Asia Afghanistan In its recent annual report, the Taliban's Central Security and Settlement Commission, a division of the Afghan Ministry of Defence, accused Pakistan of destabilising Afghanistan and fostering regional terrorism
Asia Armenia International and private schools have become very popular in Armenia, especially in Yerevan; fees are high and sometimes exceed the cost of university fees, reaching up to USD 9.000 per year
Asia Bahrain The country's first café run by autistic people, Halla by Alia cafe, was recently opened at the Alia Rehabilitation and Early Intervention Centre in A'ali
Asia Taiwan The Taipei government has responded to US President Donald Trump's threat to impose tariffs of up to 100% on Taiwanese chips by pointing out that cooperation with Washington on semiconductors is mutually beneficial
Asia Tajikistan Drones have been introduced in locust control alongside traditional insecticide spraying methods, apparently marking a significant step forward
Asia Sri Lanka Members of the Association of Leasing and Debt Payers protested in front of police headquarters in Colombo, claiming that they authorised illegal seizures of vehicles, and urged the President to intervene
Asia Cyprus A landmark building in Nicosia was demolished, sparking anger and sadness among locals and architecture enthusiasts; captured on video and shared on social media the demolition has drawn sharp criticism as many see it as a big loss for the city’s heritage
Asia Kyrgyzstan Legalisation of right-hand drive cars will begin in Kyrgyzstan on 1 March 2025; there is currently a ban on the import of right-hand-drive cars into Kyrgyzstan, which is prohibited
Asia Nepal Nepal’s healthcare sector accounts for 4,1% of the nation’s greenhouse gas emissions, a recent WHO report reveals; this is largely due to improper incineration of medical waste, which releases harmful chemicals like dioxins and furans
Asia Syria Foreign branded consumer products, for decades available only on the black market due to heavy international sanctions and restrictions imposed by the regime, have again become available and accessible in supermarkets
Asia China A gigantic military compound is reportedly being built just outside Beijing; the construction site measures over four kilometres from side to side and will eventually be ten times the size of the Pentagon, becoming the largest command centre in the world
Asia North Korea North Korean soldiers who were fighting alongside the Russian army on the frontline against Ukraine have been withdrawn after numerous losses, according to US and Ukrainian officials heard by the New York Times
Asia Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had received an invitation to meet the US president at the White House on 4 February; he would be the first international leader to visit Trump in his second term