Asia

The recent heatwave, while disrupting daily life and agriculture, has accelerated the ripening of dates and reduced the occurrence of puffiness, a defect that can affect fruit quality; producers welcomed the anticipaed, high quality 2025 harvest

People from Gaza, including young children with serious conditions, will be denied entry to the US, a key pathway for medical care: the US administration stopped approving visitor visas after a lobbying campaign called incoming flights a national threat

800 new university students were welcomed for the start of the new academic year; now part of Qatar Foundation’s unique ecosystem of education, they have been encouraged to embrace the spirit of giving back, serving their communities

A surge in ‘Macau Scam’ cases with impersonation of bank and police officers is causing public distress: Cyber Crime Investigation Division warned citizens, saying it typically begins with phone calls signaling suspicious transactions on victim’s account

Nearly half of Yemen’s population in government-controlled southern areas is facing acute food insecurity: the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification reports 4,95m experiencing crisis-level hunger or worse, including 1,5m at emergency levels

A Chinese website dedicated to DPRK investment opportunities published a list of NK export products with items like textiles, machinery and cars that violate UN sanctions but it’s unclear if shipments have actually occurred

Over 600 pilgrims were briefly hospitalised with respiratory problems after inhaling chlorine resulting of a leak at a water treatment station on the route between the two Shia holy cities of Najaf and Karbala

A Turkish Cypriot has been diagnosed with mad cow disease, prompting the north’s veterinarians’ association to demand urgent biosecurity measures, pointing out that in southern Cyprus, eradication and surveillance are implemented following EU regulations

A new nationwide coordination body has been set up to unite state agencies in the fight against drug addiction and drug-related crimes; it will focus on developing comprehensive prevention measures, improving treatment and rehabilitation programs

Following increasing number of stray dog attacks on children in Delhi, a court ordered earlier this week to place them in shelters within two months, never to be released into public spaces again; vaccination is now being considered as an alternative

Chief of Staff of Israel's army Eyal Zamir, visiting a post in south Lebanon, allegedly said Israel is in a "multifront war" with Gaza, Lebanon, Syria and Yemen adding "we approved plans for the conquest of Gaza, and now we are in Lebanon"

Elephant deaths have drawn widespread attention; they are being killed with the intention of removing their tusks; department of Wildlife Conservation has confirmed that as of mid-July 219 elephant non-natural deaths have been recorded

1.647 people crossed from Tajikistan to Afghanistan through the Panji Poen–Sherkhon Bandar border from July 17 to August 10: 671 returned voluntarily to visit their relatives, while 976 people were forcibly deported according to According to the IOM