Asia East Timor The country is set to host the 12th edition of the Sports Games of the Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries, to be held in Dili between 17 and 25 July
Asia Mongolia Parliament is reviewing a new $700M loan with India’s Exim Bank to fund increased costs for the Oil Refinery Project, a key initiative since 2017; the deal, at a 1,75% interest rate, includes stricter financial terms and a 20-year repayment plan
Asia Taiwan A mechanism had been set up to facilitate interdepartmental efforts to enable the detention of vessels suspected of sabotage acts in coastal waters, authorities stated, following incident at sea earlier this month
Asia Tajikistan Ten children from Tajikistan were sent to China for surgery to treat congenital heart defects and five of them have already been operated on, has an official source from the Chinese Embassy in Dushanbe
Asia Turkmenistan The National Action Plan for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings in Turkmenistan was approved for the period 2025-2029; the bodies responsible for the activities of this plan have been instructed to regularly monitor its implementation
Asia United Arab Emirates The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security urged citizens and residents to take advantage of the benefits offered by the Friend or Relative Visa service, which allows lengths of stay of up to 90 days
Asia Yemen The United Nations has warned of a worsening humanitarian crisis in Yemen where 19,5 million people will need humanitarian assistance this year, expressing concern especially for children facing malnutrition
Asia Syria Spain raised the flag of its embassy in Damascus, marking the return of its diplomatic presence more than a decade after the suspension of operations; many Western states are re-establishing contacts with the country after Assad's fall
Asia Thailand Phuket faces a growing garbage crisis, with over 1.000 tonnes of daily waste overwhelming its landfill; authorities plan to cut waste by 15%, expand the landfill, and build an incinerator, stressing the need for better waste separation
Asia Nepal Three pairs of bar-headed geese, one of the few bird species capable of flying over the altitude of 9.000 meters, were spotted in Jagadishpur Bird Sanctuary in Kapilvastu, showing Nepal’s role in bird conservation and is ecotourism potential
Asia Bangladesh Local authorities opened criminal proceedings against British Treasury Minister Siddiq, allegedly abusing her position as an MP to gain influence and illegally acquire land together with her aunt Hasina, the ousted prime minister; Ms. Siddiq resigned
Asia Iraq Prime Minister Mohammed S. Al-Sudani and UK Prime Ministers Keir Starmer unveiled a £12.3 billion ($15 billion) UK-Iraq investment and trade package aimed at strengthening prosperity and bilateral economic ties
Asia Kazakhstan Although families continue to cherish marriage traditions, a recent survey from Kazakh Institute for Public Development show that expensive marriages and outdated practices, such as the abduction of brides, have decreased significantly