Asia

Iran

Israel says awaiting US green light to 'return Iran to Stone Age'

The war has spilled out of Iran and engulfed the region, leaving several thousand people dead, mainly in Iran and Lebanon, and continues to destabilise the global economy.

23/04/2026

Lebanon

UN 'working on' keeping presence in Lebanon in 2027

The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon has served fulfilled peacekeeping duties between Israel and Lebanon since 1978 but finds itself caught in the crossfire between Israeli forces and Hezbollah.

23/04/2026

Business

QatarEnergy launches first LNG exports from its $10bn US project

QatarEnergy has launched the first LNG exports from its Golden Pass project in Texas, deepening its presence in the US and strengthening its position in global gas markets.

23/04/2026

Iran

US and Iran continue seizing ships in tense Hormuz standoff

The US and Iran continued seizing ships in the tense Hormuz standoff, with Tehran calling Washington's blockade a “ceasefire violation” and claiming it has been collecting transit fees for passage.

23/04/2026

Business

US and Azerbaijan begin rollout of energy projects after Trump deal

The US and Azerbaijan have launched technical talks on the TRIPP corridor as global energy shocks push Baku's transit capabilities to the heart of Europe's gas supply debate.

23/04/2026

Road To

Cities tackle urban challenges as WUF13 preparations continue

In partnership with World Urban Forum

Preparations for the 13th World Urban Forum are under way, highlighting the need for global dialogue, cooperation and knowledge sharing to address shared challenges in housing, climate resilience and urban growth.

23/04/2026

Health news

How synthetic drugs are straining health systems worldwide

Emerging patterns of substance use are creating more complex and less predictable health risks. Experts warn that health systems are struggling to keep pace, while access to treatment and prevention services remains limited.

23/04/2026

Sport

Italian officials roundly reject pitch to replace Iran at World Cup

Italy missed out on the World Cup for the third successive time after losing a penalty shootout to Bosnia and Herzegovina in their qualifying playoff final.

23/04/2026

Tech News

Samsung employees threaten strike, demand profit share amid AI boom

Record profits but angry workers: thousands of Samsung workers threatening strike over bonus dispute.

23/04/2026

Culture news

Francophonie Spring flexes its soft power across Central Asia

A two-week festival across seven cities showcased French language and culture, reflecting growing interest in Francophone education and exchange in Kazakhstan.

23/04/2026

Earth News

Central Asia bets on ‘ecological solidarity’ as water crisis deepens

Beyond political signalling, the Regional Ecological Summit in Astana delivered tangible commitments. A total of 17 agreements worth over $2.3 billion were signed at RES 2026, with the bulk of investments channelled into renewable energy, waste management, and industrial decarbonisation.

23/04/2026

No Comment

A robot Sony built with AI is defeating human pros at table tennis

Japanese electronics giant Sony built the robotic arm it calls Project Ace and pitted it against professional athletes.

23/04/2026

Iran

Trump says US in no rush to end war but 'clock is ticking' for Iran

Earlier in the day, Trump said he had ordered the US Navy to "shoot and kill" any boats found laying sea mines in the Strait of Hormuz.

23/04/2026

No Comment

Beijing artist marks World Earth Day with peace installation

Chinese artist Kong Ning marks World Earth Day in Beijing with a peace-themed installation, using wearable art to highlight environmental concerns.

22/04/2026

Europe News

Second French peacekeeper dies after ambush blamed on Hezbollah

Established in 1978, UNIFIL has more than 10,000 peacekeepers from 50 countries who patrol the Blue Line, the UN-drawn border between Lebanon and Israel.

22/04/2026

Uzbekistan

Tashkent and Astana deepen strategic ties during Bukhara talks

High-level talks in the Uzbek ancient city of Bukhara aimed to double trade to $10 billion. Presidents of the two countries focused on transport, energy, digitalisation and environmental initiatives, while joint projects and regional cooperation continue to expand.

22/04/2026

No Comment

Aerial footage shows widespread destruction in southern Lebanon

A 10-day ceasefire went into effect in Lebanon on Friday, but there have been several Israeli strikes and Hezbollah claimed its first attack on Tuesday.

22/04/2026

Singapore

UN alarmed by number of drugs-related executions in Singapore

Officials in Singapore maintain that the death penalty has made it one of the world's safest cities and a government survey in 2023 showed strong public support for capital punishment for serious crimes.

22/04/2026

Qatar

Syria's president arrives in Qatar for talks after Saudi Arabia visit

Syria’s president Ahmed al-Sharaa visited Doha on Wednesday for talks with Qatar’s emir on economic cooperation, investment and post-al-Assad regional reintegration.

22/04/2026

Earth News

Central Asian leaders back proposal for UN water agency

Leaders from across Central Asia, alongside representatives from countries including Georgia, Armenia, Mongolia and Azerbaijan, are taking part in discussions on regional environmental priorities.

22/04/2026

Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan confirms suspension of oil transit to Germany via Russia

Kazakhstan’s energy minister announced Wednesday there would be no transit of its oil to Germany through Russia throughout May due to Russian technical constraints, assuming it is “related to recent strikes on Russian infrastructure".

22/04/2026

East-West Connect

How this country is building a regional food processing hub

In partnership with MDQ

Kazakhstan, one of the EU’s top suppliers of sunflower meal and durum wheat, wants value-added products to dominate its agricultural exports by 2028.

22/04/2026

Iran

Iran executes former atomic agency employee amid Mossad spy claims

Iran executes former atomic energy employee Mehdi Farid for alleged Mossad links as rights groups decry opaque trial, coerced confessions and media blackout.

22/04/2026

Iran

Iran's IRGC tightens grip on power as civilian leadership sidelined

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard has evolved from a theocratic wartime force into a dominant military-economic power. Over decades, it expanded regionally, reshaped Iran’s internal balance of power, now standing at the centre of a shifting political structure amid leadership changes and consolidation.

22/04/2026

Culture news

The Royal Danish Theatre makes its debut in Astana

Astana has hosted, for the first time, the Royal Danish Theatre, one of the world’s oldest and most respected performing arts institutions. The Kazakhstan capital is increasingly positioning itself as a place where European and Asian artistic traditions meet and interact.

22/04/2026

Uzbekistan

Central Asia faces rising synthetic drug threat as trafficking evolves

The rise of synthetic drugs and digital trafficking methods is forcing a shift in global anti-narcotics strategies. Uzbekistan is advancing new initiatives to improve cross-border cooperation, financial oversight and public awareness.

22/04/2026