Asia

Gaza

Israel refuses to renew visas for agency heads in Gaza, UN says

Visas for the local leaders of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the human rights agency OHCHR and the agency supporting Palestinians in Gaza, UNRWA, have not been renewed in recent months.

18/07/2025

Syria

Syrian troops to return to Suwayda after renewed Druze-Bedouin clashes

Syrian forces will return to Suwayda after clashes between Druze militias and Bedouin clans. A ceasefire was mediated by the US, Turkey and Arab nations.

18/07/2025

North Korea

North Korea halts foreign tourism at beach resort weeks after opening

No official explanation was provided, but analysts suggest the decision may be linked to Russian media report implying the resort was populated by mobilised locals rather than genuine holidaymakers.

18/07/2025

Pakistan

Heavy monsoon rains in east Pakistan kill 54 people in 24 hours

Since 26 June, Pakistan has reported 178 deaths from Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the northwest, Sindh in the south and Balochistan in the southwest, officials said.

17/07/2025

Syria

Syrian forces withdraw from Sweida after ceasefire goes into effect

The fighting had threatened to unravel Syria's post-war political transition and brought further military intervention by neighbouring Israel.

17/07/2025

Gaza

Israeli strike on Gaza Catholic church kills two and injures several

The Israeli Foreign Ministry issued a formal apology for the strike, while the Israeli army said it has launched an investigation into the strike on Gaza's only Catholic church.

17/07/2025

No Comment

Newly opened mall in Iraq destroyed by fire, killing dozens

A massive fire at a newly opened shopping mall in Kut, Iraq, has killed dozens, with many suffocating inside, as authorities launch an investigation and declare three days of mourning.

17/07/2025

Business

TSMC's profit soars by 60% thanks to robust AI chip demand

The world’s largest contract chip manufacturer TSMC, reported better-than-expected results as AI chip demand has been boosting the company's sales.

17/07/2025

Iraq

Fire at Iraqi shopping centre kills more than 60 and injures dozens

Over 60 people died and dozens were injured in a shopping centre blaze in the eastern Iraqi city of Kut. An investigation and legal actions are in progress.

17/07/2025

Syria

US brokered steps to bring an end to Syria clashes, Rubio says

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced steps on Wednesday to end clashes in Syria involving the Druze minority after Israel intervened, striking the Syrian Defence Ministry.

17/07/2025

Economy

Japan's exports fall as Trump's tariffs fuel recession risks

Fears of a recession are mounting in the world's fourth-largest economy, after export to the US declined for the second month in a row in June.

17/07/2025

Thailand

Thai woman arrested in sex scandal that saw nine monks expelled

Wilawan Emsawat allegedly seduced and blackmailed several Buddhist monks to rake in large payments worth millions of euros over three years.

16/07/2025

No Comment

WATCH: Moment Israeli strikes hit Syrian Defence Ministry in Damascus

The Israeli military carried out rare airstrikes deep inside Damascus on Wednesday, targeting Syria’s Defence Ministry headquarters amid ongoing clashes in the country’s south.

16/07/2025

No Comment

Men race through Fukuoka with one-tonne floats at summer festival

In Fukuoka, southwest Japan, the centuries-old Hakata Gion Yamakasa Festival came to a roaring finale on Tuesday as teams of men raced through city streets carrying one-tonne floats.

16/07/2025

Israel

Key coalition partner quits Israeli government over military draft

The political turmoil comes as Israel and Hamas are negotiating a US-backed ceasefire proposal for Gaza.

16/07/2025

No Comment

Children among dead as Israeli strikes hit Gaza City and Khan Younis

At least 41 Palestinians, including children, were killed in Israeli strikes across Gaza, according to hospital officials.

16/07/2025

Gaza

At least 20 killed in stampede at aid site in Gaza, US group says

The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation accused Hamas of fomenting panic and spreading misinformation that led to the violence, but provided no evidence.

16/07/2025

Travel News

UK lifts ban on Pakistan Airlines after safety standards improve

British High Commissioner Jane Marriott said that after "extensive engagement" between the UK's Air Safety Committee and the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority, restrictions on PIA have now been lifted.

16/07/2025

East-West Connect

How is Kazakhstan boosting the Trans-Caspian trade route?

In partnership with MDQ

Kazakhstan is helping upgrade the multimodal Trans-Caspian trade route to meet the EU’s 15-day transit goal.

16/07/2025

The Exchange

The tariff ripple effect on global trade

In partnership with Media City

The Trump administration’s ‘Liberation Day’ tariffs introduced in April has caused uncertainty and sparked a number of trade negotiations with the US’s biggest trading partners, but consumers all over the world are feeling the pain of inflation and price increases caused by supply chain disruptions.

16/07/2025

Syria

Syria and Druze leaders agree to ceasefire after Israeli strikes

Earlier on Wednesday, Israeli forces struck the Syrian General Staff compound in Damascus, citing concerns over violence against the Druze minority. Two civilians were injured in the airstrike.

16/07/2025

Tech News

Tesla opens first showroom in India, but too expensive for locals

Tesla pressed Indian authorities to cut import taxes on EVs.

16/07/2025

Israel

US ambassador attends Netanyahu trial to show support from Trump

US ambassador Mike Huckabee's appearance at Netanyahu’s corruption trial follows Trump's call for Israel to throw out the case or pardon the Israeli PM.

16/07/2025

Iran

Iran regime to change but not towards democracy, veteran diplomat says

Alan Eyre, a veteran US diplomat, believes the recent Iran-Israel conflict will militarise Tehran further and diminish the influence of reformists.

16/07/2025

Iraq

Drone attacks salvo strikes multiple oil fields in Iraqi Kurdistan

Three oil fields in Iraqi Kurdistan were targeted by explosive drones on Wednesday, causing material damage without casualties.

16/07/2025

Afghanistan

Terror to tourism? Hostage-style video invites visitors to Afghanistan

Darkly comic videos made by a tour agency and shared by Taliban-linked accounts on social media are encouraging people to travel to Afghanistan.

16/07/2025