Asia Taiwan Rising memory chip prices have pushed Taiwanese industry players’ 6-months revenue beyond 2025 full-year totals; Analysts said prices are expected to continue rising in Q3 as supply remains tight, forecasting further growth for memory-related companies
Europe Monaco The EU anti-corruption body GRECO has published a new report on the Principality of Monaco, calling for stricter measures and sanctions for high-ranking officials and transparency in the issuing of residence permits
Asia Afghanistan Afghan passports rank the worst in the world in the latest ranking published by Henley Passport Index; based on the number of destinations their owners can access without a prior visa, Afghan passport gives access to 12% of countries globally, or 26
Europe Netherlands Zwolle will probably abandon its plan to ban advertisements for services using fossil fuels, such as long-distance air travel, combustion engine cars and cruise ships, as research has shown that a ban is 'legally impossible'
Europe Iceland A new study on calf DNA may shed light on the causes of the high calf mortality rate in the Icelandic cattle population; about 15% of Icelandic calves are born dead, while in neighbouring countries the rate is about 5%
Asia Kyrgyzstan 200 hearing-impaired children will have free cochlear implant operations by the end of this year, the Ministry of Health reports
Europe Czech Republic The Minister of Education has proposed that all children start learning English from grade one onwards
Europe Hungary Hungarians are becoming more financially aware, fewer people have no savings and more feel secure in their finances, a recent survey by financial services provider Provident shows
Asia Nepal The Nepalese Army has so far opened 1.411 kilometres of tracks in different parts of the country
Asia Kazakhstan The creation of artificial forest plantations on the dried-up bottom of the Aral Sea, aiming at reducing the region's negative environmental impacts, will see the support of Chinese scientists
America Jamaica Pensioners in need of financial assistance are eligible for a one-off payment of JA$150.000 (880 US$) under the Pension Assistance Fund, designed to provide additional support
Europe Estonia Estonia is one of the freest countries in the world, with a score of 95 out of 100 according to the Freedom House Freedom in the World 2024 index
Asia India Thulasendrapuram, a small village about 300 km from the Indian city of Chennai, birthplace of Kamala Harris' maternal grandparents, is proudly displaying a large banner of Mrs Harris in its center
Europe France The candidature of the French Alps, proposed as a preference vote by the International Olympic Committee in June to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2030, has been approved - subject to France providing financial guarantees