Asia Thailand The Thai National Identity Committee has announced that Thailand will officially recognise the iconic 'wai' gesture, a traditional Buddhist greeting of joining palms in a prayer-like gesture, as a fundamental part of its national identity
Asia Laos A new agroforestry coffee plantation project dedicated to promoting sustainable agriculture and environmental conservation is about to take off to create a prototype coffee plantation for local farmers, implementing the agroforestry rotation system
Asia Kyrgyzstan A new bus station was inaugurated in Bishkek at the intersection of the ring road and Alma-Ata Street to relocate the eastern bus station; it is served by minibuses that transport citizens to the different regions
Asia Kuwait The Health Minister issued two decisions to add chemicals to the list of controlled drugs and psychotropic substances, as part of ongoing efforts to combat drug abuse and regulate their use and trafficking in accordance with international standards
Asia Singapore Singaporeans are less happy today than 5 years ago, but those who have a more balanced outlook on life are more satisfied, says a National University of Singapore survey; from 2016 to 2022, Singaporeans enjoyed life less and experienced a less fulfilment
Asia Malaysia The application for a temporary amendment of the festive licence, open from 5 January to 5 February 2024, is limited to economy express bus services and buses less than 10 years old, the Land Public Transport Agency stated
Asia Jordan HRH Crown Prince Hussein attended the launch of the Jordan-Singapore Tech Alliance Forum in the frame of the official Royal visit to Singapore, which aims at enhancing partnership and collaboration between the two nations
Asia South Korea In 2024 more “mobile museums” - containers equipped for immersive experience stationing at schools and institutions - will allow underprivileged students, people with disabilities and seniors to feel what it is like touring cultural heritage
Asia Philippines A huge crowd of faithful Catholics, mostly barefoot, marched on Tuesday 9 January in an annual procession in Manila praying for peace in the Middle East, where tens of thousands of Filipinos work
Asia Yemen Yemen's al Masirah TV broadcast drone footage of a large demonstration called in the capital Sanaa by the ruling Houthis to protest against air and missile attacks by the US, UK and other allies
Asia Georgia The National Library of the Parliament of Georgia has a new director, Konstantine Gamsakhurdia, son of the first president of Georgia, Zviad Gamsakhurdia
Asia Cyprus Junior Achievement Cyprus is launching its 5th JA StartUp, fostering business ideas and innovation among university students and providing the practical experience to develop and run their own business; JA StartUp engaged over 20.000 students in Europe
Asia Syria A former Syrian army general, Mohammed Hamo, 65, resident in Sweden, will appear before a Stockholm court for his alleged role in war crimes committed in Syria in 2012