Asia Malaysia The sentence of former PM Najib Razak to 12 years in prison for corruption and abuse of power was halved; by the end of 2023, corruption charges had been filed against both Najib and other members of his party, the United Malaysian National Organisation
Asia Iran Three satellites were successfully launched for the first time using the carrier rocket developed by the Ministry of Defence and Armed Forces Logistics and will be used to test communication and geopositioning technologies
Asia Laos Bodybuilding and e-sports will feature in the Laos National Games in 2025, after they were officially included in a decision that comes on the heels of Laos hosting the 18th ASEAN Bodybuilding Championships later this year
Asia Lebanon Britain would be organising a plan to de-escalate tensions on the Lebanese-Israeli border; the plan would involve Britain training Lebanese army forces to do more security work in the border region
Asia Mongolia Vatican Radio - Vatican News now also speaks the language of Mongolia, visited by Pope Francis last September: the idiom is the 52nd in addition to the others already present, both written and spoken, thanks to a collaboration with the local Church
Asia Turkey According to data from the Ministry of the Interior, last year the country experienced a significant decrease in the number of foreigners holding a valid residence permit, with a decrease of over 247.000 to 1,10 million residents
Asia Thailand Thailand's Constitutional Court has ruled that the main opposition party, the Kao Klai, violated the Constitution with its proposal to change the very strict lese-majesty laws prohibiting criticism of the country's king, and risks being dissolved
Asia Singapore The Orchard Road no smoking zone will now include the Somerset Skate Park and its surroundings
Asia Cambodia The 7th camp programme under the theme 'Youth under the Roof of Peace' organised by the National Polytechnic Institute of Cambodia is underway, involving 322 officials, professors and students
Asia Pakistan The Interim Federal Cabinet approved price increases for 146 essential life-saving drugs; the price increase was recommended by the Ministry of National Health in view of rising commodity prices on the global market
Asia Saudi Arabia In Riyadh, the first liquor shop in over 70 years has been opened: the sale of products is currently reserved for foreign diplomatic staff from non-Islamic countries
Asia Myanmar More Rohingya refugees fleeing Myanmar or Bangladesh died or went missing in 2023 than in the last ten years, according to statements by UNHCR