Asia Cambodia Sides are trading blame over border violations under the current ceasefire; The Royal Thai Navy warned of action if Cambodia fails to remove structures along disputed areas; Cambodia counters that Thailand continues to intrude and escalate tensions
Asia Laos Female civil servants are now eligible for maternity leave ranging from 4 up to 6,5 months for mothers expecting twins; miscarriages earn one month of leave, with medical extensions as needed
Asia Malaysia Halal exports reached US$7 billion in the first half of 2025, making up 16,1% of Malaysia’s total exports; Main products include food and beverages, halal ingredients, and palm oil derivatives, with key markets in China, the US, and Indonesia
Asia Mongolia National Library has digitized 4.383 volumes of ancient Tibetan-language manuscripts and woodblock printed books for over 1,43m pages, 77.500 titles; in partnership with US Embassy and Asian Legacy Library, it made inaccessible works publicly available
Asia Turkey Several digital streaming platforms including Netflix, Prime Video, MUBI, Disney XD, HBO Max, have been fined for violating moral and family values and obscenity by Turkey’s Radio and Television Supreme Council, the regulator for TV and radio broadcasts
Asia Oman Muscat Alzheimer's Forum recommended drafting a national Alzheimer's guide, devising science-based diagnostic protocols and establishing a specialised national centre for the treatment of Alzheimer's patients
Asia Kuwait French retailer Carrefour said it had ceased operations and all of its stores in Kuwait, the latest Gulf market in a growing list in which the company is ceasing operations; the announced was made on 16 September on Instagram, with no further details
Asia United Arab Emirates The UAE has joined a group of 14 smaller member of WTO in an international initiative aimed at promoting “open and free” trade as "vital to our stability and prosperity" amid growing risks of rising tariffs and economic fragmentation
Asia East Timor Timor-Leste University Students held a demonstration in the National Parliament compound to demand that deputies give up government vehicles and use the money for the needs of the country
Asia Israel A military official said the Israeli Defence Forces had begun their ground operation into Gaza City, the main urban centre in the enclave, where hundreds of thousands of residents were ordered to flee, saying “Gaza is burning”
Asia China Golden Panda Film Festival concluded in Chengdu, Sichuan; 5.343 works were presented, of which 3.910 from 126 foreign countries; 27 prizes in 4 categories will be awarded: films, documentaries, animation, tv and series
Asia Cyprus About 21.000 children up to the age of four will have their preschool fees and lunches paid by the state for the 2025–2026 school year, the finance ministry announced, saying it will budget €73 million, with €43.8 million funded by the EU
Asia Israel Simon Leviev, infamously known as the ‘Tinder Swindler,’ was detained upon his arrival at Batumi International Airport; the information was released by Leviev’s lawyer who adds that the reasons for his arrest in Georgia remain unclear