Asia

Language diversity was celebrated at Golden Melody Awards with prizes celebrating not only Mandopop, but also artists singing in Taiwanese, Hakka and indigenous languages, a visible sign of government's efforts to promote languages other than Mandarin

Up to 4 million mangrove trees will be grown in the Khor Al-Zubair mudflats region; the joint project of government and UN agencies is inspired by successful mangrove forest rehabilitation activities in neighbouring Kuwait and the UAE

With UNDP support, the upgraded Sayramsu Anizdary tourist trail was opened in the Sayram-Ugam State National Nature Park, located in the north-east part of the Western Tien-Shan Mountain range

First phase of the country's Renewable Energy Development Project, which aims to increase renewable energy production and promote private sector participation, will be supported by the World Bank and Green Climate Fund

Workers at medical institutions will be required to register newborns starting a year from now; at least 2.236 children born 2015-2022 in medical institutions haven’t been registered by parents and went therefore totally ‘invisibile’

A new partnership has been created between Hiroshima atomic bomb memorial and that of the attack on US base Pearl Harbor, an agreement that survivors of the bomb-ravaged city have strongly criticised, pointing out that "they are not comparable events"

Israel’s government approved plans to build over 5.000 new homes in illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank; though it is not clear when construction will begin, the decision raised international bewilderment and more tensions with Palestine

Cyprus has the highest number of incarcerated women, amounting to 9,5% of the prison population, according to the 2022 annual statistics published by the Council of Europe

Xanana Gusmao, leader of the National Congress for the Reconstruction of East Timor party, returns to power as Prime Minister in a coalition government between his party and the Democratic Party

12 rubbish trucks and 10 tuk-tuks have been donated by the Japanese government to the Ministry of Environment, an initiative that aims to improve environmental services in 14 provinces

The country is preparing to hold International Scientific Conference dedicated to the work of Magtymguly, in accordance with plan of events dedicated to celebrating 300th anniversary of the birth of the outstanding Turkmen classical poet and philosopher