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
Asia Bhutan Two local films grants of $60.000 each have been granted in what is a major shift in national film policy: direct government funding, international exposure and new infrastructure are structural steps toward a globally competitive Bhutanese film industry
Asia Iran Dozens of Iranian targets, that include nuclear sites, have been hit by a massive 200-aircraft Israeli attack yesterday, with casualties among top military officials and scientists; Iran hadn't been attacked to that extent since the Iraq war in 1989
Oceania Tuvalu Taking part in the 3rd UN Ocean Conference in France, Prime Minister Feleti Teo called for an international treaty on sea level rise to enshrine the legal rights of affected states and people
America Mexico Diplomatic protests and formal apologies have surged after Mexican police from Chiapas entered Guatemalan territory and Mexico and Guatemala have agreed to strengthen bilateral security coordination
Oceania Kiribati The discovery of "Super Reefs" in the Line Island group has been announced by Kiribati's Minister of Fisheries: coral reefs formations that are tolerant, resilient to temperature change and rarely bleach, offering hope for coral reef conservation
America Guatemala Guatemala has created a joint task force with the United States to locate and repatriate fugitives with active arrest warrants
Asia Jordan Over 11.700 children dropped out of school in in 12 months, a growing crisis that Tamkeen for Legal Aid and Human Rights associates with the increase of child labour in informal and exploitative jobs; an alarming post-pandemic surge occurred in 2022-2024
Asia Tajikistan As global demand for environmentally friendly textiles grows, Tajikistan has a unique chance to build a sustainable model for cotton production; the transformation, driven by demographic growth and technological advancements, benefits from EU investment
Asia Philippines On 127th Independence Day, Marcos Jr. honored the 1898 heroes who freed the Philippines from Spanish rule; He called for accountability and unity, linking today’s struggles, corruption, fake news to the fight for freedom that shaped the nation’s identity
Europe Hungary To protect local agriculture and the interests of Hungarian farmers, the country introduced a ban on the import of Ukrainian produce and food products
America Bolivia Former President Evo Morales has been accused of terrorism after he allegedly urged supporters to blockade roads into La Paz in protest of his disqualification from the upcoming election and worsening economic conditions
America El Salvador Authorities in El Salvador have arrested another critic of President Bukele, intensifying a crackdown on dissent that has already targeted prominent legal and anti-corruption figures
Asia Japan Japan ranked 118th out of 148 countries in the World Economic Forum’s 2025 Global Gender Gap Report, the same position as last year - the lowest among G7; political empowerment is the weakest area, while education and health register near gender parity