Asia China The country's zero-Covid policy is being put to the test as new cases spread, with a wave of cases reaching most of the country's 31 provinces in the largest outbreak since the early days of the pandemic last year
Asia South Korea A dramatic shift in the use of downtown Seoul building sees decadent hotels transformed into upscale apartments or offices, while ultra-luxury hotels chains are investing both in renovations and new projects
Asia Mongolia Umnugobi's newly renovated student development centre is ready for activity, with spaces for individual career, health and psychological counseling, as well as a co-working space and extracurricular activities for students
Asia Philippines In Tan-Awan, Cebu, the majestic whale sharks are a tourist attraction, to the point that they are fed and don't migrate; environmentalists warn of the danger of changing their habits and diet on top of man-caused skin abrasion
Asia Thailand A steel tycoon is setting up a new party as an alternative to the military-backed establishment and anti-government protesters, seeking to appeal to what he called a “silent majority” alienated by the festering political divide
Asia Cyprus The duration of maternity leave for mothers with two children has been extended to 22 weeks from 18 weeks currently, and to 26 weeks for the third or subsequent child; the new law applies to all cases: child born to beneficiary, adoption or surrogacy
Asia Lebanon Cancer patients, struggling to access even the most basic medicines and treatments amid soaring costs and practical difficulties, can get support from the Cancer Support Fund, established in 2018 at the American University of Beirut Medical Center
Asia Malaysia The Higher Education Ministry has set up a programme to train budding athletes and implement the "100m Run Under 10 Seconds" project, with the aim of producing 100m sprinters
Asia Qatar The 9th Ajyal Film Festival from today brings forward its unique strength of inclusive reality for all; people with disabilities will enjoy movies through enhanced sound with audio descriptions of visual elements and enriched subtitles
Asia Bangladesh The government plans to form 5.500 farmer groups to promote livestock farming; the groups will be set up by the Department of Livestock Services with technical assistance from FAO
Asia Armenia The minimum wage is expected to increase to 85.000 dram, about US$178, by 2026; the current monthly minimum wage is 68.000 dram, US$142
Asia Maldives Seagrass beds, a vital marine ecosystem, have been threatened for years by tourism and overdevelopment; now conservationists are fighting to protect them for the future, thus also contrasting climate change
Asia Syria Several European travel agencies are now organizing tours in the country, after an interruption of about ten years in consequence of the war