Asia Yemen UN received enough pledges to begin first phase of the operation to rescue the dilapidated tanker Safer; the target of $75 million for the first phase was reached when the Netherlands made a second donation of $7 million
Asia Lebanon The Association of Banks has extended the strike across Lebanon until early next week; banks were closed on Monday following a series of seizures by angry depositors
Asia Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos and his US counterpart Joe Biden on Thursday underlined their support for freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea, in response to China's efforts to exert its influence there
Asia Japan From 11 October, foreigners will be able to return to Japan on holiday, reopening the doors to foreign tourists without visas, after more than two years of border closures due to the Covid pandemic; the maximum daily arrival limit will also be lifted
Asia Nepal The stagnating prices of paracetamol are contributing to its shortage; the price hasn't been revised for 14 years and the government has listed it as an essential drug, providing it for free to state health facilities in the country
Asia Sri Lanka Sri Lanka's annual inflation rate soared to over 70% in August, with official data showing that food prices rose 84,6% from a year ago
Asia Cyprus The End of Summer Beach Party will take place in Paphos this weekend at Mandria Beach; the organisers of the two-day, dog friendly, free for under 12s, rock music festival are hoping to establish it as a main annual event for the island
Asia South Korea The South Korea government official who was shot dead by North Korean troops at sea on Sept. 22, 2020, was finally given a funeral yesterday, exactly two years later; the service was not open to the public
Asia Cambodia The UN-assisted international tribunal convened to judge the Khmer Rouge for the brutality of its 1970s rule ended its 16 years work; with $337 million spent, it convicted three men after the regime caused the deaths of an estimated 1,7 million people
Asia Uzbekistan Some Uzbek banks have tightened the terms for non-residents and foreigners, including Russians, to opening accounts and issuing bank cards; tightened compliance control should ensure transparency of cash flows and bank operations
Asia Laos Vientiane Agro-Forestry Development Consultant (AFDC) has extended a project in the Nongkhamsean wetland to protect biodiversity, support ecology and increase ecotourism
Asia Iran Death of Mahsa Amini, 22, arrested by religious police accused of not wearing her headscarf in accordance with new rules, is unleashing the ire of Iranians in the streets and on social media, with several women removing their headscarves in protest
Asia Palestine The family of Shireen Abu Akleh, the Palestinian-American journalist killed on 11 May during an Israeli army raid in the West Bank, has filed a complaint with the International Criminal Court asking the international community to investigate the killing