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Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong will visit Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan from Aug 24 to 31, his first trip to Central Asia. The visits include high-level meetings, an award, and a lecture, with a possible free trade agreement announcement with Uzbekistan.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says Russia will draft 300,000 additional troops after parliamentary elections in mid-September, potentially reaching 500,000 by 2027. He describes it as a 'peripheral mobilisation' avoiding central cities, and warns of heavy Russian losses, while also highlighting air defence shortages and funding gaps.
Kazakhstan's pro-presidential Adilet party has won a landslide in parliamentary elections, according to exit polls, in a vote expected to strengthen President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev's grip on power. The election followed a constitutional overhaul that has drawn both support and criticism.
China has unveiled plans for a massive ring road spanning over 25,000km along its land borders and coastline, aiming to boost development and national unity. The project, set for completion by 2030, will pass through regions with large ethnic-minority populations and faces geopolitical and ecological challenges.
Serena Williams will return to the US Open for the first time since 2022, teaming up with Carlos Alcaraz in the mixed doubles after receiving a wild card. The two-time defending men's champion Alcaraz is also making his comeback from a wrist injury, with the event scheduled for August 25-26.
Kazakhstan holds a snap parliamentary election on August 23, expected to strengthen President Tokayev's rule. The vote to the new unicameral Kurultai comes amid constitutional changes, economic strain, and geopolitical balancing between Russia, China, and the EU.
Long petrol queues have formed across Moscow and other Russian regions after Ukrainian drone strikes damaged oil refineries, prompting rationing, lower-grade fuel authorisations and some arrests of residents who protested priority access for officials. Russian authorities describe the disruptions as temporary repairs with no critical consequences, while economists and analysts warn of deeper structural strains and rising public anxiety.
Kazakhstan’s Energy Ministry expects to fully cover domestic electricity demand by Q1 2027 and end the year with a surplus of about 1.3 billion kWh, according to two regional reports. The plans include commissioning 845 MW in 2027, with nearly 70% from renewables, following a 2.6 GW capacity boost in 2026, against a backdrop of recent regional outages, aging infrastructure, and rising demand.
Celtic take a commanding 3-0 lead into Tuesday's Champions League play-off second leg against LASK in Linz, but Martin O'Neill has warned against complacency and ordered a social media blackout. Camilo Duran's double and Benjamin Nygren's strike have put the Hoops on the brink of the group stage.
A White House report accusing over 40 countries of helping China evade US tariffs has put Southeast Asian exporters under scrutiny, with analysts warning it may blur legitimate supply-chain diversification. The report also designates Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan as 'Tier III' states, potentially complicating diplomatic ties.
Russia has received its first gasoline cargo from India, produced by Nayara Energy, as fuel shortages spread across at least 10 regions. The country is turning to seaborne imports from India, Türkiye, and Morocco after Ukrainian strikes on refineries reduced domestic supply.
At an APEC digital technology and AI forum in Chengdu, ministers issued a statement supporting open-source AI models, a rare consensus in a field often framed as a US-China contest. Across Asia, governments and start-ups are building on open Chinese systems, attracted by lower costs and local data control.
Uganda's Parliament voted in early August to authorize the deployment of Uganda People's Defense Forces troops to Gaza as part of a U.S.-backed international stabilization mission. The decision, introduced by Defense Minister Kiryowa Kiwanuka, has sparked debate among lawmakers over risks and funding, while officials continue to finalize details of participation.
US President Donald Trump announced that the Board of Peace has reached a 'historic' agreement for the complete disarmament of Hamas and other armed groups in Gaza, with Israel to withdraw as disarmament is completed. Hamas officials confirmed an agreement, but Israel has not responded, and experts express skepticism about both sides' willingness to follow through.