Asia

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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

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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

Tech News

A race for fuel-efficiency brings students to Qatar’s F1 tracks

At the Lusail International Circuit, home to Qatar’s Formula 1 Grand Prix, the roars of racing engines have given way to quieter cars. Nearly 1000 students from countries across Asia and the Middle East compete to design and drive the most fuel-efficient vehicles.

18/02/2026

No Comment

Ash Wednesday: Millions mark start of Lent in the Philippines

Millions of Filipinos observe Ash Wednesday with an ash cross, marking the start of Lent in the predominantly Christian nation

18/02/2026

Travel News

AI supports Uzbekistan’s 12m tourism target

Industry representatives say artificial intelligence is now used in pricing algorithms, occupancy monitoring and customer analytics. Discussions at the Hotel Business Forum in Tashkent focused on how data tools can support capacity growth and operational efficiency.

18/02/2026

No Comment

Gaza residents mark start of Ramadan amid economic hardship

Residents in Gaza City shop for Ramadan supplies as war damage and economic hardship overshadow the holy month.

18/02/2026

Syria

Syria starts evacuating Al-Hol camp housing thousands linked to IS

Syrian government forces took control of the northeastern camp from the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) last month.

17/02/2026

Iran

Tehran threatens US and closes Hormuz for drills amid nuclear talks

Iran has temporarily closed the Strait of Hormuz for live-fire drills on Tuesday as tensions with the US escalate, even as new nuclear talks in Geneva seek to avert open conflict.

17/02/2026

Business Line

Transforming care nationwide in Uzbekistan

In partnership with Center for the Production of Content for Mass Media under the Administration of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan is modernising its healthcare system with new hospitals, advanced pediatric care and a rapidly expanding private sector. Digital health systems, regional services and medical education are also improving, making quality healthcare more accessible nationwide.

17/02/2026

Focus

Web Summit Qatar 2026 renews push to build a global tech hub

Web Summit Qatar 2026 opens in Doha with $2 billion in new funding, fresh incentives for entrepreneurs and a fast-growing global tech ecosystem.

17/02/2026

No Comment

China's advanced humanoid robots perform during Spring Festival gala

Humanoid robots take centre stage during China's annual Spring Festival Gala, performing a martial arts routine that included kicks, sword waving, and backflips

17/02/2026