Asia

Livestock Bill 2025, which aims to modernize regulation and improve food safety, was debated by National Assembly; expanded meat production clashes with Buddhist values and animal welfare highlighted contrasts among tradition, public health, economy needs

Laos and Vietnam will establish a joint university in Laos and expand student exchange programs; The initiative seeks to strengthen bilateral ties, improve higher education and develop human capital through closer academic and institutional cooperation

5th Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge, connecting Bueng Kan to Bolikhamxay, is now the shortest strategic route linking Thailand, Laos and Vietnam; it helps make Bueng Kan a logistics centre, supports cross-border tourism in the area with a permanent route

In Hadath, Beirut’s outskirts, a shelter for abandoned cats has been running for 12 years: it began with a single rescue and became a long-term commitment; since 2024, the war has intensified the pressure and cats are relocated amid scarce housing options

On 4 January Independence Day, Myanmar’s junta granted amnesty to thousands of prisoners but excluded most political detainees; Activists said the move was symbolic and failed to address the continued detention of opposition figures and protest leaders

Photographers at Wat Arun in Bangkok will attend manners and ethics training, following reports of aggressive tactics, overcharging and pressuring on tourists; The measure aims to curb informal vendors, improve safety and protect the temple’s reputation

The Traslación, Manila’s annual mass procession of the Black Nazarene drawing millions of bare footed devotees, was held amid public outrage over alleged corruption in its management and misuse of funding, while authorities tightened security

Thunder Tiger, a major Taiwan’s manufacturer of radio-controlled aircraft and drones, has expanded into unmanned surface vessels and is seeking both domestic and overseas defense contracts

A government working group will coordinate celebrations of 820th anniversary of the founding of Great Mongol Empire by Chinggis Khaan; events across Mongolia will be integrated into Naadam festival and promoted internationally through diplomatic missions

150 ancient Khmer bronze antiquities will be lent to a travelling exhibition in Henan, China, where they’ll be shown at multiple venues to showcase Khmer artistic heritage; The loans aim to deepen ties with China and highlight Cambodia’s civilisation

Sea-borne robbery cases in the Straits of Malacca and around Singapore have reached their highest level since 2007, raising concerns over maritime security; Authorities warn that more organized gangs and rising ship traffic are often responsible

2026 economic master plan aims at a “great economic leap,” forecasting 2% GDP growth; government plans substantial investments in semiconductors, AI, defense and biotech, new fiscal policy, price stabilization and measures to boost consumption