Asia South Korea A South Korean container ship set sail for Europe via the Arctic's Northern Sea Route, testing the passage as a viable alternative to the Suez Canal, as shipping companies seek new trade corridors amid disruptions impacting global maritime routes
Asia Laos Luang Prabang province's five-year tourism plan hopes to attract 4 million tourists by 2025; currently, at the halfway point, Luang Prabang has seen 1,1 million tourists who have spent over USD 500 million
Asia Georgia The first Buneba Fest in Tbilisi, held in Mziuri Park from 17 to 18 June, received great praise from the NGOs, businesses, eateries and guests who attended.
Africa Lesotho The government of Lesotho, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Mines, is at an advanced stage in the search for means to bring back to the surface the bodies of at least 30 illegal miners in a disused mine
Oceania New Zealand New Zealand's eight universities have all climbed in Quacquarelli Symonds' 2024 world university rankings, which show that the University of Auckland still holds the country's top spot with 68th in the world, up from 87th last year
America Cuba The Union of Computers of Cuba in the province of Camagüey is proposing new topical courses for the upcoming summer months as part of its training strategy for the different actors in society in the public and private sectors
America Guatemala In the first round of Guatemala's presidential elections, the null vote emerged as the clear winner, reflecting widespread discontent with the current political system, surpassing even the results of the leading candidates with a support of 17,4%
Europe Latvia Organisers of XXVII National Celebration of Latvian Song and Dance accepted two recommendations: invite Latvian municipalities to fly the national flag from 2 to 9 July and encourage workplaces in Riga to organise remote work
America Honduras Following a tragedy that left 46 inmates dead, the country has adopted El Salvador-style tactics to intervene in prisons, with Armed Forces taking control, aiming to break the cycle of crime, while authorities conduct raids and seize weapons
Europe Netherlands Police were officially banned from wearing religious symbols such as headscarves, crosses and yarmulkes, thus making 'religious neutrality' explicit in the police dress code, after extensive discussions
Asia Israel The European Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee called on the EU to help the International Criminal Court prosecute Israel for war crimes
Asia Kyrgyzstan The Kyrgyz Shyrdagy XIII international festival kicked off in Naryn area, with a parade of needleworkers and craftsmen from seven regions of the republic
Asia Myanmar Several dozen Myanmar regime troops surrendered to the civil government of national unity (NUG) and anti-regime resistance groups in southeastern Kayah State in the largest such surrender since the people's war against the junta broke out in 2021
Asia Kazakhstan 65 journalists and other employees of the leading state media were awarded certificates of accommodation and given keys to flats on the President's orders