Asia Tajikistan A shortage of electricity is expected this season, as the inflow of water feeding hydroelectric power plant is much lower than last year, requiring a regulation of the use of water and energy resources by both businesses and residential customers
Asia Armenia The country ratified membership in the International Criminal Court, the leading international court for war crimes and crimes against humanity; the parliament's decision has been read as a distancing from Russia
Asia Afghanistan Over 90% of the people killed by the earthquake last weekend were women and children, UN officials reported
Asia Malaysia A tax on capital gains and high value assets will be introduced while subsidies will be cut gradually to strengthen the country's fiscal position as the economic slowdown puts a strain on public spending
Asia India India's first rapid railway train, known as RAPIDX, will be inaugurated next week; the first train will be operated by women drivers, making it a historic moment for the country
Asia China The 'Three Gorges Hydrogen Boat No. 1', an inland waterway vessel and China's first hydrogen-powered ship, made its maiden voyage in the Yichang City, in the central province of Hubei
Asia South Korea The US nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Ronald Reagan has docked at Busan for a five days stay to strengthen the defence posture of the country, as Seoul warned of a greater threat from North Korea and held joint maritime drills with the US and Japan
Asia Japan A bill pending in Saitama Prefecture that would have made it illegal for guardians to leave children unattended at home or let them play outside and going to school by themselves will be withdrawn following a public uproar
Asia Iran The condition of a 16-year-old Iranian girl, in a coma after an alleged assault on the Tehran metro because she wasn't wearing proper attire, has 'deteriorated' in hospital, local media reported
Asia Nepal Flights to and from Lukla's Tenzing Hillary Airport have been grounded for the past five days due to unfavourable weather conditions in the region, with hundreds of tourists waiting or forced to change means of transport
Asia Maldives All media stations in the Maldives are collaborating to organise a telethon to help civilians in Gaza under siege
Asia Kazakhstan The number of complaints by Kazakhs about the Internet and mobile communications has increased 2,5 times
Asia Turkey The first church built with government support in the 100-year history of Muslim-majority Turkey as a post-Ottoman state was inaugurated by President Erdogan on Sunday