Asia Tajikistan Construction of the Tajik National Theatre is expected to be completed by the autumn of 2026; according to the Tajik president's official website, it will be 'the largest theatre in Central Asia'
Asia Taiwan Temples in Penghu County made traditional 'rice bag turtles' in preparation for the 'Ciguei' ceremony held on the islands for the Lantern Festival, which this year falls on 12 February
Asia South Korea President Yoon Suk Yeol, indicted on insurrection charges following his 2024 martial law declaration, would face life imprisonment or death penalty if convicted; Yoon, currently detained, argues the martial law was a warning to resolve political deadlock
Asia Cambodia The Dead River Restoration in Kampong Thom, 35% complete, restores a 30km river and builds 117 structures; it will divert 300m³/s of water, improving irrigation and water supply for 5 districts including Stung Sen, supporting agriculture and flood control
Asia Indonesia To mitigate the massive Idul Fitri exodus, which last year saw 242 million Indonesians on the move, the Transportation Minister proposed a work-from-anywhere policy to alleviate traffic congestion and the strain on public transportation during peak days
Asia Singapore Over 600 public buses approaching their 10th year of service are being refurbished with new seats, floor coverings, window and windshield sealants and door system components; the initiative aims to enhance commuter comfort and extend bus lifespans
Asia Thailand Thailand may soon restart negotiations with Cambodia on overlapping claims in the Gulf of Thailand; the talks would aim to resolve disputes over resource-rich maritime areas, with both nations seeking mutual economic and diplomatic benefits
Asia Bhutan Ed Sheeran delivered a historic concert in Thimphu, marking a milestone as the first international star singer to perform in Bhutan
Asia East Timor The implementation of verfify.gov.tl, a platform for document verification, will benefit from the support of the Royal Government of Cambodia in developing technical and human resources needed for the process
Asia Kyrgyzstan Askar Akayev, former president of Kyrgyzstan and now professor at Moscow State University was awarded the title of Honoured Scientist of Russia by Vladimir Putin
Asia Thailand In Bangkok, public transport will be free for a week to try to counteract the heavy smog enveloping the city these days; pollution has also led the local government to close 352 of the 437 schools in the metropolitan city
Asia Georgia In 2024, the Georgian National Wine Agency registered a record USD 565 million in wine and spirits exports, up 24%from the previous year; the export country showing the largest increase was the United Arab Emirates
Asia Afghanistan Karim Khan, the Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, asked the Court to issue arrest warrants for the leader of the Taliban in Afghanistan, Hibatullah Akhundzada, and for Abdul Hakim Haqqani, head of the Afghan Supreme Court