Asia Kuwait Despite ongoing efforts to curb drug trafficking and addiction, a surge in consumption is prompting authorities to take new measures, including actions that involve communities, specially as there is a clear link with a surge in domestic violence
Asia Philippines The Malabon-Navotas Waste Workers' Association is tackling flooding prevention by educating residents on proper waste disposal, clearing blocked drains and replanting mangroves to absorb waters - essential efforts in Malabon, a city steadily sinking
Asia Thailand In a landmark move towards ending statelessness, Thailand’s cabinet has approved an accelerated pathway to permanent residency and nationality for nearly half a million stateless people, marking one of the region’s most significant citizenship initiatives
Asia Mongolia Youth chess team returned with three medals from the 2024 FIDE World Youth Chess Championship in Brazil: Margad Munkhpurev got silver in Girls' Blitz, Tenguundalai Ganbat bronze in U14 Boys' Blitz and gold in Solving, Urangoo Gurvanbaatar got Master Title
Asia Georgia In Sukhumi, the capital of the region of Abkhazia, hundreds of people stormed the complex where the local parliament is located, protesting against an agreement with Russia to facilitate investment in local real estate
Asia Vietnam The Bac Ninh festival celebrates 15 years of Quan Ho singing being recognized by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage; known for its male-female duet style, Quan Ho is celebrated for its melodic richness and cultural importance
Asia Myanmar The junta is urging citizens abroad to return for mandatory military service; the move follows intensified recruitment efforts amid escalating conflicts with ethnic minorities within the country displacement and humanitarian crises
Asia Bangladesh Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei and the Centre for Energy Research at the United International University set up the first solar energy laboratory with energy storage system facilities in Bangladesh at the UIU headquarters
Asia Afghanistan Within the next two months, 1.000 Afghan prisoners will be transferred to Afghanistan from Iran; the agreement for the transfer of prisoners between Iran and Afghanistan was established in 2006 and the Taliban have pledged to abide by it
Asia Kyrgyzstan Advertising is now not allowed in the country for a number of occult-mystical services; the list of these businesses has been approved the Council of Ministers
Asia Kazakhstan The new terminal at Kyzylorda airport was launched in the presence of Prime Minister Bektenov; the terminal is expected to increase the airport's capacity sevenfold, from 300,000 to two million passengers per year
Asia Saudi Arabia Nadhmi al-Nasr, the head of the Neom project, the huge 'futuristic city' under construction in Saudi Arabia at the behest of Prince Mohammed bin Salman, has unexpectedly resigned; two other managers had resigned in recent months
Asia Iraq The military company Caci International will have to pay compensation of $42 million to three Iraqis who had denounced the inhuman and degrading treatment they suffered in the Abu Ghraib prison, during the years of the American invasion