Asia

Saudi Arabia

Yemen's Houthis claim attack on Saudi Arabia refinery, 11 dead

Strikes by Iran-backed Houthi rebels on Sunday killed at least 11 people in the Yemeni port city of Mokha, says a medical source, after an earlier drone salvo targeted a Saudi oil refinery. Attacks from the armed group have increased since the 2022 truce seems to have been broken last month.

09/08/2026

Destinations

Travelling to Qatar? Here’s what you need to know

Planning a trip to Qatar? Here’s what the Gulf state has to offer European travellers, from visa-free entry and hidden cultural gems to Michelin-recognised places to eat.

09/08/2026

No Comment

Taiwan tests emergency response with air raid drill

Taiwan holds an air raid drill in Kaohsiung, stopping traffic and guiding residents as authorities test civilian emergency responses.

07/08/2026

Space

Uzbekistan-developed AI module launches aboard Earth satellite

The Samarkand-2028 Earth observation satellite has entered orbit carrying an AI module developed by Uzbek engineers, processing data in orbit before transmission to improve efficiency in fields including agriculture and environmental monitoring.

07/08/2026

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka deploys troops to contain growing prison unrest

Officials have attributed the growing unrest to acute overcrowding. Sri Lanka's prisons hold about four times their intended capacity.

07/08/2026

Ecotech

A Japanese inventor is turning soil into a source of electricity

A Japanese designer has developed a technology that generates tiny amounts of electricity from everyday materials such as soil, water, food and construction waste.

07/08/2026

South Korea

South Korea recovers at least 15 landmines washed from North by floods

The Demilitarised Zone (DMZ), splitting the Koreas since their 1950-53 war ended with an armistice, is one of the most heavily mined places on Earth.

07/08/2026

Thailand

Eight dead, including suspect's grandparents, in Thailand shooting

Thailand has one of the highest rates of gun ownership in the region, with around 10 million firearms estimated to be in circulation, one for every seven inhabitants.

07/08/2026

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan seal defence pact

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met in Mecca Friday to formalise a joint agreement. The landmark pact aims to strengthen regional security ties following escalations from the US-Iran conflict.

07/08/2026

No Comment

Moment rare Amur tiger is released into Kazakh wild

Kazakhstan released the Amur tiger Umit into the Ile-Balkhash Nature Reserve, marking a key step in a project to restore a wild tiger population to Central Asia for the first time in more than 70 years.

06/08/2026

Business

Switch 2 and Mario movie send Nintendo profits soaring by 54%

Kyoto-based games giant posts a jump in net profit for the April-June quarter, helped by continued demand for its Switch 2 console

06/08/2026

North Korea

North Korea fires ballistic missile, South Korea's military says

North Korea has repeatedly declared itself an "irreversible" nuclear state since leader Kim Jong- un's 2019 summit with US President Donald Trump collapsed over the scope of denuclearisation and sanctions relief.

06/08/2026

Japan

Hiroshima marks 81 years since atomic bombing that ended WWII

Survivors have expressed frustration and worry over growing support for the possession of nuclear weapons for deterrence by the international community, including Japan.

06/08/2026

Thailand

Myanmar ex-junta chief on first Thailand trip as civilian leader

Fighting between Myanmar's military and myriad rebel factions has spilled over the long border with Thailand, which hosts millions of refugees from Myanmar.

06/08/2026

Gaza

IDF to continue to 'operate proactively' in Gaza, military chief says

The statement came after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel had not agreed to a US-backed plan for Gaza.

05/08/2026

Earth News

First tiger released into the wild in Kazakhstan 70 years after Turan tiger extinction

More than 70 years after tigers disappeared from Kazakhstan, a female Amur tiger named Umit has been released into the wild. The release is part of a programme to restore the species to its historic range in Central Asia.

05/08/2026

East-West Connect

How is Kazakhstan attracting manufacturing investment?

In partnership with MDQ

Kazakhstan is seeking to attract more investment into higher-value manufacturing as it looks to diversify its economy beyond raw materials and expand value-added industries.

05/08/2026

Travel News

Wynn Al Marjan Island: Opening date set for UAE’s first casino resort

Construction is ‘progressing rapidly’ at the Wynn Al Marjan Island gaming resort located in the northern emirate of Ras Al Khaimah.

05/08/2026

North Korea

North Korea warns of 'military options' over Japan rearmament drive

Japan has been gradually moving away from its post-World War II pacifist status, increasing military spending, ramping up defence pacts and deploying missile launchers to its outer islands.

05/08/2026

No Comment

Mass funeral held in Gaza for victims of 2023 air strike

Funeral held in Gaza after crews recover 112 bodies from the site of a deadly 2023 air strike, with many victims still missing beneath rubble.

05/08/2026

South Korea

South Korean students held over US military base break-in bid

Students gathered outside the main hub of the US Air Force in South Korea, arguing the US military's presence in Gwangju could complicate Seoul's major chipmaking project planned there.

05/08/2026

Destinations

Which city could become Japan's 'second capital'?

Japan’s search for a potential secondary capital is putting a spotlight on destinations beyond Tokyo. Here’s why these contenders are worth adding to your travel bucket list.

05/08/2026

Iran

Trump warns Iran to open Strait of Hormuz or get 'hit very hard'

Iran has tightened its grip on Hormuz and wants to control the strait and charge tolls, powers it did not exercise before the war began on 28 February.

05/08/2026

Israel

Netanyahu rules out Gaza withdrawal until Hamas disarms

Benjamin Netanyahu has pushed back against a US-backed Gaza deal, saying Israel will not withdraw from the territory until Hamas has completely disarmed, despite Washington's efforts to advance a ceasefire.

04/08/2026

Sport

Former FIFA Vice President Prince Ali accuses Infantino of 'blackmail'

In a social media post, Prince Ali said that during the World Cup — where Jordan made its debut in June — he was told if he endorsed FIFA President Gianni Infantino “it would go a long way to helping our FA out.”

04/08/2026

Qatar

Qatar: Whole region working on war resolution, Hormuz reopening

Qatar says US-Iran mediation is at an advanced stage, but no direct talks are expected at the moment, as Doha calls for the return to free navigation through Hormuz. Qatar urges pressure on Israel to fully implement the Gaza roadmap.

04/08/2026