Asia

Saudi Arabia

Saudi activist Loujain al-Hathloul awarded 2020 Vaclav Havel prize

Loujain al-Hathloul received the Council of Europe's Václav Havel Human Rights Prize. The activist had pushed to end a ban on women driving in Saudi Arabia.

20/04/2021

Partner content

Explore Ramadan in Dubai, from private jet iftars to intimate mosque tours

Partner content presented by Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing Dubai

Ramadan in Dubai offers a unique opportunity to learn about local customs, visit mosques and break the daily fast in a traditional setting as well as in the sky!

19/04/2021

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Israelis flock Jerusalem's streets unmasked

"We are free, it's a miracle," says a Jerusalem resident as Israelis take one more step towards normalcy and flock the city centre's streets unmasked, after the authorities lifted the outdoor mask mandate.

18/04/2021

Israel

Israel drops outdoor face masks as 61% of citizens get first COVID jab

The Israeli government has removed the obligation to wear a mask outdoors due to a steep fall in covid cases after mass vaccination

18/04/2021

Iran

Iran cautiously optimistic about nuclear deal talks in Vienna

The talks in Austria's capital are aimed at bringing the United States back into the world powers' 2015 deal with Tehran on its nuclear programme.

18/04/2021

China

US and China agree to cooperate on climate crisis with urgency

China and the United States are the world’s top carbon polluters, pumping out nearly half of the fossil fuel fumes that are warming the planet’s atmosphere.

18/04/2021

Myanmar

Myanmar releases thousands of prisoners

Myanmar's junta has pardoned and released more than 23,000 prisoners to mark the Thingyan New Year holiday. It's not yet clear whether this includes any of the protesters arrested since the military seized power in February.

17/04/2021

Iran

Iran names nuclear facility sabotage suspect

A state TV broadcast has claimed the suspect is Iranian-born and fled the country hours before the explosion at Natanz

17/04/2021

Nature

What are mangroves and why are they so important for the planet?

We're lifting the lid on this underappreciated but absolutely vital ecosystem.

17/04/2021

The Cube

Pakistan briefly blocks social media access after anti-French protests

The interior ministry said the measure was taken "in order to maintain public order and safety" after several days of heightened anti-French sentiments.

16/04/2021

Iran

Iran 'begins enriching uranium to 60% purity' - its highest ever level

Iran appears to have followed through on its vow to increase enrichment after a bomb attack on its nuclear facility in Natanz.

16/04/2021

China

Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Jimmy Lai gets 1-year prison sentence

Lai was one of the nine leading Hong Kong pro-democracy advocates who were sentenced to jail terms on Friday for organising a march during the 2019 anti-government protests that triggered an overwhelming crackdown from Beijing.

16/04/2021

China

China ramps up vaccination drive with free eggs for those getting jab

The challenge in China lies partly in the sheer scale of the effort and the need to convince a population that currently feels safe from infections.

16/04/2021

Partner content

Chef Himanshu Saini’s khichuri is like a culinary tour of India

Partner content presented by Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing Dubai

Chef Himanshu Saini crafts modern Indian tasting menus using French techniques, hence the portmanteau Trèsind – ‘très’, the French for ‘very’, and ‘Ind’, an abbreviation of Indian.

15/04/2021

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Myanmar protesters remember those killed

Protesters in Myanmar gathered Thursday in Yangon to remember those who have lost their lives after the military's government takeover in February.

15/04/2021

India

'Alarming' surge sees India COVID-19 cases soar past 14 million

In New Delhi, hotels and wedding banquet halls are being converted into COVID-19 centres amid a surge in cases.

15/04/2021

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Hundreds of Sikh pilgrims converge in northwest Pakistan

Hundreds of Sikh pilgrims from India and Pakistan converged on a temple in northwestern Pakistan to celebrate Vaisakhi, one of the most important festivals for the Sikhs.

14/04/2021

Myanmar

Myanmar could spiral into 'full-blown conflict' like Syria, UN warns

Michelle Bachelet said the repression in Myanmar "clearly echoes" the situation in Syria in 2011 because "there too, we saw peaceful protests met with unnecessary and clearly disproportionate force."

14/04/2021

Iran

Iran president calls 60% uranium enrichment an answer to 'evilness'

Iran's President Rouhani has said plans for 60 per cent nuclear enrichment will be an answer to 'evilness'

14/04/2021

Iran

Iran to enrich uranium to highest level so far after Natanz attack

Iran will begin enriching uranium up to 60% following the attack on its Natanz nuclear facility.

14/04/2021

Moments

China’s European ghost towns: The tourism trend that went wrong

Over the years, China has taken to recreating some famous European towns and cities to attract tourists. But does it work? We find out.

13/04/2021

Earth News

This floating hotel will generate electricity by rotating all day

The design includes minimum energy loss and a zero waste principle at its core.

13/04/2021

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Saudi's Ta'if residents keep folklore war dance alive

The art of Taachir is known to be a traditional dance for the people of Taif, west of Saudi Arabia

13/04/2021

Japan

Japan to start releasing Fukushima water into sea in two years

Some scientists warn the long-term impact on marine life is unknown and the fishing community has voiced strong objections.

13/04/2021

Partner content

The world's biggest single-site solar park and what it can do

Partner content presented by Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing Dubai

It’s the world’s largest single-site solar park, equipped with millions of photovoltaic panels capable of converting the sun’s rays to about 1000 MegaWatts hourly. Check out the Mohammed Bin Rashid Solar Park in Dubai.

12/04/2021

Nature

Are Bangladesh’s floating gardens the future of farming?

Vegetables could be safer in the hands of this ancient water-based planting method.

12/04/2021