Asia

Food and Drink

Beer for the masses? North Korean beer bar opens in Pyongyang

North Korea is advertising a brand new Western-style beer bar in its capital, but it will likely only be accessible to the city's elite and international tourists.

18/12/2024

Tech News

The underground detector in China hoping to solve mystery of universe

Scientists believe neutrinos, or "ghost particles" as they've been called, could have helped write the earliest rules of matter.

18/12/2024

Iran

Iran pauses implementation of stricter hijab law for women

The bill’s delay follows defiance of existing hijab rules by Iranian women inspired by mass protests sparked by the 2022 death of Mahsa Amini.

18/12/2024

Business

Nissan's shares soar on news of potential tie-up with Honda

Japanese car makers Nissan and Honda have confirmed they are in discussion about closer collaboration but denied reports they are to merge.

18/12/2024

Syria

HTS gain foothold in Syria ten days after toppling Bashar al-Assad

The Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group is looking to restore life in Syria to pre-civil war times. The rebel group, which orchestrated the stunning downfall of President Bashar al-Assad, is continuing to push out messages of unity to a population severely scarred by decades of domestic division.

18/12/2024

Iraq

Pope Francis reveals suicide bomb plot against him in Iraq in 2021

In his upcoming autobiography, the pontiff said that two suicide bombers were killed by Iraqi police before they could carry out their planned attacks.

17/12/2024

Travel News

UK Foreign Office lifts advice against travel to Israel

Travel advisories have been lifted after they were imposed 15 months ago in October 2023.

17/12/2024

Crossing Cultures

Tradition meets modernity in China’s “Venice of the East”

A co-production with CGTN

Crossing Cultures explores the ancient Chinese city of Suzhou, famed for its classical gardens, canals and culinary delights.

17/12/2024

Israel

Euroviews. Ms Kallas, prioritise civil society for Israeli-Palestinian peace

The peacebuilders of Israel and Palestine are ready. They now need a leader to partner with them, and ensure that civil society initiatives are not just an afterthought but a cornerstone of a just and durable peace, Nivine Sandouka and Brian Reeves write.

17/12/2024

Health news

Pakistan begins final polio vaccination campaign of the year

The last push of the year is taking place to try to eradicate polio in Pakistan, one of only two countries left where the disease is still endemic.

17/12/2024

Syria

Syria's HTS leader says rebel groups will be 'disbanded' to join army

HTS leader Ahmed al-Sharaa pushed a message of unity in Syria as he sought to reassure minorities in the war-torn country.

17/12/2024

West Bank

Palestinian security forces crack down on militants in the West Bank

The rare move by the Palestinian Authority, who govern pockets of the Israeli- occupied West Bank, was justified to remove Iran-backed militant groups causing "chaos."

17/12/2024

Syria

Syria's new government says Russia should 'reconsider' its troops

Syria’s new transitional government says there is no place for Russian presence in Syria a week after the country’s long-time President Bashar al-Assad was overthrown. The new government also says it is open to engage in contacts with all countries to pave Syria’s new future.

16/12/2024

Lebanon

Greek PM in Lebanon: 'Syria needs to be inclusive'

Kyriakos Mitsotakis became the first European leader to visit Lebanon following the ceasefire with Israel.

16/12/2024

Cult

COP29 focuses on culture’s role in global climate solutions

In partnership with Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan

In this episode of Cult, we explore how COP29 in Baku is redefining climate action by emphasizing culture’s essential role in driving sustainability, fostering resilience, and inspiring global collaboration.

16/12/2024

No Comment

Cyclone Chido ravages Mayotte island

The people of Mayotte are trying to assess the damage caused by the passage of Cyclone Chido over the weekend.

16/12/2024

Syria

Israeli airstrikes in Syria 'most violent' since 2012, monitor says

The Israeli military says it is only hitting military targets in Syria after the collapse of President Bashar al-Assad's rule last weekend following a stunning rebel advance.

16/12/2024

South Korea

South Korea court begins President Yoon's impeachment trial

Members of parliament in Seoul voted to impeach the president on Saturday after he imposed a short-live martial law order that thrust the country into political chaos.

16/12/2024

Israel

Israel plans to expand into Golan Heights in a 'new front' in Syria

Israel's "demographic development" plan to increase settler numbers only applies to the area of the Golan Heights that Israel seized during the Six Day War in 1967 and later annexed in 1981 and not to territory taken since al-Assad's ouster.

15/12/2024

Syria

Syria's Kurds fearful of the future after Islamist rebels seized power

One week after President Bashir al-Assad's regime was toppled the Kurdish region in the north is neither as calm nor as relieved as the rest of Syria.

15/12/2024

Earth News

After the ceasefire, experts count ecological cost of war in Lebanon

In its war against Hezbollah, Israel has dropped thousands of tonnes of munitions, causing great ecological damage and jeopardising both food security and public health.

15/12/2024

Syria

Damascus is surprisingly calm a week after Syria's rebels took over

A week of transition has been surprisingly smooth: Reports of reprisals, revenge killings sectarian violence and looting have all been minimal.

15/12/2024

Lebanon

Najib Mikati calls for Syrian refugees in Lebanon to return home

With a population of 5.8 million, the two million Syrian refugees in the country means Lebanon is home to the largest number of refugees per capita.

15/12/2024

Culture news

Iranian singer arrested after performing without hijab

Iranian singer Parastoo Ahmadi was arrested on Saturday after performing a YouTube concert without wearing a hijab, her lawyer told local media.

14/12/2024

Europe News

Turkey reopens its embassy in Syria for the first time in 12 years

The embassy reopening happened just days after rebels overthrew the government of Bashar al-Assad.

14/12/2024

Syria

US, Arab League and Turkey top diplomats discuss Syria transition

The Jordanian Foreign Ministry said the ministers would "discuss ways to support a comprehensive political process led by Syrians to achieve a transitional process."

14/12/2024