companies Controller Wael Armouti

The ban on packaging, producing, and importing single-use plastic water bottles sized between 500ml and 1 litre, set to begin on 1 December 1 has been set to 1 December 2027 by President Muizzu who amended previous presidential decree

Portable power banks catching fire in Japan have more than doubled between 2020 and 2024; public and private sectors have begun strengthening safety measures and efforts to raise public awareness amid a series of incidents in public spaces this year

Police has called to make football violence ‘a thing of the past’, implementing security inside and outside the stadium and neighbouring areas and inviting teams to tone down the rhetoric; measures are taken after recent episodes of inconsiderate behavior

36,90% turnout was registered in snap elections in 30 districts nationwide, each electing three members to the Jogorku Kenesh, at least one woman, for a total of 90 deputies entering parliament; 26.066 citizens voted at polling stations abroad

150 new battalions TNI, Indonesia's land army, will be added each year starting in 2026 to guard assets like oil refineries and expand nationwide presence; Critics say the move strengthens military power and influence into civilian and strategic areas

Sabah, a resource-rich Malaysian state on northern Borneo, is heading to elections; Its strategic location, diverse population and vital natural assets make it crucial for national stability, drawing the country's attention