Asia

1.149 cultural artefacts have been repatriated to the country in 2024 and added to the over 13.000 objects returned to the country since 2002

All pharmacies and hospitals in Uzbekistan will have to pay VAT as of 1 April 2025, regardless of income

A global clean-up campaign was launched to welcome the New Year in Sanaa

Leader Kim Yo Jong's sister appeared for the first time with children in state media

A decree prohibiting the construction of windows in new buildings that overlook other people's homes and spaces where women might be has been issued

Ahmed al Sharaa, the leader of the insurgents who overthrew the regime of Bashar al Assad, said it could take up to four years to carry out a full population census before new elections are held in the country

Gaza's population decreased by 6% since the start of Israel's war, reports Anadolu Agency citing official data from the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics

In an optimistic New Year’s address, President Christodoulides said there are reasons for hope in 2025; meanwhile, the Cypriot economy showed remarkable resilience in 2024, with a +3,7% growth rate despite persistent geopolitical and internal challenges

Free single-use toiletries are banned in hotels from today 1 January 2025, for obvious environmental reasons; the move is expected to impact over 14.000 hotel operators on top of the relative supply chain

The National Disaster Management Council has approved the 'Maldives Disaster Risk Reduction Strategy 2024-2030', which focuses primarily on protecting the environment and safeguarding against natural and other disasters

Emperor Naruhito, first emperor born after the war, and Empress Masako will visit Hiroshima and war-related sites in 2025 to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, and pass on the tragic memories to young generations in the pursuit of peace

The collapse of public health infrastructure has left communities to address widespread trauma independently; Kawthoolei Care Hospital in Kayin is training community health workers to provide mental health support amid ongoing conflict and displacement