Asia Iraq An Iranian missile strike against targets in northern Iraq has sparked a dispute between neighbouring allies, with Baghdad recalling its ambassador in protest and Tehran insisting that the attack was intended to deter Israeli spy threats
Asia Japan Celebrated filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki won the first Golden Globe for 'The Boy and the Heron', a film based partly on Miyazaki's childhood and the first in a language other than English to win the Golden Globe for Best Animated Film
Asia Kazakhstan Approximately $171,3 million was invested in the country's professional, scientific and technical activities in January-November 2023, Finprom's financial and business analysis service reported, compared to $100 million in 2022
Asia Maldives Vice President Latheef presented a policy formulated by the government to facilitate the return of nurses and other health workers who have been out of service for various reasons, allowing former health workers to return to work on a salary basis
Asia Myanmar The Thai government is considering extending humanitarian aid to vulnerable populations in Myanmar, as well as hosting discussions with Myanmar's leader and ethnic minority factions to resolve the country's crisis
Asia East Timor National Sandalwood and East Timor Forestry Day was celebrated by the Korea Forest Service by planting sandalwood with local officials; the country's national tree has not only economic, but historical and cultural importance for the Timorese people
Asia Cambodia Puy Du Fou, a French theme park operator, has expressed interest in launching an innovative 3D 'Immersive Angkor' museum in Cambodia
Asia Brunei Brunei wushu star Basma Lachkar has been nominated as a candidate for the World Games Athlete of the Year 2023 by the international multi-sport event World Games
Asia Nepal The Prime Minister ordered Nepal Drugs Limited to begin production of 20 generic drugs immediately, praising NDL's ongoing drug production initiatives
Asia Qatar Delivery motorcycle riders not using the right lane of the road will be penalized or fined from today 15 January, 2024
Asia North Korea Russian tourists on a ski trip would be the first international travelers to visit North Korea since its borders closed in 2020, reported Russian state-run Tass news agency, underscoring deepening cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow
Asia Pakistan Pakistan's Supreme Court rejected an attempt by former Prime Minister Imran Khan's party to retain its traditional election symbol, a cricket bat, in the latest setback for the jailed leader ahead of the general election
Asia Uzbekistan The 'sandal', a low wooden table covered with a blanket and equipped with a heat source underneath, is becoming popular in modern Uzbekistan due to the country's energy crisis