Asia Kazakhstan Kazakhstani officials discussed the introduction of new digital technologies and artificial intelligence into everyday activities during a government meeting
Asia Kyrgyzstan The Bishkek mayor's office has proposed a draft legislation on the introduction of restrictions on the driving hours of vehicles delivering goods to shops and bazaars, especially during peak hours
Asia Maldives Amendments to the Tobacco Control Act, which prohibit the import, sale, free distribution and use of vaping devices and electronic cigarettes in the Maldives, came into force on 15 December; already nine persons have been sanctioned
Asia Bhutan Swiss light artist Gerry Hofstetter lit up Bhutan’s National Day, projecting dragons, tigers, prayer flags and more cultural symbols onto landmarks such as the Buddha Dordenma and Tiger’s Nest in a celebration of Bhutanese identity
Asia Turkmenistan The Turkmenistan University of Sport has become a member of the International Association of Universities of Physical Education and Sport
Asia Uzbekistan The 10% excise tax on mobile communication services will be abolished starting January 1, 2025; the announcement was made after reviewing the country's progress in 2023 and in the frame of key plans for 2025 to support entrepreneurship
Asia Taiwan A large uncrewed aerial vehicle testing facility in Chiayi County will be set to help establish Taiwan's drone supply chain with a greater share of the global market; about 50 companies are already based in the drone R&D center
Asia Cambodia The first rubber collection contest was held in Tbong Khmum province; showcasing the skills of the nation’s rubber tappers, participants competed to extract the most latex while maintaining quality
Asia Saudi Arabia The first meeting of the Council of Arab Ministers on Cyber Security will be hosted today in Riyadh and will be attended by officials and experts from several Arab League countries
Asia India A crackdown on illegal child marriages in north-east India has led to nearly 5.000 arrests, 416 in the latest police operation, a minister said on Sunday; according to the United Nations, there are over 220 million child brides
Asia Syria The United States removed the $10 million bounty it had placed on the capture of Ahmed al Sharaa, or Abu Mohammed al Jolani, the leader of Hayat Tahrir al Sham
Asia Tajikistan Each resident of Tajikistan's major cities disposes of more than 1 kilogram of solid waste per day, of which 100 grams is plastic; each year the country generates more than 9 million tonnes of household solid waste of which 321.890 tonnes is plastic waste
Asia Myanmar Myanmar has overtaken Afghanistan as the world’s top opium producer: driven by economic collapse after 2021 coup, production surges unchecked with no clear solutions in sight; the UN warns that rising cultivation fuels conflict, instability, health crises