Asia

Japan

Fans at Tokyo Olympics 'encouraged to have COVID-19 vaccinations'

Bach said it won't be mandatory, but he left no doubt it will be strongly pushed.

16/11/2020

Pakistan

Protesters want expulsion of French ambassador to Pakistan

They were angered by remarks made by Emmanuel Macron in the wake of the murder of French teacher Samuel Paty.

16/11/2020

Partner content

Disability in the UAE: how work can empower 'people of determintation'

Partner content presented by Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing Dubai

To replace the term 'disabled' the phrase 'people of determination' was coined in 2017 by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, vice president of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. Meaningful employment could empower some of the 110,000 people of determination in the UAE.

16/11/2020

World News

Asia-Pacific countries including China sign world's biggest trade pact

The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) signed by 15 countries encompasses around a third of world trading activity.

15/11/2020

No Comment

India, Pakistan clash over Kashmir, leaving at least 13 dead

Artillery and machine gun clashes were reported along the 740-kilometre ceasefire line that has separated India and Pakistan for seven decades.

14/11/2020

Partner content

Avni Doshi: 'surreal' experience of Booker Prize shortlist

Partner content presented by Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing Dubai

In this edition of interview, we chat to Avni Doshi, the first-time novelist based in Dubai about her Booker Prize-shortlisted ‘Burnt Sugar’, the Emirates Literary Festival and why literature is so important in the region.

14/11/2020

Azerbaijan

Ethnic Armenians burn own homes rather than hand them to Azerbaijan

Some residents in Nagorno-Karabakh have set fire to their own homes rather than hand them over to Azerbaijan under a ceasefire deal with Armenia.

14/11/2020

India

Diwali: India's festive mood raises fears of surge of coronavirus

Health experts warn of crowded festival celebrations causing a virus resurgence that batters India’s health care system.

14/11/2020

Partner content

Emerging from lockdown - Dubai’s music scene hits the right notes

Partner content presented by Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing Dubai

Dubai's thriving music scene is bouncing back after lockdown, albeit with responsible social distancing in place. Some of its leading lights - and a literal Legend - tell Focus how important that scene is.

13/11/2020

Travel News

Refugees in Iraq use the power of radio to tell their stories

For the thousands of Syrian Kurds exiled in Iraq, this community radio station helps to keep the community connected.

13/11/2020

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia accused of 'sportswashing' its human rights record

Amnesty International said Saudi Arabia's hosting of a golf tournament was 'pure hypocrisy' given its alleged human rights abuses.

13/11/2020

World

Property mogul & reality TV star Mohamed Hadid talks cookbooks & kibbeh in lockdown

The global pandemic has triggered a boom in reading, according to the president of the International Publishers Association.

13/11/2020

World

Sporty UAE staycations prove a hit amidst COVID-19 travel restrictions

Global tourism, being one of the world’s most important and fastest growing economic sectors, took a hard hit during the COVID-19 pandemic.

13/11/2020

No Comment

Typhoon leaves at least 42 dead and 20 missing in Philippines

Typhoon Vamco knocked down power lines and damaged homes as it passed north of Manila.

13/11/2020

Earth News

What can we learn about air pollution and lockdown from Pakistan?

After enjoying cleaner air in lockdown, Pakistan pollution reaches hazardous levels again.

13/11/2020

Focus

Uzbekistan's rise as transport and logistics hub

In partnership with NAESMI

Uzbekistan aims to become a transport and logistics hub in Central Asia: having invested billions in new rail and energy infrastructure over recent years, Focus investigates how the landlocked country is overcoming its geographical challenges and creating new travel corridors.

12/11/2020

No Comment

Major floods in Manila after Typhoon Vamco hits the Philippines

It's the third typhoon to hit the country in as many weeks.

12/11/2020

Saudi Arabia

Three injured in 'explosive' attack at a cemetery in Jeddah

Several people have been injured in an "improvised explosive device attack" on an international Armistice ceremony at a non-Muslim cemetery in the Saudi city of Jeddah.

11/11/2020

No Comment

Seoul bids to cut congestion with futuristic 'drone taxis'

Government officials said they hoped to have a system in place to manage the drones by as early as 2025.

11/11/2020

Partner content

'Kosh-Armani' Cuisine: Dubai opens its very first kosher restaurant

Partner content presented by Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing Dubai

Kosher cuisine comes to Dubai thanks to closer relations between the UAE and Israel. For restaurants in Dubai that means competition to offer food which complies with Jewish Dietary laws. Chef Fabien Fayolle at the Armani Hotel in Dubai’s Burj Khalifa is no exception.

10/11/2020

Travel News

Novel ways airlines are giving passengers their travel fix

For some the experience of boarding a plane, watching a film and having food and drink served is almost as exciting as the destinations themselves, so airlines are offering passengers just that, despite being grounded.

10/11/2020

Gaza

Saeb Erekat, longtime spokesman for Palestinians, dies at 65

Saeb Erekat, a veteran peace negotiator and prominent international spokesman for the Palestinians for more than three decades, died on Tuesday, weeks after being infected by the coronavirus.

10/11/2020

World News

Hundreds of Armenian protesters decry new Nagorno-Karabakh deal

Soon after the announcement, thousands of people streamed to the main square in the Armenian capital of Yerevan to protest the agreement, many shouting “We won't give up our land!” Some of them broke into the main government building, saying they were searching for Pashinian.

10/11/2020

No Comment

Japanese emperor's brother proclaimed first in line to throne

Japanese Emperor Naruhito's younger brother, Crown Prince Fumihito, was formally sworn in on Sunday as first in line to the Chrysanthemum Throne.

08/11/2020

Thailand

Thai protesters defy police water cannons to deliver letters

The pro-democracy movement has been pushing a bold challenge to reform the country's monarchy with almost daily demonstrations.

08/11/2020

World News

Azerbaijan claims it has seized key city in Nagorno-Karabakh

In a televised address to the nation, Azeri President Ilham Aliyev said “Shusha is ours” but Armenia says that fighting in and around Shusha/Shushi was continuing.

08/11/2020