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
Asia Georgia The European Parliament adopted a resolution on the further deterioration of the political situation in Georgia, supported by 400 MEPs, with 63 against and 81 abstentions
Asia Iraq Iraq has been elected vice-president of the Middle East Committee of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation during the 51st committee meeting
Asia Jordan US President didn't soften his proposal to relocate Palestinians in Gaza and develop the land into premium housing, even as King Abdullah II of Jordan, in the Oval Office, suggested the Arab world opposed the idea of moving them to third countries
Asia India India and France will collaborate on the development of small modular nuclear reactors, the Indian Foreign Ministry said following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the European country
Asia Kyrgyzstan The first children's documentary on Kyrgyz writer Chingiz Aitmatov, 'The Enigmas of the White Steamer', was presented in Kyrgyzstan at the Seytek National Children and Youth Centre
Asia Vietnam Vietnamese investors launched 10 new overseas projects in January 2025, with total outbound investment of over $83 million, over 5 times higher than the same period in 2024
Asia Oman The Sultanate of Oman, represented by the Environment Authority, will host Climate Week from 24 to 27 February 2025, with the aim of uniting the world in supporting climate action and focusing on the Sultanate's commitment to a zero-emission future
Asia Iran Journalists Niloofar Hamedi and Elaheh Mohammadi, who had been convicted for reporting on Mahsa Amini's case, were pardoned; freed on bail after 17 months' imprisonment last January, their sentences were reduced on appeal in August
Asia Yemen A UN employee has died in Yemen while detained by the Houthis; the cause of death is not known, while World Food Programme director said his name was Ahmed and he had been employed by the organisation since 2017