World News Tsunami threat lifted in Russia's Kamchatka after powerful tremor After powerful earth tremors in the Pacific Ocean, residents of several settlements in Kamchatka had been advised to climb to elevations 30-40 metres high or move at least 2-3 kilometres away from the coast because of the tsunami threat, which was then lifted by the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre. 20/07/2025
Syria Syria's armed Bedouins withdraw from Druze-majority Sweida Syria's armed Bedouins say they have withdrawn from the Druze-majority city of Sweida, bringing a cautious calm as humanitarian convoys reportedly make their way to the area. 20/07/2025
Space Soil on the Moon could sustain human life, study finds Researchers from the Chinese University of Hong Kong developed a technology that can extract water from the soil on the Moon and convert it into oxygen and chemical fuel. 20/07/2025
Destinations Kazakhstan plans stellar stays at historic space sites Kazakhstan is turning decommissioned space sites into glamping spots, museums and family-friendly tourism hubs. 19/07/2025
Iraq Iraqi officials try to identify 18 bodies from shopping centre fire While the cause of Wednesday's blaze has not yet been determined, officials blamed lack of safety standards in the building for the scale of the tragedy. 18/07/2025
No Comment Gaza Christians killed in Israeli strike laid to rest Mourners gathered Thursday evening in Gaza City for the funeral of two Christians killed when an Israeli shell struck Gaza’s only Catholic church compound earlier that day. 18/07/2025
Gaza Israel refuses to renew visas for agency heads in Gaza, UN says Visas for the local leaders of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the human rights agency OHCHR and the agency supporting Palestinians in Gaza, UNRWA, have not been renewed in recent months. 18/07/2025
Syria Syrian troops to return to Suwayda after renewed Druze-Bedouin clashes Syrian forces will return to Suwayda after clashes between Druze militias and Bedouin clans. A ceasefire was mediated by the US, Turkey and Arab nations. 18/07/2025
North Korea North Korea halts foreign tourism at beach resort weeks after opening No official explanation was provided, but analysts suggest the decision may be linked to Russian media report implying the resort was populated by mobilised locals rather than genuine holidaymakers. 18/07/2025
Pakistan Heavy monsoon rains in east Pakistan kill 54 people in 24 hours Since 26 June, Pakistan has reported 178 deaths from Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the northwest, Sindh in the south and Balochistan in the southwest, officials said. 17/07/2025
Syria Syrian forces withdraw from Sweida after ceasefire goes into effect The fighting had threatened to unravel Syria's post-war political transition and brought further military intervention by neighbouring Israel. 17/07/2025
Gaza Israeli strike on Gaza Catholic church kills two and injures several The Israeli Foreign Ministry issued a formal apology for the strike, while the Israeli army said it has launched an investigation into the strike on Gaza's only Catholic church. 17/07/2025
No Comment Newly opened mall in Iraq destroyed by fire, killing dozens A massive fire at a newly opened shopping mall in Kut, Iraq, has killed dozens, with many suffocating inside, as authorities launch an investigation and declare three days of mourning. 17/07/2025
Business TSMC's profit soars by 60% thanks to robust AI chip demand The world’s largest contract chip manufacturer TSMC, reported better-than-expected results as AI chip demand has been boosting the company's sales. 17/07/2025
Iraq Fire at Iraqi shopping centre kills more than 60 and injures dozens Over 60 people died and dozens were injured in a shopping centre blaze in the eastern Iraqi city of Kut. An investigation and legal actions are in progress. 17/07/2025
Syria US brokered steps to bring an end to Syria clashes, Rubio says US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced steps on Wednesday to end clashes in Syria involving the Druze minority after Israel intervened, striking the Syrian Defence Ministry. 17/07/2025
Economy Japan's exports fall as Trump's tariffs fuel recession risks Fears of a recession are mounting in the world's fourth-largest economy, after export to the US declined for the second month in a row in June. 17/07/2025
Thailand Thai woman arrested in sex scandal that saw nine monks expelled Wilawan Emsawat allegedly seduced and blackmailed several Buddhist monks to rake in large payments worth millions of euros over three years. 16/07/2025
No Comment WATCH: Moment Israeli strikes hit Syrian Defence Ministry in Damascus The Israeli military carried out rare airstrikes deep inside Damascus on Wednesday, targeting Syria’s Defence Ministry headquarters amid ongoing clashes in the country’s south. 16/07/2025
No Comment Men race through Fukuoka with one-tonne floats at summer festival In Fukuoka, southwest Japan, the centuries-old Hakata Gion Yamakasa Festival came to a roaring finale on Tuesday as teams of men raced through city streets carrying one-tonne floats. 16/07/2025
Israel Key coalition partner quits Israeli government over military draft The political turmoil comes as Israel and Hamas are negotiating a US-backed ceasefire proposal for Gaza. 16/07/2025
No Comment Children among dead as Israeli strikes hit Gaza City and Khan Younis At least 41 Palestinians, including children, were killed in Israeli strikes across Gaza, according to hospital officials. 16/07/2025
Gaza At least 20 killed in stampede at aid site in Gaza, US group says The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation accused Hamas of fomenting panic and spreading misinformation that led to the violence, but provided no evidence. 16/07/2025
Travel News UK lifts ban on Pakistan Airlines after safety standards improve British High Commissioner Jane Marriott said that after "extensive engagement" between the UK's Air Safety Committee and the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority, restrictions on PIA have now been lifted. 16/07/2025
East-West Connect How is Kazakhstan boosting the Trans-Caspian trade route? In partnership with MDQ Kazakhstan is helping upgrade the multimodal Trans-Caspian trade route to meet the EU’s 15-day transit goal. 16/07/2025
The Exchange The tariff ripple effect on global trade In partnership with Media City The Trump administration’s ‘Liberation Day’ tariffs introduced in April has caused uncertainty and sparked a number of trade negotiations with the US’s biggest trading partners, but consumers all over the world are feeling the pain of inflation and price increases caused by supply chain disruptions. 16/07/2025