Asia Laos Laotian doctors at the Mother and Child Central Hospital have extracted a 20 kg cyst from a pregnant woman, in the first operation of its kind in the capital Vientiane
Asia Lebanon Exploratory drilling for oil and gas, organised by the country with international partners, is starting; experts warn that without structural reforms, the new marine gas field will not end country's economic malaise
Asia Jordan Hotel occupancy rates in the Kingdom have decreased due to high temperatures and approaching school season; reservation rate at five-star hotels from August 17-19 in Aqaba reached 87%, 61% in the Dead Sea, 62% in Amman and 40% in Petra
Asia Uzbekistan President Mirziyoyev signed a decree granting the country's tour operators subsidies of $20 to $100 per foreign visitor, starting 1 January 2024, to increase the number of visitors from selected countries
Asia Oman The number of visitors to the Khareef Dhofar season from 21 June to 31 July 2023 was 396.108, an increase of 12,8% compared to the corresponding period in 2022
Asia Japan The release into the Pacific Ocean of radioactive and treated water from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, damaged by the 2011 earthquake and subsequent tsunami will begin today 24 August
Asia Indonesia A return to smart working has been imposed for at least two months in Jakarta because of heavy pollution, which is creating many problems for the country
Asia North Korea China continued to openly supply banned goods to North Korea in July, in apparent violation of the international sanctions regime, NK Pro trade data analysis shows, while importing sanctioned ferro-silicon from its neighbour
Asia Kyrgyzstan Reconstruction of Sharipa Isabekova Park in Chaek village, Jumgal district is planned, with the master plan completed and development of the project and cost estimates underway
Asia Turkey 4.630 fire-fighting basins and ponds have been built around several forest areas for rapid water supply to enable more effective intervention in case of wild fires
Asia Iraq National Data Center at the General Secretariat of the Cabinet was inaugurated by Prime Minister, a significant step in the country's digital evolution
Asia Nepal Rains are putting people on alert for water contamination and food poisoning, with doctors advising them to make sure their food and drinking water is safe before consuming it
Asia Tajikistan The new buildings for the government and parliament will start be operative in 2024; the Committee for Architecture and Construction reveals the main building of the parliamentary complex will have a height of 49.7 m and a total area of 42.874 m2