Asia

The Al-Baha Summer Festival 2025 has been inaugurated; under the theme "Al Baha... Heritage and Tourism", it will offer over 500 events and welcome 2,5 million visitor, in a showcase of culture and heritage that aims at attracting also local tourism

Leena Devi Ghalley, a designer from Phuentsholing, a southern border town, founded LEENA’s WORLD, an eco-fashion brand; through hand-woven motifs, natural dyes, and upcycled fabrics she revives Bhutanese heritage with a sustainable, spiritual vision

A record 21,5 million foreign visitors entered Japan in the first half of 2025 and travel demand appears to remain strong, if not constant, outside peak seasons

Sites have been handed out by local authority in Sana'a province for a solar power system installation that will operate water wells; the land is now ready for the implementing party

The "Youth Against Drug Addiction, Vagrancy and Hooliganism" public awareness campaign has been held across Tajikistan; about 500 youths took part in the seminars and schools for at-risk youth have been involved

FAO and IUCN launched a $42 million GEF-funded initiative to protect primary forests in Southeast Asia and the Pacific; It supports Laos, PNG and Thailand, aims to manage 3,2M ha, restore 8,5k ha, cut 34M t CO₂, and benefit around 20.000 people

With approximately 72% of its land currently under forest cover, Brunei committed to gazetting at least 55% of its land area as forest reserves in front of international authorities at the EU-Brunei Darussalam Partnership Facility, Berakas Forest Reserve

The country is seeking to build up domestic supply chains upon pressure by the US, that urge Vietnam to reduce reliance on Chinese-made tech components in the devices assembled locally and exported to the US ahead of a 46% tariff deadline on 8 July

An intensification of Israeli military activity in Lebanon, with escalating use of airstrikes, drone warfare, trategic signaling was registered this June and culminated in the 27 June seismic missile engagements targeting Nabatieh and Kfartibnit

A coalition of parties and organisations under the banner of 'Anti-Imperialist Patriotic People' has begun a road march from Dhaka to Chattogram to protest foreign control of ports and other issues centred on national sovereignty and anti-imperialism

Archbishop Mikael Adjapayan commented on the proposal to nominate him for the post of Prime Minister saying he is 'completely satisfied' with service as a clergyman, asking not to include his name among the candidates for the post

A major investment deal was signed with Russia, focused on offshore oil and gas development, including those in the Dawei Special Economic Zone, signaling expanding economic ties despite political turmoil

Kindergartners in all UAE private schools will need to take daily 40-minute Arabic lessons from the start of the 2025-2026 academic year, adding up to 200 minutes per week, and will be increased to 300 minutes per week in the 2027-2028 academic year