Asia Indonesia Land once home to villagers has been overtaken by Indonesia’s new MotoGP circuit in Lombok, part of a mega tourism zone; dozens of Sasak community families were evicted, and compensation has been described as woefully low
Asia Malaysia High-tech tools such as AI camera traps, drones, and remote sensors have been introduced to fight poaching syndicates
Asia Myanmar The US and Canada will send small delegations to Burma’s April by-elections, responding to the government’s invitation; While calling it a positive step, both said the process doesn't meet international standards for full election monitoring
Asia Bahrain A renewed call has been made to revive a key housing initiative aimed at supporting low-income families living in unsafe homes: the Southern Municipal Council unanimously approved a proposal to relaunch the long-stalled Dilapidated Homes Project
Asia East Timor A full banning of any form of online gambling has begun following a resolution of East Timor’s Council of Ministers resolution
Asia Vietnam Vietnam’s first Cultures of the World Festival will start today at the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long in Hanoi; 48 embassies and international organizations present national cultural spaces with food, arts, films, books, and performances
Asia Kazakhstan A Potter Train, a new cultural and entertainment show will debut on 5 October; For the first time in Kazakhstan, a theatrical performance will be held aboard a commuter train, with actors dressed as characters from the Harry Potter universe
Asia Oman The Al Khair Mosque project will use advanced 3D printing technology, eco-friendly materials; according to an agreement signed on 2 October, the iconic mosque will rise on the waterfront of the Al Dahariz area in Salalah
Asia North Korea A Russian cargo ship that has been sanctioned for facilitating illicit weapons trade with North Korea appeared at a northeastern DPRK port this week for the first time in two months
Asia Laos Utility Électricité du Laos EDL-Nam Theun 2 signed a contract with Indonesia’s state-owned INK to enhance hydropower capacity; The deal targets modernization, increased generation, and better grid integration to support Laos’s energy export goals
Asia Cambodia During the Sept 21–23 Pchum Ben Festival, a Buddhist holiday honoring ancestors, Cambodia saw over 2.1 million tourists, up 20% from 2024; Most were domestic, with top spots like Siem Reap and Battambang
Asia Philippines Thousands spent the night on the streets amid repeated aftershocks of the 6,9 magnitude earthquake that struck the Cebu province; a state of calamity has been declared
Asia Iraq A Federal Electronic Visa System will be the single platform for issuing entry visas to Iraq and a health insurance will be mandatory for all entrants, linking the issuance of a visa to a health insurance document