rather than uncle and niece, aren’t they cousins but leonia is his first cousin once rem...

In a lot of Asian countries, we consider the daughter of our cousin as our niece.

Bump to this. I think this is mostly a SEA, EA, and SA thing (idk abt West Asia and Central Asia) but you call your first/second/third cousin once removed your nibling, and that nibling will call you auntie/uncle.

We even consider our "great aunt/uncle" (the siblings of our grandparents) grandparent. We call them grandma and grandpa, too.

These are due to the fact that most Asian countries are very family-oriented and children are raised not just by the family but also the community.

I, fot instance, was taken care as a baby and toddler by my aunt and by my aunt's in-laws, while my younger siblings were taken care by our neighbors who are distant relative with ours, whenever my Mom's away.

Saaaaame in the Balkans

Same in Mexico