Nature Teenagers often dress to look older – new study shows fish do it too Highly territorial, clownfish use colour patterns and size as markers of their social rank. 22/02/2026
Lebanon Hezbollah says Israeli strikes on Baalbek have killed eight members Two Hezbollah have confirmed to the Associated Press that eight of their members, including local-level officials, were killed in Friday’s Israeli attacks on the eastern Baalbek region. The IDF says the strikes eliminated members planning operations against Israel. 21/02/2026
No Comment Fans flock to Japan zoo to see viral baby monkey Punch The baby monkey, named "Punch", has drawn attention online and among visitors who have come to see him in person. 21/02/2026
Cinema Women's rights documentary makes historic Berlinale premiere For the first time in its history, a Kazakh documentary has premiered at the Berlinale’s Forum section — one of the world’s most influential film festivals. ‘River Dreams’, the debut feature by director Kristina Mikhailova, gives voice to women imagining life beyond male dominance. 21/02/2026
Food and Drink Food for friends: Doha's vibrant dining unites Thailand and Qatar In Doha’s vibrant dining scene, international cuisines bring people together, offering moments of shared culture, hospitality and everyday connection across communities. 21/02/2026
Tech News China showcases martial arts robots. Should Europe be worried? As Beijing pushes forward in robotics, which it displayed at the Lunar New Year performance, a bigger question is emerging: how advanced are these systems really, and should Europe be concerned? 21/02/2026
Culture news One goal, two approaches: Cultural connections in Central Asia Central Asia is investing heavily in cultural infrastructure, from privately funded museums in Kazakhstan to state-led institutions in Uzbekistan. These contrasting approaches reveal how culture is being mobilised as strategy, legacy and soft power across the region. 21/02/2026
Iran Trump weighs limited strike on Iran as draft deal remains in the works Donald Trump said he was considering a limited strike on Iran as talks advance on a draft nuclear deal, with both sides eyeing swift sanctions relief but trading threats. 20/02/2026
Iran Tehran accused of mass arrests, torture and executions after protests Iran arrests 50,000 in nationwide protests, with rights groups reporting tens of thousands killed, death sentences, torture, and widespread asset seizures. 20/02/2026
No Comment First Friday of Ramadan sees mass prayers at al Aqsa and shattered Gaza Tens of thousands pray at Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa Mosque under heavy Israeli security as Ramadan begins, while families in Gaza mark the holy month among rubble and scarce aid. 20/02/2026
Space Uzbekistan preps first homegrown satellite and astronaut mission Uzbekistan plans to launch a 6U CubeSat in 2028 while preparing the framework for a 10–14 day astronaut mission in cooperation with international partners. The focus is on Earth observation data, scientific research and technical capacity building. 20/02/2026
No Comment China celebrates Spring Festival with lion dances at Great Wall of China China marked the Spring Festival with lion and dragon dances at the Badaling Great Wall on 19 February 2026. The shows formed part of New Year celebrations linked to the Year of the Fire Horse. 20/02/2026
No Comment Humanoid robots dance into Beijing’s Lunar New Year celebrations Robots dance at a Beijing mall’s Lunar New Year show, dazzling visitors with smoother, human-like moves that highlight China’s tech-driven celebrations. 20/02/2026
Tech News China’s AI chatbots censor politically sensitive questions, study Chinese AI models were more likely to refuse or inaccurately reply to politically-charged questions than non-Chinese models, a study has found. 20/02/2026
Iran Trump warns of ‘bad things’ if Iran does not reach a deal with US Trump has warned Tehran it has days to reach a deal on its nuclear programme as the US continues massing forces, Iran drills with Russia, and Europe fears an imminent regional war. 20/02/2026
World News Machines take over one of world's riskiest jobs — clearing landmines Humanitarian organisations including UN Mine Action Service and Mines Advisory Group say mines restrict access to farmland and basic services, hampering the return of refugees and displaced people across conflict zones. 19/02/2026
Economy Uzbekistan and US formalise investment platform Ahead of the first meeting of Trump’s Board of Peace, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev travelled to Washington to launch a joint investment mechanism and new sectoral agreements in energy, critical minerals, irrigation and agro-industry. 19/02/2026
No Comment North Korean leader Kim Jong Un drives rocket launcher vehicle Ahead of a key party congress, Kim showcased rocket launchers and a housing project in Pyongyang. 19/02/2026
Tech News What are world and tech leaders saying at the India AI summit? World leaders want to regulate AI — but they can't agree on how. Here is everything that is being said. 19/02/2026
Iran US military ready for Iran strike from Saturday, reports claim US officials said the military will be ready to strike Iran within days as Donald Trump weighs action, even as Geneva nuclear talks expose wide gaps, according to reports by multiple US media outlets. 19/02/2026
South Korea Former President Yoon handed life sentence for imposing martial law A court in Seoul sentenced South Korea’s former President Yoon Suk-yeol to life in prison after finding him guilty of leading an insurrection. The court ruled his short imposition of martial law amounted to a “rebellion” and aimed to establish unchecked power for a “considerable time”. 19/02/2026
Earth News North Aral Sea restoration efforts show promise as water level rises Restoration efforts including a dam and water use controls are helping Kazakhstan revive part of the shrinking Aral Sea. 19/02/2026
Tech News University ousted from India AI summit over China-made robot dog Galgotias University said they were 'deeply pained' by the incident and that their representatives were 'ill-informed' about where the dog was made. 18/02/2026
Modern Nomads Kazakhstan’s evolution toward equal opportunities In partnership with MDQ Kazakhstan is strengthening inclusive education, rehabilitation services and social entrepreneurship to expand opportunities for people with disabilities and advance a human-rights-based approach to inclusion. 18/02/2026
Grand Voyager Grand Voyager | Exploring Bangkok & Beyond In partnership with Media City From golden temples to bustling markets, Bangkok is a city of vibrant contrasts. Join Lilly Douse as she uncovers its timeless spirit. 18/02/2026
Syria Syrians work to erase al-Assad cult of personality after regime fall Under the previous dynastic regime, Syria went from a homeland for all to a "real estate registry" for the al-Assad family. Now, the interim government is undoing the hold the al-Assads had on Syrians for decades. 18/02/2026