Asia India The upcoming general election of 19 April, in which the parliament for the next five years will be chosen and where Modi seeks his third consecutive term, is the world's biggest democratic exercise ever: nearly one in eight people in the world will vote
Asia Bhutan According to Asian Development Outlook, Bhutan's economic growth is driven by public spending and capital accumulation but the growth mode of capital accumulation is not sustainable due to declining spending and recommended innovative financing approaches
Asia Cambodia Some 5.000 families have been relocated by authorities from the archaeological site of Angkor Wat temple, a major tourist attraction, in a program that Amnesty International called as a "gross violation of international human rights law"
Asia Georgia The country has gone down the path of semi-consolidated authoritarianism, argues the Freedom House report "Nations in Transit 2024," whereby Georgia is among the countries with hybrid regimes leading to self-cratization
Asia East Timor The government welcomed the official confirmation of the Holy Father's visit to East Timor, Sept. 9-11, 2024
Asia Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu appointed new members, including a chairman and vice chairman, of the Labor Court
Asia Indonesia During the 2024 Eid al-Fitr exodus a decrease of 15% in accidents has been reported compared to last year's Eid, from 2.159 to 1.835 nationally; the National Police Traffic Corps also specifies fatalities decreased by 3%
Asia Kuwait The country has introduced home biometrics for specific groups of people as the three-month deadline to undergo mandatory biometric fingerprinting expires in June
Asia Laos The Bokeo Province State Water Supply Company has stirred controversy with a new regulation requiring households to pay LAK 10.000 (about $0,47) for each water bill receipt
Asia Iraq The consulate of the Netherlands in Erbil has been closed - and so is the embassy to Tehran - amid growing concerns of potential escalation in the Middle East
Asia South Korea The new National Assembly of 300 members selected in last week's general election will have no independent members for the first time in over five decades: 58 candidates without political party affiliation ran in 254 constituency, but none prevailed
Asia Jordan Jordanian airspace closed to all incoming, departing and transiting flights from 20:00 UTC on 13 April to ensure safety according to international standards in light of the rising local risks and will be continuously updated according to developments
Asia Brunei Astrophiles in the country will be able to witness the passage of comet Pons Brooks at its maximum distance of 116,8 million km from the Sun on April 21, reaching its maximum brightness of magnitude 4,2, visible to the naked eye