Asia Japan Proof of proficiency in Japanese will be required to apply for a working visa for engineering, humanities or international services; policy will be revised tightening screening after workers entered Japan under a specialized job visa but do unskilled jobs
Asia Qatar The initiative 'My Values Design My Identity', promoted by the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, saw the participation of over 30.000 public school students in the first phase
Africa Burundi A hydroelectric power plant in Rusumo is providing a stable supply of electricity to a hospital in Gitega; Burundi is one of the least electrified countries in the world, only 10% of the population has access to electricity
Europe Croatia Croatian real estate prices are rising more than elsewhere in Europe; looking at the situation on an annual span, average prices of residential buildings have increased by 10%
Africa Democratic Republic of the Congo The ban on night navigation on the waters of Lake Kivu was imposed a week after yet another tragic shipwreck claimed at least 78 lives
Europe Norway Norwegian Airlines has confirmed the closure of its bases in Stavanger and Trondheim because of increased costs and weaker demand; the decision to relocated to Oslo aircrafts and staff has sparked protests among the 250 employees
Asia Cambodia New Le Story bookstore in Phnom Penh aims to create a hub for readers and writers, with weekly events; it also supports Cambodian authors by providing printing services and spaces for book promotion, with a focus on promoting the culture of reading
Oceania Solomon Islands Saudi Arabia and the Solomon Islands have formalised an agreement to exempt holders of diplomatic, private and official passports from short-stay visa requirements
Asia Saudi Arabia The Ibex Reserve became the first protected area in the Kingdom to be added to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature's Green List
America Barbados Rum and Sargassum Inc, a local deep-tech start-up, and the Cave Hill campus of the University of the West Indies launched the first vehicle powered by bio-compressed natural gas
Europe Romania The Green Registry for Romania project focused on the historical park to show how intelligent tools can be used to keep track of the tree and shrub population
Asia Mongolia The Mongolian University of Internal Affairs was awarded the Order of Sukhbaatar for contribution to the preservation and protection of sovereignty and territorial integrity, maintenance of peace and security and progress in science and education
Oceania Tonga African tulip tree beetles were brought to Tonga to control the growing invasive weed called the African tulip tree, which is spreading in indigenous forests and farmland, causing a reduction in natural biodiversity and agricultural productivity
Asia Taiwan A marine research station on Taiwan-controlled Taiping Island has discovered its first new fish species in almost four years since its establishment, the National Academy of Marine Research said