Bhutan Records 76.98% Pass Rate in Class VIII Exams

Bhutan achieved a 76.98 percent pass rate in the Class VIII Board Examination 2025, with 12,039 out of 12,143 students passing from 168 schools nationwide, reflecting broad participation across government and private institutions. The national merit list was topped by Sidanth Bhandari of Loselling Middle Secondary School with 94.6 percent, followed closely by Sangay [...]

Mali’s Military Rulers Intensify Restrictions on Free Expression

MALI: Mali's military government took steps to restrict how regular people can access information from one of the most important news sources about African issues. On January 16, the Ministry of Territorial Administration announced a decree that bans the circulation and distribution of Jeune Afrique “in all its forms,” claiming it is necessary to “preserve [...]

China Signals Deeper Market Opening with Expanded Access for Foreign Investors in 2026

CHINA: China's foreign investment officials have promised to keep increasing market access and promoting openness, especially in working with foreign investors in the services sector this coming year. According to Chinese experts, this new phase of openness addresses both urgent needs in the domestic economy and long-term strategic goals. They also highlighted that it shows [...]

France–Algeria Relations: A Legacy of Colonialism and Migrant Labor Exploitation

ALGERIA: The colonial mindset seeks out fresh ways to exploit people instead of feeling guilt or shame. France once controlled Algeria and built its wealth by using Algerian labor. Today, it continues to treat the descendants of those Algerians and other North Africans—who are now third- and fourth-generation French citizens—unfairly through media portrayals and police [...]

36,500 Dead in 48 Hours: A Scale of Violence Without Precedent

Reports indicate that more than 36,500 people were killed in just 48 hours during Iran’s national uprising, marking an unprecedented level of violence in the history of repression under the Islamic Republic. This equates to 18,250 deaths per day—one life lost every five seconds. The scale of the killings far surpasses casualty rates seen in [...]

US-Mauritania Security Cooperation

Mauritania has strengthened its security capacity through the receipt of military equipment from the United States. This support is part of broader efforts to stabilize the Sahel region, which continues to face extremist threats.The new equipment is expected to enhance border security and counterterrorism operations. Mauritania has been viewed as a relatively stable partner in [...]

Drug Crisis Exposes Bangladesh’s Youth to High Risk

A nationwide study in Bangladesh reveals a serious substance abuse crisis, with early exposure among adolescents and high vulnerability among youth. About one-third of users began taking drugs between ages 8–17, while most others started between 18–25. Unemployment, peer pressure, mental stress, family instability, and easy drug availability (reported by nearly 90%) are major risk [...]

MILAN 2026

India will host MILAN 2026, a major multinational naval exercise, from February 15–25. The event brought together several countries to strengthen maritime cooperation. It emphasized a rules-based global maritime order and regional security. The exercise aligns with India’s broader vision for cooperative security in the Indo-Pacific. It [...]

World Bank Warns of Rising Pressures on Cambodia’s Economy

Cambodia’s economy is under significant pressure from a property sector downturn, returning migrant workers, and rising global trade barriers, according to the World Bank’s December 2025 update. GDP growth is expected to slow from 4.8% in 2025 to 4.3% in 2026 as domestic demand weakens, while banking sector risks rise and household incomes fall [...]

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