Asia Bhutan Kabesa Local Area Plan is nearing completion after 15-years due to land disputes and revisions; The plan will regulate zoning and infrastructure in an area long affected by unplanned housing, informal land use and stalled construction near the capital
Asia Turkey Adana Mayor and eight other local politicians from the main opposition Republican People’s Party were released from prison; Karalar called for the release of other opposition mayors, including Istanbul's mayor and presidential candidate Ekrem Imamoglu
Asia Qatar The first edition of Art Basel Qatar concluded establishing a new long-term platform for artistic exchange, institutional engagement, and market development in the region; the awaited inaugural edition was met with an enthusiastic response from the public
Asia North Korea Tons of meat products worth hundreds of thousands of dollars have been shipped in from Belarus -reports independent media project Zerkalo- while North Korea supplied automotive parts to a Belarusian truck manufacturer that also produces missile launchers
Asia Turkmenistan Fans who have bought tickets for the Asian Champions League match between Turkmenistan’s Arkadag and Saudi Arabia’s Al-Nassr on February 11 have been informed, that their seats are being changed to make room for “organized support” groups
Asia Afghanistan Nearly five million patients with respiratory illnesses were registered in government hospitals over the past three months according to Minister of Health data, a significant surge from around 3 million last year
Asia Bahrain The US$500 salary is optional and not a mandatory requirement, the Bahrain Recruitment Offices Association clarified, stressing that setting a domestic worker's salary or establishing an increase must agreed with employer within official frameworks
Asia Jordan The implementation of the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan 2030, in line with global Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework adopted in 2022, has been launched to strengthen biodiversity protection through an ambitious agenda
Asia United Arab Emirates The UAE is taking part in the Winter Olympics for the very first time, affirming that Emirati sport has neither geographical nor climatic boundaries, but is driven by a clear vision of excellence; one two skiers started skying as a child indoor in Dubai
Asia Uzbekistan Amendments to the Administrative Code introduce an administrative penalty in the form of an administrative warning for minor traffic violations; issued in writing or online, it will be applied once a year per person if the individual is clear of offenses
Asia Israel After years of talks, Israel is set to approve a new international airport in Negev; located in Ziklag, near Beersheba, the infrastructure has been previously rejected for clashing with Air Force and Airport Ben Gurion flight paths
Asia India A historic Free Trade Agreement was signed in New Delhi with the EU; the "Mother of all deals" took two decades of negotiations, covers 25% of GDP 96% of goods or services, reduces tariffs on import of cars and wines boosting Indian textiles and services
Asia Oman Premarital medical screening will now be mandatory for couples to promote early detection of hereditary blood disorders and infectious diseases and providing couples with appropriate medical counselling before marriage