Asia Malaysia Muslims in Malaysia have begun fasting today after the crescent moon was officially sighted, marking the start of Ramadan 1447H: the Keeper of the Rulers’ Seal announced the start of the holy month following observations at designated locations nationwide
Asia Afghanistan Latif Nangarhari, an Afghan singer who once critics and fled Talibans, known for advocating peace and condemning violence, now publicly praises their rule, drawing attention across Afghan social media
Asia Armenia Book Giving Day is celebrated today across Armenia; the date was set in memory of the Poet of All Armenians Hovhannes Tumanyan who was born on 19 February 1869
Asia Bahrain Bahraini villages Hoorat A’ali, Buri, Karranah and Budaiya were acknowledged under the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation Villages Recognition Initiative during latest FAO World Conference
Asia Uzbekistan The 2026 State Program has been signed; it reportedly includes an item envisaging transition to digital ways to prevent corruption and imposes restrictions on civil servants moving to private sector jobs
Asia North Korea Ninth Party Congress could be convened any day now, after weeks of preparation, international visits, expectations; Party Congresses have been the regime’s stage for big announcements, subtle purges and the occasional rewriting of titles
Asia Indonesia 8.000 Indonesia troops will be possibly deployed to peacekeeping in Gaza, subject to a UN mandate; The move, announced as President Prabowo Subianto visits the US, signals ambition to expand its diplomatic ties and security role in the Middle East
Asia Bhutan A Community-to-Community model is being introduced to manage human–wildlife coexistence by coordinating prevention efforts in neighboring villages: shared fencing, early warning systems and joint monitoring will reduce crop losses and livestock attacks
Asia Kazakhstan Al-Farabi Kazakh National University launched the Kazakh-Singaporean Center for Quantum Technologies within Farabi Hub Center for Innovative Products and High-Tech; new facility will be the cornerstone of Kazakhstan’s emerging national quantum ecosystem
Asia Cyprus Initiative to assist hotels install private desalination units, aiming to enhance water security as dam levels decline, was announced; Agriculture Minister said to expedite implementation licensing processes are simplified and a €3 million grant secured
Asia Azerbaijan Military oath-taking ceremonies for new recruits were held on 15 February across Azerbaijan; after the battle flags were brought to parade grounds, they began with a tribute to National Leader Aliyev and the Martyrs and the National Anthem
Asia Yemen Houthi militias have resumed construction work to establish commercial shops in the courtyard of Al-Mashhad Mosque in the capital Sana’a, following a brief halt triggered by widespread public anger in recent days
Asia Bangladesh Tarique Rahman won elections with a decisive victory, bringing BNP party to lead the country after two decades; CA Yunus said Rahman will steer Bangladesh on a path of stability, inclusive and development-oriented while opposition said will be considerate