Asia Israel Tel Aviv Stock Exchange’s benchmark TA-125 index gained 1,7% as shares rose to new record highs at the end of trading day yesterday following an Israeli airstrike that targeted top Hamas leaders in Doha, Qatar; index has marked over +32% so far this year
Asia East Timor The Order of Engineers of Timor-Leste is under creation with the support of the Portuguese Engineers Association to provide a regulatory structure for the profession, to strengthen quality, ethics and enhance the value of the sector
Asia Maldives The UN Disability Rights Committee reported the absence of strategies, policies and disaggregated data on women with disabilities, the lack of gender perspectives in disability laws and the absence of disability perspectives in gender policies
Asia Yemen A drone attack launched by Houthi militants in Yemen injured two people at an airport near the city of Eilat after an alert system failed
Asia Vietnam 80th National Day has been marked with largest military parade in decades at Ba Dinh Square, featuring over 200 land vehicles, 30 aircraft, and more than 40 naval vessels, with international contingents from China, Russia, Laos and Cambodia
Asia Pakistan A $500 million Memorandum of Understanding was signed with U.S. Strategic Metals USSM, targeting development and processing of critical minerals like copper, rare earths, gold, tungsten, and antimony
Asia Azerbaijan 151 new standards have been approved in January–August 2025 by the Azerbaijan Institute of Standardization to keep in line with the country’s socio-economic development priorities; the largest number is in food technology and agriculture, with 38 norms
Asia Uzbekistan Senate approved an amendment allowing inmates to reduce their prison sentences by three days for each approved book they read and demonstrate comprehension of; The law, excluding life-sentenced prisoners, may benefit over 13.500 convicts annually
Asia Nepal Approximately 26 social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and X, have been banned after they failed to register with the government by the 28 August deadline; the move has sparked protest over restrictions on expression and digital freedom
Asia Turkmenistan In his working visit to the People's Republic of China, President Berdimuhamedow confirmed Turkmen-Chinese strategic partnership as a continuation of the centuries-old mutual understanding and trust between that today extends to all areas of cooperation
Asia Vietnam The largest administrative reform in decades has been announced: Vietnam will merge provinces and eliminate the district level, reducing local government units by up to 50%, as part of wider governance restructuring
Asia Taiwan Measures aimed at making housing more affordable for young families and offering flexible parental leave were approved; policies include the “Stable Housing Plan”, increasing social housing for newlyweds and parents of preschoolers, among other provisions
Asia Bahrain Muhammad Sadiq Salman, a Bahraini screenwriter, has been awarded the David Wollen Angel for Comedy for his film script Bobby Chicago