Asia

Thailand

Are bats to blame for COVID-19? Researchers are trying to find out

The origins of the virus that killed almost 750,000 people worldwide are still mostly unknown.

14/08/2020

Lebanon

Russell Crowe donates large sum to destroyed Beirut restaurant

The Hollywood actor said he made the donation on behalf of the late chef Anthony Bourdain, who had described the restaurant as a "legendary" spot.

14/08/2020

North Korea

North Korea lifts lockdown on major border city but rejects aid

North Korea is battling both the coronavirus pandemic and damages from recent flooding.

14/08/2020

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Watch: South Korea transforms closed mountain highway into luge track

The sledges can travel at speeds of up to 60kmph - and with the wind behind them, even faster.

13/08/2020

United Arab Emirates

UAE agrees to normalise ties with Israel

UAE agrees to normalise ties with Israel in bid to halt West Bank annexation

13/08/2020

Syria

Islamic State making a resurgence in western Syria - top US commander

The Islamic State are showing signs of rebuilding in western Syria, the top US military commander has said.

13/08/2020

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Beirut blast survivor speaks of moment his life changed forever

Shady sustained major injuries and more than a week later, his face and forearms bear impressive scars. "God gave me another life, a second chance. I don’t want to live it here," he said.

12/08/2020

Cambodia

Cambodia will no longer benefit from EU's preferential trade programme

For years, Cambodia and the European Union have been on a collision course over the southeast Asian country's "serious and systemic violation of human rights". Now, its stand has become official.

12/08/2020

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Hong Kong pro-democracy media tycoon released on bail

Hong Kong pro-democracy media mogul Jimmy Lai was released on bail over a day after he and other critics of China were rounded up by police as part of a widening crackdown on dissent.

12/08/2020

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Anger and sadness as Beirut marks one week since deadly explosion

Lebanese people marched solemnly from Beirut’s neighbourhood of Gemmayze towards the port with a mix of grief and rage, one week after a blast at the port killed at least 171.

12/08/2020

Earth News

World Elephant Day: €11 million worth of ivory crushed in Singapore

The largest ivory crushing event in years is streamed online.

12/08/2020

China

Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai released on bail

The media mogul, who owns pro-democracy tabloid newspaper the Apple Daily, was arrested earlier this week under China's new national security law.

12/08/2020

Iran

US revises UN resolution on Iran to extend arms embargo indefinitely

The draft revision could be put to a vote as early as Friday.

12/08/2020

Lebanon

A week after Lebanon blast, Beirut pauses to remember victims

Thousands of people marched near the devastated port, remembering those who died in the most destructive single blast to hit the country.

11/08/2020

Earth News

Elephant kept in chains in Pakistan is released after 35 years

A triumph for the worldwide campaign calling for Kaavan the elephant's release. But where will he go now?

11/08/2020

China

Hong Kong: China sanctions US politicians and pro-democracy groups

The number of Americans named by the ministry exactly equals the number of Hong Kong and Chinese officials placed on a sanctions list by the US last week.

11/08/2020

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Indonesia's Sinabung volcano sends ash spewing into the sky

Rumbling Mount Sinabung on Indonesia’s Sumatra island erupted Monday, sending a column of volcanic materials as high as 5,000 metres into the sky.

10/08/2020

Lebanon

Dutch ambassador's wife 'donated organs' after dying in Beirut's blast

Hedwig Waltmans-Molier succumbed to her injuries in hospital on Saturday following last week's explosions in Beirut.

10/08/2020

China

Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai arrested under security law

Jimmy Lai's arrest, coming days after the U.S. government announced sanctions on Hong Kong and mainland Chinese officials, shows China's determination to move forward with enforcement of the new security law despite outside pressure.

10/08/2020

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Chinese 'robotaxis' take riders for a spin

As technology companies race to put self-driving vehicles on the road, some Chinese companies are launching taxi pilot projects in cities.

09/08/2020

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Enormous Chinese string dance show sets world record

The World Record Certification Agency said it's "the biggest one around the world".

09/08/2020

Japan

Nagasaki pleads for nuclear ban on 75th anniversary of US bombing

"The true horror of nuclear weapons has not yet been adequately conveyed to the world at large", said Nagasaki's mayor Tomihisa Taue.

09/08/2020

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Protesters clash with police in Beirut demonstration

Fury mounted in Lebanon in the wake of the massive explosion which devastated much of Beirut, as protesters poured into the streets to call for political change.

09/08/2020

Lebanon

Two Lebanese ministers resign amid protests after deadly Beirut blast

Protesters showed up in large numbers ahead of a planned anti-government demonstration following the explosion in Beirut that killed more than 150.

08/08/2020

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Lebanese student plays piano for volunteers in Beirut hospital

Lebanese student Chadi Haddad went to the nearby Saint George hospital in Beirut. Amidst volunteers clearing up the rubble, he started playing the hospital’s piano.

08/08/2020

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Survivors of deadly India crash say plane swayed violently

Survivors of the Air India Express plane crash said that the plane swayed violently before crash landing at the Kozhikode airport, in southern India.

08/08/2020