Asia Azerbaijan Construction industry in Azerbaijan registered an upward trend, with latest data showing a +19% increase in production of construction plaster in the first two months of 2025 compared to last year
Asia East Timor East Timor's economic performance showed substantial progress in 2024, with a 4% increase in Gross Domestic Product compared to 2,4% in 2023
Asia Palestine Al Jazeera fact-checking agency SANAD, based on UN data, satellite images and maps, claims tank raids and air strikes by Israeli forces in the West Bank in recent months are part of a systematic strategy to change geography, leading to full annexation
Asia Jordan 9.591 overnight tourists from African countries were recorded in January and February, totaling 11.895 with 2.304 day visitors, according to data from the Ministry of Tourism; compared to same period in 2024, visitors from African countries grew by 98,3%
Asia Philippines Thousands of Davao residents gathered with candles at former President Duterte residence on his 80th birthday, to express their well-wishes; Duterte is currently detained by the ICC in the Netherlands, facing charges related to his anti-drug campaign
Asia Vietnam Vietnamese investors launched 10 new overseas projects as of Q1 2025, with total outbound investment reaching over $83 million, more than 5 times higher than the same period in 2024
Asia Lebanon Beirut was hit by an airstrike carried out by Israel for the first time since a truce between the Israeli army and the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah halted the war between the two in November
Asia Saudi Arabia The market for sweets and chocolate is growing, and increased consumer demand for non-traditional options, chocolate and special promotions for Eid Al-Fitr is boosting sales
Asia Pakistan The Supreme Court ruled that women’s legal rights are not tied to marriage; Justice Mansoor Ali Shah said assuming married women depend financially on husbands is discriminatory and the court reinstated a woman denied a job due to her marital status
Asia Mongolia The Selbe Subcenter project in Ulaanbaatar aims to create a model “20-minute city” over 158 hectares; It will include 113 residential complexes, schools, hospitals, roads, bike paths, and green spaces and construction is set to finish by 2027
Asia Bhutan Bhutanese cinema is making global strides, with films like I, the Song and Agent of Happiness earning acclaim on the international stage; I, the Song was celebrated at the Busan and Fribourg film festivals, Agent of Happiness at Sundance and San Francisco
Asia Yemen The UAE and WHO launched a program to address malnutrition Socotra, focusing on both immediate relief and long-term solutions, while Air Arabia initiated a weekly flight from Abu Dhabi to the island, providing a direct route and easing travel access
Asia Brunei The Jualan Mega Brunei 2025 campaign is planned until 13 April under the theme 'Shop local, Celebrate together'; following routine inspections, Economic Planning and Statistics reaffirmed the importance of ethical and transparent sales practices