CHINA
New border control regulations come into force today in China to prevent capital and skilled labour from leaving the country.
The rules, issued by the State Council, grant the authorities explicit power to prohibit travel abroad, transforming previous occasional bans into a permanent measure. Chinese citizens may be prevented from leaving the country in the event of breaches of export control regulations or technology transfer rules deemed a threat to national security. The new provisions also increase the pressure on wealthy families – who are already subject to stricter tax scrutiny – and on intermediaries who facilitate the transfer of assets and families abroad.
PERSIAN GULF
Saudi Arabia has reported new attacks by the Houthis against civilian areas in the country, which are said to have left 13 people injured and damaged seven homes and two vehicles. According to General Turki Al Malki, spokesperson for the Riyadh-led coalition in Yemen, the pro-Iranian group used ballistic missiles and drones against Abha, Khamis Mushait and Taif. The Houthis, however, claim to have launched an offensive against King Khalid Air Base, using dozens of missiles and drones in response to Saudi ‘aggression’. Their spokesperson also accuses Riyadh of carrying out 54 air raids in Yemen and threatens further retaliation.
CAMBODIA–THAILAND
Hearings have begun in Singapore before the UNCLOS Conciliation Commission – the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea – regarding the maritime boundary dispute between Cambodia and Thailand, one of the fronts in the conflict between the two countries that reignited last year. Cambodia requested international mediation after Bangkok unilaterally annulled a 2001 memorandum of understanding on the joint management and delimitation of waters, claiming that no progress had been made. The Conciliation Commission comprises five members: two chosen by Thailand, two by Cambodia and a chairperson, Katrina Cooper, appointed by the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA).
BANGLADESH
Following the in absentia sentence against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, a court in Dhaka today sentenced to death the Secretary-General of the Awami League, Obaidul Quader, and six other figures from the previous government for “crimes against humanity” committed during the July 2024 uprising. Those sentenced include the former Minister of Information, Mohammad Ali Arafat, and leading figures from the Awami League, the Jubo League and the Chhatra League – the latter of which has now been banned. According to the prosecution, Quader exercised control over the police and the parties’ armed groups, ordering the violent suppression of protests against the quota system.
The court estimated that over 1,400 demonstrators were killed and more than 25,000 seriously injured.
JAPAN
The number of centenarians in Japan reached a record high of 107,677 in September, rising for the 56th consecutive year and exceeding 100,000 for the first time. Women account for 87.6 per cent of the total. There are now 87.51 centenarians per 100,000 people in the country. The oldest woman is Fuyo Kishimoto, aged 114, from Kyoto, whilst the oldest man is Hikaru Kato, aged 112, from Kumamoto.
GEORGIA
The Georgian authorities have announced a temporary amnesty for citizens involved in sham marriages: Deputy Minister of the Interior Aleksandr Darakhvelidze stated that a specific grace period has been introduced into the legislation, running until 1 October 2026, and that couples living in a sham marriage will not face criminal liability in the event of divorce. In June, sham marriages became a criminal offence in Georgia, punishable by up to two years’ imprisonment, expulsion from the country and a ban on re-entry for between two and ten years.
UZBEKISTAN
Uzbekistan has introduced administrative penalties for school staff found guilty of physical violence, humiliation or insults against minors. If a staff member responsible for the education and care of children physically assaults, humiliates or insults a child and their actions do not constitute a criminal offence, they are nonetheless liable to a fine of between 40 and 190 dollars. Teachers found guilty of an offence involving physical or psychological abuse of children will be barred from the profession at all levels.
