Asia India The patent on semaglutide, the molecule behind Novo Nordisk's weight-loss drugs Wegovy and Ozempic, expired in India allowing domestic pharma to release generics; the competition could cut prices by half, expand people's access and reach $1bn in value
Asia South Korea South Korea has welcomed US President Trump on his Asia tour, meeting President Lee Jae‑Myung and signalling imminent finalisation of a massive US-Korea investment-trade deal; His visit also sets the stage for a summit with China’s Xi Jinping in Busan
Asia Oman With a confidence rating at 94%, Oman is one of the world's safest countries to walk alone at night according to the gallup 2025 Global Safety Report in collaboration with Condé Nast
America Haiti Video footage is now available of the first drone attack in Haiti; it killed 8 children at a birthday party in a gang-controlled area of Port-au-Prince; parents and relatives of the victims said police were targeting a suspected gang leaders
Asia India 50.000 people have been moved to relief camps as India began evacuations before the expected impact of Cyclone Montha, intensifying over the Bay of Bengal and set to bring strong winds and heavy rains to its east coast; schools remain closed along coasts
Europe Lithuania Repeated disruptions at Lithuanian airports caused by weather balloons drifting in from Belarus could prompt airlines to reconsider or suspend their flights to the country, the head of the Civil Aviation Association warned
Oceania Nauru Australia's $2,5 billion deal with Nauru has commenced with the first arrival on Nauru island last week; Nauruan authorities confirmed the arrival on Friday, triggering the first yearly instalment of AUS$408 million
Europe Portugal Daily wolf attacks are decimating herds, livestock farmers in the Mirandês ‘planalto’ say, calling on authorities to solve the problem in order to keep farming alive and profitable for the region
Oceania Micronesia Ms. Yolanda Joab Mori has been appointed Chief of Staff to President Simina; she has been serving in an acting capacity since 2024 while simultaneously holding the role of Special Assistant to the President for Public Relations and Information since 2023
America Cuba Bracing for the impact of hurricane Melissa, Cuba has asked motorcyclists with megaphones to alert every corner of the island and dedicated teams are checking no person unable to move remains at home; churches are open as shelters
Europe Estonia Work has started on a €14 million iron foundry in Kohila; operated by shipbuilders BLRT Grupp, it is due to open next year, will employ 70 people and will be one of the largest investments in the foundry industry in the Baltic
America Barbados The government is preparing a new public education drive to address lingering doubts about the country’s digital ID cards and build wider trust in its technology‑based national projects
Oceania New Zealand "Alarming" gaps in measles immunization, specially among Maori and Pacific communities, should be urgently closed, the WHO advises, revealing that vaccination rates are lower than those of 2012 and another outbreak could occur with current active cases
Asia Japan Lawmakers in Japan elected hard-line conservative Sanae Takaichi as prime minister, making her the first woman in modern times to lead the country; she said she formed her cabinet on equal opportunity, equal chances, participation from all walks of life