Asia Laos New rules for intellectual property protection wereintroduced, allowing businesses to protect industrial designs internationally through a single application under the Hague System; It simplifies registration and administrative procedures, reducing costs
America Paraguay Paraguay conducted its largest cocaine bust in history, seizing over four tons of cocaine hidden in a sugar shipment bound for Belgium, with a market value of approximately US$240 million
Europe Norway Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz rejected the request of his Norwegian counterpart Espen Barth Eide to visit Tel Aviv in protest against Oslo’s recognition of the State of Palestine last May
Oceania Tuvalu The Tuvalu Waste Management Department is determined to keep its communities safe from the potential danger of asbestos through careful data collection and evaluation
Europe Austria Architecture firm Herzog & de Meuron presented Kornmarktplatz, arched structure that extends behind a neo-Baroque façade in Bregenz and contains a flat and a hotel on a site previously occupied by a 17th century building collapsed after its roof took fire
Asia Uzbekistan The Tax Commission has announced the launch of the artificial intelligence-based virtual assistant DavrOn, which provides essential information and personalised advice on tax and tax issues in Uzbek language, Russian and English 24 hours a day
Oceania Australia The most popular dog names of 2024 have been announced: according to data from Scratch's 2024 Great Australian Dog Survey 'human' names are increasingly common
Africa Tunisia The secretary general of the Islamist party Ennahda and two party members were arrested, adding to the long list of party activists imprisoned and tried in various cases ranging from money laundering to criminal conspiracy
Asia Azerbaijan The country, host of the UN climate summit COP29, announced that it will launch a new climate fund that will aim to mobilise US$ 1 billion to support new national climate goals of developing countries
America Trinidad and Tobago Piarco International Airport, Trinidad, and ANR Robinson International Airport, Tobago, are still operating despite the Microsoft service disruption that left several other airports stranded
Asia Lebanon Ali Jaafar Maatouk, also known as Habib Maatouk, a senior commander of Hezbollah's elite Radwan force, has been targeted and killed by Israeli Defence Forces
Asia Armenia The proposal on the start of visa liberalization for Armenian citizens has been approved by the ambassadors of EU Member States to Armenia
Asia Turkey June recorded the lowest rainfall in 23 years, 80% less than last June and 65% less than the long-term average
America Venezuela Many Venezuelans are considering emigrating if President Nicolás Maduro wins the July 28 election, adding to the nearly eight million already abroad, amid escalating economic conflicts and political repression