Asia Bahrain Hundreds of prisoners have suspended their month-long hunger strike in Bahrain just ahead of a visit by the crown prince to the United States to see if promised changes materialize
Asia China The government denied a report indicating a ban on iPhones and other foreign-branded devices among government officials, while noting that government officials had identified possible security problems with Apple devices
Asia Myanmar The country will start accepting cards from the Russian Mir payment system in October, according to the junta's Minister for Investment and Foreign Economic Relations
Asia Mongolia The country has become the first Asian member of World Boxing along with three others that have joined the organisation, to be approved by Congress in November
Asia Malaysia Malaysian Muslims surveyed in latest Pew Research Center poll listed the three biggest perceived threats to their faith as US influence, extremists from their own religious group, and what they perceive as a growing Christian community
Asia Kyrgyzstan A library named after Salvador Allende was inaugurated in Bishkek, with congratulations coming from the Salvador Allende International Foundation, the leadership of Chile, the ruling Chilean Socialist Party and the Allende family
Asia Israel In a symbolic gesture, the World Zionist Organization building in Tel Aviv, overlooking Leonardo da Vinci Street, displayed the Declaration of Independence yesterday as part of an initiative that involves various buildings
Asia Iraq The country has begun relocating Iranian Kurdish groups from the Iraqi Kurdish region bordering Iran to camps far from the border, as part of a security agreement between Baghdad and Tehran signed in March
Asia Indonesia Government will not use "Isa Almasih" (The Messiah), Islamic name adopted from Arabic for Jesus Christ, to refer to Christian holidays and will replace it with "Yesus Kristus"; the nomenclature change was announced by the Ministry of Religious Affairs
Asia Cyprus Media and public attention is focusing on migrants: a march of thousands in their support in central Nicosia, a new book on the 80.000 Cypriots who struggled to reach Australia and a stance by migrant workers affirming they are ‘afraid to do their jobs’
Asia Oman An interim assessment of the benefits of installing artificial barriers off the coast of the Wilayat of Sur has begun, an initiative sponsored by Oman India Fertiliser Company SAOC (Omifco)
Asia Pakistan The interim government has urged people to come forward to inform about smuggling, hoarding and illegal immigrants, with Acting Interior Minister announcing a decision to incentivize such initiatives with cash prizes
Asia Philippines Congress will work to grant the necessary funds to the Department of Transportation so that it can accelerate the rehabilitation of Metro Rail Transit Line 3 and serve up to 500.000 commuters per day from the current 300.000