Asia

Iraq

Explosion at Baghdad restaurant kills three, Iraqi officials say

Three people have reportedly been killed and at least 16 injured after an explosion at a crowded restaurant in Baghdad, Iraq.

03/06/2021

Tech News

Hong Kong security law used to close overseas pro-democracy website

Web host Wix was asked by Hong Kong police to shut down a website run by exiled activists. It has since reinstated it and apologised.

03/06/2021

No Comment

Sri Lanka facing environmental disaster after ship

Rough seas and poor visibility forced Sri Lanka navy divers to abandon an inspection Thursday of a sinking ship threatening a disastrous oil spill off Colombo's main harbour, officials said.

03/06/2021

Malaysia

French conspiracy theorist and kidnapping suspect arrested in Malaysia

Malaysian police have arrested French conspiracy theorist Rémy Daillet-Wiedemann, who was wanted over the kidnapping of a young girl in April.

03/06/2021

No Comment

Tokyo unveils Olympic podium, medal tray and music with 50 days to go

The Tokyo 2020 organisers unveil items to be used for the Olympic medal ceremonies, including podiums made with recycled plastic and release the victory music for the medalists, exactly 50 days before the pandemic-postponed Games.

03/06/2021

Japan

10,000 Tokyo Olympics volunteers resigned ahead of opening of Games

Organisers revealed that thousands of volunteers who were expected to take part in the Olympic Games in Tokyo resigned in recent months.

03/06/2021

Israel

Israel: PM Netanyahu's opponents strike coalition deal to oust him

Centrist Yair Lapid and ultranationalist Naftali Bennett said they reached a deal to form a new governing coalition, which also includes a small Islamist party.

02/06/2021

Earth News

South Korea's 'high security seed vault' is ready for an apocalypse

The vault stores 5,000 different species of wild plants, to ensure they are not lost in extreme events caused by climate change or war.

02/06/2021

Partner content

The best of Dubai on a budget

Partner content presented by Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing Dubai

Dubai may be home to some of the most decadent experiences in the world, but it’s also a destination that explorers can enjoy on a budget.

02/06/2021

Iran

Iranian navy ship sinks after catching fire

Iranian officials offered no cause for the incident, which comes after a series of mysterious explosions targeting ships in the region since 2019.

02/06/2021

Israel

Isaac Herzog, son of former president, elected president of Israel

Isaac Herzog has been elected as the new President of Israel, as opponents of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu try to reach a last-ditch agreement on a new coalition government.

02/06/2021

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka: Fears of environmental disaster from sinking chemicals ship

Efforts to tow the container vessel carrying nitric acid and other chemicals out to sea have failed, threatening marine life and Sri Lanka's famed beaches.

02/06/2021

Health news

Small number of heart inflammation cases linked to Pfizer vaccine

275 reported cases of myocarditis were found among the 5 million people who received the COVID-19 vaccine, Israel's health ministry said.

02/06/2021

Israel

Israel: Netanyahu opponents in race against time to form government

Opponents of Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu are racing against time to finalise a coalition government ahead of a midnight deadline on Wednesday.

02/06/2021

China

Tiananmen Square museum in Hong Kong shut after three days

A Hong Kong museum commemorating the 1989 killings in China’s Tiananmen Square was shut after three days, as Chinese authorities continue to tighten control on the city.

02/06/2021

Gaza

Children share their experiences of the recent Israel-Gaza violence

"The houses were falling down on people," said one 11-year-old. "We lost hope. Some people ran away and the paramedics told us to run to the hospital."

31/05/2021

Partner content

Biohacking in Dubai rises in popularity

Partner content presented by Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing Dubai

Biohacking, a type of do-it-yourself biology, is becoming popular in Dubai. For enthusiasts, its practices can range from big or small changes to improve health and well-being to more extreme examples of implants and gene editing. But some critics are warning about potential health risks.

31/05/2021

No Comment

Gazans head to the beach as ceasefire holds

Families flocked to Gaza's beaches on Sunday after spending almost two weeks largely confined to their homes during the latest war between Israel and the territory's militant Hamas rulers.

31/05/2021

No Comment

Sri Lanka: Police investigate fire on ship off Colombo

Firefighting tugboats continued to spray a burning ship anchored off the Sri Lankan capital on Monday, as navy personnel began clearing debris from the vessel.

31/05/2021

No Comment

The show must go on! Puppeteers pick up the pieces of destroyed theatre in Gaza

Two weeks after a ceasefire brought an end to 11 days of hostilities between Israel and Hamas, Nabil al-Khatib, Palestinian artist and founder of Beit al-Fann (the house of art) salvages puppets from his theatre studio in Gaza City to keep bringing smiles to the faces of Palestinian children.

31/05/2021

China

China allows couples 3 children to cope with ageing population

Restrictions on the number of births were first introduced in 1980 but were eased in 2015 to allow couples to have two children.

31/05/2021

Partner content

Dubai conference spells start of new chapter for tourism industry

Partner content presented by Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing Dubai

Leading travel companies, airlines and tourism boards from over 80 countries showcased at the exhibition, with 10,000 people attending the event - a feat that would have been unimaginable 12 months ago.

31/05/2021

Israel

Israeli right-wing leader joins with centrists to oust Netanyahu

Naftali Bennett, the leader of Israel's hardline Yamina party, has confirmed plans to form a coalition with centrists to seize a majority in parliament.

30/05/2021

Iran

French tourist charged with spying in Iran over 'drone photos'

Benjamin Briere, 35, has been detained in Iran for 12 months and his family say he has only been permitted to call them four times since last May.

30/05/2021

China

Chinese robotic spacecraft docks with the country's new space station

An automated space module has successfully docked with China's new space station, Tianhe, to deliver living supplies and space suits.

30/05/2021

Saudi Arabia

First UNWTO regional office opens in Riyadh

The hub will co-ordinate initiatives across 13 countries in the Middle East.

30/05/2021