Asia Syria An offensive by Syrian armed groups that started in Idlib province in the north of the country prompted other groups and individual civilians to rebel against Bashar al Assad's dictatorship, toppling it in just 11 days
Asia Tajikistan Over 35% of foreign trade is currently conducted with the 10 member countries of Economic Cooperation Organisation: Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan
Asia Bangladesh To draw attention to the ongoing hostility and attacks against Hindus in Bangladesh, civil society in Delhi, in collaboration with over 200 social and cultural organisations, organised a press conference and march to the Bangladesh Embassy
Asia Azerbaijan Within the framework of the Individual Partnership Cooperation Programme 2024 between the Azerbaijani Ministry of Defence and NATO, a 'Training and Exercise Course' was conducted by the NATO Joint Force Command's Mobile Training Team
Asia India Indian police requested information from Elon Musk's Starlink after discovering that drug traffickers had used its satellite internet device to navigate Indian waters and reach the country's shores
Asia Japan Beloved actress and singer Miho Nakayama, known for having starred in the acclaimed 1995 romantic film "Love Letter," and a string of hit dramas, was found dead in the bathtub of her Tokyo home
Asia Malaysia Malaysia’s innovative halal tourism concept is gaining traction globally, attracting Muslim travelers with halal-certified services, prayer facilities, and Muslim-friendly amenities; the initiative also showcases iconic mosques and Islamic landmarks
Asia Maldives At a press conference on the government's efforts to control tobacco in the Maldives, Minister Nazim mentioned that cessation clinics are in operation and revealed the establishment of helpline 1676
Asia Palestine A new report by the human rights organisation Amnesty International has determined that Israel's war in Gaza has reached the legal threshold of genocide, accusing Israel of treating the Palestinians of Gaza as a 'subhuman group unworthy of human rights'
Asia Kazakhstan Over 83.000 girls between 11 and 13 years of age have been vaccinated against HPV; in October, a large-scale HPV vaccination had been launched as part of the national infectious disease and cancer prevention programme
Asia Kuwait On the eve of its planned release in Kuwait, the movie 'Wicked' was removed from cinema listings; the ban was not explained but it is said that the inclusion of an LGBTQ character may have been a contributing factor
Asia Mongolia A Mongolian Culture Center has opened at the University of Parma, Italy, following Florence; Aligned with Mongolia’s 2020-2024 action plan, it promotes Mongolian language, culture and studies, strengthening cultural ties locally and advancing research
Asia Vietnam Vietnamese tycoon Trương Mỹ Lan, founder of Vạn Thịnh Phát, was sentenced to death for embezzling $12.5 billion via Saigon Joint Stock Commercial Bank; her sentence may be commuted to life if she repays 75% of the funds