Asia

23 new judges were sworn in at the Supreme Court during a ceremony; this development is in line with Oman's Vision 2040, which aims to improve the governance of the judiciary and create a sound legal framework

The kingdom of Bhutan has its first and only artificial intelligence startup, NoMindBhutan, created by two computer science engineering students at Thimphu’s Royal University; headquarters are in a college dorm room and employees are fellow students

Six Thai airports, including Hat Yai International, have announced the rollout of facial recognition technology to streamline travel: passengers will show ID only once during check-in, eliminating boarding passes from baggage drop to gate

On Mongolia’s National Pride Day, marking the 862nd anniversary of Chinggis Khaan’s birth, a tribute was held with the State Nine White Banners raised in Sukhbaatar Square, accompanied by the Mongolian Armed Forces’ ceremonial music

Lingering impacts of Typhoon Yagi: damaged farmland hinders crop cycles and sparks fears of a rice shortage; rising prices and limited government aid heighten food insecurity concerns; urgent recovery efforts are needed

Luang Prabang, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Laos, welcomed 1,7 million tourists in the first ten months of 2024, nearly doubling its target of 900.000; as peak season nears, officials expect figures to grow more and highlight the site's cultural appeal

For the approaching Prahok season, traditional fish paste, fishers are urged to release endangered species like the giant barb and giant stingray if caught; penalties for illegal trading as well as community-led releases show conservation in action

A female Sumatran elephant, a subspecies of the Asian elephant considered to be at serious risk of extinction, was born in the Buluh China Nature Park in north-west Sumatra; the WWF estimates that there are now only between 2.400 and 2.800 individuals

USAID announced a contract to sell 600 kg of Afghan saffron to Paris Exposition 2024, worth over $1million; Afghanistan’s Ministry of Industry and Commerce said that saffron cultivation has expanded to 26 provinces following ban on opium poppy cultivation

Targeted grants for judicial reform and education will be provided in 2025 in the frame of EU's support program for Armenia, entitled 'Resilience and Development', with a budget of €270 million over four years

His Majesty the Sultan attended the 2024 Sarawak Regatta in Kuching, Malaysia; the traditional Waterfront Festival assigned the title of 'King of the River' to decorated wooden boats manned by 30 rowers

Hezbollah is continuing to reduce its presence in Syria by bringing back to Lebanon its fighters who had supported the Syrian regime