Asia China “Bone ash apartments" will be illegal after new law prohibits use of residential properties to store ashes or bury remains outside dedicated areas; scarce space in cemeteries, low house prices made more affordable to entomb remains in an empty apartment
Europe Bosnia and Herzegovina Police agencies in Bosnia are increasingly using new technology with facial recognition capacity, such as drones and cameras, to fight crime; doubts are rising over the legal frame allowing their use
Asia Maldives The government is planning to seek public support for major constitutional changes using a new law that the opposition claims is a "tool" for President Dr Mohamed Muizzu to prolong his five-year term beyond 2028
Asia Syria President Ahmed Al-Sharaa became the first representative of Syria to address world leaders at the United Nations General Assembly in almost sixty years
Oceania Tonga Motions proposed by the Practice Parliament for Women 2025 to the Tonga Legislative Assembly were met with resistance from the House, during its final sitting for the year, which Speaker Lord Fakafanua called "degrading and mocking terms towards women"
Africa Democratic Republic of the Congo Response to the Ebola outbreak is accelerating, with control measures being scaled up leading to quicker detection of the virus, early start of treatment; over 90% of contacts of confirmed cases are monitored and followed up, from just 19% a fortnight ago
Europe Lithuania 15 people have been charged in Lithuania over an alleged plan for arson attacks through courier services backed by Russian military intelligence service GRU; suspects include citizens from Russia, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Ukraine
Africa Liberia The DayLight investigation "How a Family Smuggled Timber for over a Decade" has been recognized by Global Investigative Journalism Network GIJN as one of the best in Africa, highlighting illicit activities and impactful outcomes in Liberia
Africa Madagascar Updated 10.000 and 20.000 ariary banknotes have been released to curb counterfeiting; with overall design similar to the previous series, new notes incorporate a two-tone green and red security thread as well as printing changes
Africa Mozambique Two insurgents attacks in two weeks in Mocímboa da Praia can have ethnic grounds, as neighbourhood is largely inhabited by Makonde residents, from the interior of Cabo Delgado, who have historically had tense relations with native Mwani community
Asia Afghanistan 142 pneumonia deaths in a month have been reported by WHO, with over 68.000 new cases recorded across Afghanistan, alongside rising malaria, measles, and diarrheal cases; the agency also warned of worsening health threats nationwide
Asia Lebanon With the Litani River drying and Lake Qaraoun at record lows, rainfall drastically diminished, aid groups warn the crisis could spiral into a nationwide emergency as Lebanon faces its worst drought in 65 years
Africa Morocco Teachers and education administrators across Morocco have been striking and protesting nationwide yesterday, demanding that the government fulfill long-standing agreements and the 2023 promise of a new employment framework
Asia Bangladesh Commenting Bangladesh Business Awards the editor and publisher of newspaper The Daily Star said the private sector is the backbone of Bangladesh's economic future, and the government must extend every possible support in policy, in finance, in recognition