Asia Taiwan National Taiwan University is hosting International Linguistics Olympiad for the first time; 400 competitors from 43 countries use logical reasoning to analyze unfamiliar languages, uncover their structures and understand their rules and cultural contexts
Asia United Arab Emirates Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, released its latest traffic statistics for June 2025, reporting continued strong expansion and high customer demand, with 1,8 million passengers (1,5 in 2024) and passengers load at 88% (86% in 2024),
Asia Uzbekistan 3,5 million of Uzbeks are self-employed on 20,5 million working age people, as latest data from the Tax Committee report, of whom 58% are men and 42% women as of 1 July 2025; total number of self-employed rose by 56% compared to the same period last year
Asia Iraq Several citizens are still missing after a fire at a hypermarket in Kut in eastern Iraq left at least 61 dead, while were rescued among the ones in the building at the time the fire started; the venue was brand new, inaugurated a few days before
Asia Saudi Arabia A consortium led by UAE Air Arabia won the bid for a new low-cost national airline based in Saudi Arabia, operating domestic and international routes from Dammam, as part of the Saudi aviation sector development plans
Asia Laos A cooperation pact with Cambodia has been signed on 19 July to curb cross-border scams and drug trafficking, protect citizens and enhance regional security; since late June, Cambodia’s fight on scam networks led to 2.100 arrests and 2.300 deportations
Asia Philippines The House of Representatives provided details on four impeachment complaints against Vice President Sara Duterte as the Supreme Court required; It asserts the process was fully constitutional, reinforcing its stance ahead of a possible Senate trial
Asia Indonesia Indonesia will build a dedicated “Hajj village” about 400 meters from the Grand Mosque in Mecca, Saudi Arabia; the project, part of deepened Jakarta–Riyadh cooperation, aims to ease pilgrimage logistics for Indonesian worshippers
Asia Vietnam Plans to ban fossil-fuel motorcycles and mopeds in central Hanoi have been announced to reduce pollution; The move supports the shift to electric vehicles, led by local firm VinFast, but raises concerns over its social impact on low-income workers
Asia Mongolia The traditional long-distance horse race was held as part of the Naadam festival, showcasing the endurance of the Mongolian horse, a symbol of national pride; Riders, often children, covered vast steppe terrain, in a centuries-old nomadic heritage
Asia Maldives A new national fisheries promotional brand ‘From Maldives’ has been launched at the Maldives–UK Business Forum in London, UK; Fisheries Ministry states the initiative strategically positions one of the country's most iconic sectors
Asia Afghanistan Approximately 18.000 carats of emeralds, worth 1,1 million USD, have been sold since the beginning of year 1404, or 20 March 2025, in five rounds of bidding for Panjshir area emeralds and new emerald mine sites were discovered in Pariyan district
Asia Cyprus Rules regarding swimming pools serving multiple households have been relaxed: a special category clearly differentiates obligations of pools 'for private use serving up to five residential units', recreational/competition pools and hotel/resort pools