Asia Singapore From 1 July 2025 cyclists and non-motorised PMD users are banned from pedestrian-only paths; offenders face fines up to S\$2.000, €1.300, or three months’ jail and the implementation of the rule was announced with the “Stay on Track” campaign
Asia Thailand PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra was suspended after a leaked call with Cambodia’s Hun Sen sparked doubts over national security and ethics; her coalition began to collapse and the episode could mark the end of the Shinawatra family’s long political dominance
Asia Cyprus The ‘Youth Declaration: A Declaration of Unity. Empowering Youth Voices in Cyprus' has been published by the Youth Council and 24 civil society organisations; it outlines a common vision and asks to have a say in decision-making and efforts to build peace
Asia Brunei The National flag was hoisted in a ceremony at Tutong District to mark the start of the Sultan’s birthday celebrations
Asia Bahrain 1.206 inspection campaigns and visits have been conducted by the Labour Market Regulatory Authority in the first half of June 2025, resulting in 18 arrests of violating workers and 218 deportations for breaches of residency and labour laws in the Kingdom
Asia North Korea Inter-Korean reunions hotel is being desmantled, despite South Korea's engagement push; the current work on ROK-owned tower at Mt. Kumgang resort appears to signal DPRK will maintain anti-South policies
Asia Saudi Arabia 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
Asia Bhutan 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
Asia Japan 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
Asia Yemen 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
Asia Tajikistan 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
Asia Laos 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
Asia Brunei 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