Asia

Nature

The shrinking Caspian Sea could leave endangered seals in a tight spot

An area larger than Iceland is likely to dry up, even if the climate ‘only’ warms up by 2C. Here’s what that means in the Central Asian region.

11/04/2025

Focus

Baku energy talks strengthen EU–Azerbaijan partnership on gas and long-term energy security

In partnership with Azpromo

In this episode of Focus, leaders gather in Baku to advance EU–Azerbaijan energy cooperation, combining natural gas delivery with investment in renewables, hydrogen and cross-border infrastructure for a sustainable future.

11/04/2025

Focus

EU and Central Asia launch strategic partnership at Samarkand summit

In partnership with Agency of Information and Mass Communications of Uzbekistan

In this episode of Focus, we report from Samarkand, where the EU and Central Asian leaders held a historic first summit, launching a strategic partnership to deepen cooperation across key sectors.

11/04/2025

Israel

IDF says it will fire air force reservists who condemn Gaza war

While the soldiers who signed the letter didn’t refuse to keep serving, it's part of a growing wave of Israeli service personnel speaking out against the 18-month conflict.

11/04/2025

China

Xi calls for fair global governance in meeting with Spain's Sánchez

Tariffs announced last week and than paused by US President Donald Trump could push the European Union to pursue more trade with China, the world's third-largest consumer market after the US and the EU.

11/04/2025

Health news

Blood test could help identify Parkinson's long before symptoms appear

The study is the latest to look for blood biomarkers that could serve as early warning signs of Parkinson’s.

11/04/2025

Syria

South Korea establishes diplomatic ties with Syria’s new government

The announcement comes months after a rebel coalition ousted longtime Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who had maintained close ties with North Korea.

11/04/2025

Economy

China raises tariffs on US to 125% in latest trade war escalation

Beijing is responding to the US' decision to hike levies, although China said it's unwilling to go any higher.

11/04/2025

Afghanistan

British couple detained in Afghanistan to face Taliban court verdict

The Reynolds family say that their parents have faced harsh conditions and arbitrary detention for unspecified reasons.

11/04/2025

Europe News

Spain aims for closer ties with China amid US tariffs uncertainty

Washington has criticised Spain's outreach to China with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent saying cosying up to Beijing is like 'cutting your own throat.'

11/04/2025

South Korea

North Korean commando involved in plot to kill South's president dies

Kim Shin-jo, who later reinvented himself as a Christian pastor, took part in the failed 1968 attempt to assassinate Park Chung-hee.

10/04/2025

Business

BMW’s China sales drop to lowest level in five years at start of 2025

The German carmaker announced a global sales decline of 1.4%, dragged down by weak China demand, while Trump’s auto tariffs loom over the year ahead.

10/04/2025

Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan finds rare earths reserve said to be world's third-largest

A significant rare earth elements deposit has been found in Kazakhstan's Karagandy, with potential reserves of 20 million tonnes. Further exploration is required.

10/04/2025

Europe News

China rejects claims it is aware its citizens are fighting in Ukraine

The rebuke came after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said his government had evidence of at least 155 Chinese nationals fighting alongside Russia on Ukrainian territory.

10/04/2025

Iran

Do new US-Iran nuclear talks have any chance of success?

Donald Trump pulled the US out of the Iran nuclear deal. Now he wants to make a new one on his own terms.

09/04/2025

Japan

Japan, NATO agree to deepen security ties in face of regional threats

"A stronger NATO will benefit Japan greatly," Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said at a press conference with Rutte, who was visiting Japan for the first time since becoming secretary general of the alliance in October.

09/04/2025

North Korea

Kim Yo Jong mocks Western calls to denuclearise North Korea

Tensions in the regions have increased as Kim Jong Un continues to flaunt his military nuclear capabilities and align with Russia over President Vladimir Putin's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

09/04/2025

Voices from Central Asia

David Degtyarev: How Kazakhstan’s para powerlifting champion is inspiring a generation

In partnership with MDQ

In this episode of Voices from Central Asia, we travel to Kazakhstan to meet David Degtyarev, a para-powerlifter who has become a two-time Paralympic champion.

09/04/2025

Thailand

US academic faces years in Thai jail for allegedly insulting monarchy

Paul Chambers, a political science lecturer at Thailand's Naresuan University, rejects the charges.

09/04/2025

Green News

New Lego factory in Vietnam aims to use 100% clean energy

It is hoped that the factory’s 12,400 solar panels and energy storage system will help set a precedent for more sustainable manufacturing in Vietnam.

09/04/2025

Economy

China imposes 84% tariff on US goods as Trump trade war escalates

Beijing will raise tariffs on US goods from 34% to 84% starting on Thursday, an action that follows the US increasing tariffs on Chinese goods and tensions over trade policies.

09/04/2025

Economy

China vows to fight tariffs to end and says trade with US is balanced

China again vowed to “fight to the end” against Donald Trump's tariffs in a lengthy policy statement published on Wednesday, arguing that trade between the two countries is in balance as a 104% tax on the country's exports to the US came into effect.

09/04/2025

Yemen

Suspected US airstrikes kill six in Yemen

The US airstrike campaign, which has been focused on countering rebel attacks on shipping in the region due to the Israel-Hamas conflict, has reportedly claimed at least 79 lives so far, based on casualty reports from the Houthis.

09/04/2025

Culture news

Ed Sheeran delights Persians by producing Farsi version of 'Azizam'

As Ed Sheeran announces a Farsi version of his latest hit 'Azizam', we take a look at some other times pop stars explored new markets by releasing their music in another language.

08/04/2025

South Korea

South Korea fires warning shots after North Korean troops cross border

The incident on Tuesday afternoon in the eastern section of the Demilitarised Zone may well have been accidental, according to South Korean media reports.

08/04/2025

Gaza

Emmanuel Macron urges renewed flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza

The French President called the reopening of aid crossings into the Strip 'absolutely essential' and a new ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.

08/04/2025