Asia Kuwait Kuwait has officially raised the minimum age for marriage to 18, following legislative changes aimed at protecting children's rights and strengthening family stability; 1.145 underage marriages were registered in 2024
Asia Indonesia The Indonesian Migrant Worker Protection Agency reported that around 5.300 Riau Islanders were trafficked to Cambodia, forced to work in online scams and gambling operations; many were lured by fake job offers and now face abuse and exploitation
Asia Cambodia The Kuoy ethnic group is celebrating Bonn Prey Lang, a two-day festival honoring the forest; around 2-300 people take part in religious ceremonies, including ordaining 100+ big trees to promote conservation and preserve their indigenous cultural identity
Asia Malaysia Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli has criticized the negative perceptions of vernacular schools —public schools that teach in Mandarin or Tamil — emphasizing their role in education; He urges Malaysians to move beyond racial issues and focus on unity
Asia South Korea Supporters and opponents of President Yoon Suk Yeol held rallies on Geumnam-ro, Gwangju, a symbol of the 1980 democratic uprising; around 3.000 pro-Yoon protesters and 1.000 opposition members gathered, reflecting ongoing political tensions in South Korea
Asia Jordan An Indian man, victim of a job scam promising work in Jordan, was shot dead by Jordanian security forces while trying to illegally cross into Israel; reports of Indians falling for employment scams have become increasingly common
Asia Sri Lanka Police have arrested over 30.000 suspects in anti-drug and crime prevention operations across the country that began in December
Asia North Korea North Korean rights groups fear collapse after US Treasury Department freezes National Endowment for Democracy funds
Asia Singapore In a recent study evaluating liveability, lovability, and prosperity Singapore has been ranked as the top city in the Asia-Pacific; the study highlighted its dynamic retail and dining scenes and its robust economy as key factors to its leading position
Asia Taiwan The 9th edition of the Asian Winter Games, held in Harbin, PRC, have closed with Taiwan claimed its very first medal at the international event, with the speed skating bronze in the Women's 100 metres competition
Asia Qatar The Qatar Foundation, in cooperation with HundrED, awarded ten innovative educational projects as part of 'Spotlight Qatar', an initiative designed to highlight the most effective and scalable educational innovations in Qatar
Asia Kazakhstan Three new visa categories – Neo Nomad Visa B12-1, Digital Nomad Visa B9-1, and Visa for Permanent Residence B9 – have been launched targeting skilled professionals, entrepreneurs and remote workers seeking long-term opportunities for career or business
Asia Saudi Arabia The Saudi Fashion Commission launched the innovative 'Sustainable Ihram' initiative, the first recycling programme for pilgrims' garments, at the Islamic Arts Biennale