On 3 January 2024, a commemorative ceremony marking the assassination of Qasem Soleimani at his grave in eastern Kerman, Iran, was attacked by two bomb explosions. The attacked killed at least 94 people and injured 284 others. The Iranian government declared the bombings a terrorist attack, making it the deadliest such incident in the country since the Cinema Rex attack of 1978.

The Al Udeid Air Base, where the United States has extended its military presence for an additional 10 years, is located in Qatar. This base is significant as it hosts the largest US military facility in West Asia. The extension of the US military presence at Al Udeid Air Base underscores the strategic importance of Qatar in the region and the ongoing partnership between Qatar and the United States in military and defense matters. The base plays a crucial role in various US military operations in the region, making this extension a key development in international military and geopolitical dynamics.

On January 18, 2024, Japan’s Ministry of Defense (MoD) sign a contract with the U.S. to buy up to 400 Tomahawk missiles. The deal is worth about $1.7 billion and is part of Japan’s military buildup. The Tomahawk is a long-range, US-made cruise missile that can be launched from a ship or submarine. It can strike fixed targets at low altitudes. The contract also includes 14 Tactical Tomahawk Weapon Control Systems, support, training, maintenance, spares, and other items.

Australian opener David Warner has retired from one-day international (ODI) and Test cricket to spend more time with his family. He plans to play his 112th and final Test against Pakistan but will not participate in ODIs. However, he has left the door open for a potential return for the 2025 Champions Trophy. Warner has had a successful ODI career, scoring 22 centuries and 6,932 runs at an average of 45.30 in 161 matches. He was a key part of the Australian team that won the ICC Cricket World Cup in India last year.

Mitsuko Tottori will become Japan Airlines (JAL) first female president on April 1, 2024. Tottori is a former flight attendant who joined JAL in 1985 and has since worked her way up to senior managing executive officer. Tottori’s appointment is a rare appointment for a major Japanese firm and global airline. In a news conference, Tottori said she hopes her appointment can encourage female employees who are struggling with their careers or going through big life events.

Prior to Islamic State’s claim of responsibility, Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi blamed Israel for the attack. Vice President Mohammad Mokhber and Expediency Discernment Council member General Mohsen Rezaee also blamed Israel for the bombings. Quds Force commander Esmail Qaani claimed that the perpetrators were “supplied by the United States and the Zionist regime”.

Microsoft is introducing a notable feature in some of the new personal computers running its Windows operating system – the “Copilot key”. This special key is designed to launch Microsoft’s AI chatbot, marking a strategic move by the company to integrate and capitalize on its partnership with ChatGPT-maker OpenAI.

Japan landed its Smart Lander for Investigating the Moon, or SLIM, craft on the surfaced of the Moon on Jan. 20, 2024. Despite a power issue with the lander, the event holds both political and technical importance. It’s Japan’s first lunar landing – making it only the fifth country in the world to successfully land on the Moon. This is a significant achievement and solidifies Japan’s position as a leader in space technology. While the craft landed successfully on the lunar surface and deployed its rovers, SLIM’s solar cells were not functioning properly – meaning that the craft could likely only operate for a few hours.

Matarbari, which has been recently in the news, is the first deep-sea port of Bangladesh. This port is being developed with assistance from Japan, to boost exports for Bangladesh. The project is set to start operations in 2027 and is seen as a significant development in the region’s infrastructure and trade connectivity

Kyrgyzstan has declared the snow leopard as its new national symbol. Snow leopards inhabit the Tian Shan mountain ranged in the country. They feature in Kyrgyz folklore and are seen as a symbol of greatness, nobility, and resilience. Conservation of the endangered species will be promoted under the new status.

The annual Ice and Snow Festival, famous for its spectacular and large-scale ice sculptures, is hosted in the city of Harbin. Harbin is the capital city of China’s northernmost province, Heilongjiang, and is renowned for this festival which attracts a significant number of tourists each year. This festival features fairy-tale ice sculptures that are illuminated with colorful lights at night, creating a magical winter wonderland.

The first Global Health Security Summit was held in Islamabad, Pakistan from January 10–11, 2024. The summit brought together global experts, policymakers, and stakeholders to collaborate on future preparedness. The summit’s goal was to ensure equitable pandemic preparedness and response.