Asia

Phase 2 of Malaysia's legal reforms has been launched, moving to separate the roles of Attorney General and Public Prosecutor; The change aims to strengthen judicial independence, prevent conflicts of interest, enhance public trust in the justice system

Planned its exit from Least Developed Country status, Laos set a timeline, starting work on a readiness assessment; The government aims to strengthen economic resilience and meet UN criteria, focusing on stability, human capital and sustainable growth

Cambodia denounces Thai army attacks near Preah Vihear Temple, reigniting long-standing border tensions; the UN’s International Court of Justice granted the temple to Cambodia, but the surrounding border remains disputed, causing recurring clashes

Wingsuit flying athletes Dani Roman and Fred Fugen made history executing a synchronized crossing from opposite directions between the twin towers of Manama's World Trade Center, descending from a helicopter at 220 km/h, crossing only 10 meters apart

Bhutan’s National Assembly unanimously adopted the framework agreement to join the International Big Cat Alliance, committing the country to global cooperation on big-cat conservation, anti-poaching efforts, and habitat protection

To expand crop variety and yield, North Korea’s top farming experts discussed boosting domestic harvests with leading Russian agricultural research hubs during a week-long visit to Russia, deepening food security links between the two countries

Syrians have taken to the streets to celebrate the first anniversary of the removal of longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad amid renewed optimism that conditions will continue to improve as the country recovers from the effects of nearly 14 years of war

A new ant has been discovered in Wadi Shees and registered under the scientific name Carebara Sharjahensis, or Sharjah Ant; efforts to monitor local wildlife and study endemic species are ongoing within the Hajar Mountains, ecologically reach UAE region

Russian help is not needed in guarding Tajikistan's border with Afghanistan, the country affirmed; cross-border attacks by armed militants killed five Chinese workers last month and information about the identity of the attackers hasn't been revealed

The first Hearth Summit in the Middle East is taking place at the American University of Kuwait; organized by Kuwait-based social development organization en.v with global Wellbeing Project, it promotes individual, collective, and ecological well-being

Gennady Golovkin has officially become the first Kazakhstani boxer to be included in the Class of 2026 of the International Boxing Hall of Fame with a ceremony taking place from 11 to 14 June next year in Canastota, New York

Iraq has become the champion in the Worldwide Mental Arithmetic Competition WAMAS—Dubai 2025, held in the UAE; students of the Iraqi team outperformed over 500 opponents from 27 countries