14:29
Israel-Palestine

Israel approves more than 2,000 new homes in West Bank settlements

Israel's Finance Minister, Bezalel Smotrich, announced plans on Wednesday (4 June) to expand three Jewish settlements in the West Bank by more than 2,000 homes, drawing condemnation from Palestinian leaders who warned the move could fuel further unrest.

14:14
Trade

Kazakhstan urges stronger Cyprus involvement in Trans-Caspian Route

Kazakhstan has invited Cyprus to take an active role in the Trans-Caspian transport route, with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev saying closer cooperation could link Kazakhstan’s land infrastructure with Cyprus’s maritime network and boost trade between Central Asia and the Mediterranean.

22:20
View from Uzbekistan

AI and youth drive environmental action at Eco Expo

Artificial intelligence, digital innovation and youth engagement in environmental governance took centre stage at Eco Expo Central Asia 2026 in Samarkand, as experts and young leaders explored new approaches to climate resilience and sustainability.

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20:39
Middle East conflict

live Israel and Lebanon agree to ceasefire as talks resume

Israel and Lebanon have agreed to implement a ceasefire after U.S.-backed talks in Washington. The deal requires Hezbollah to halt attacks and withdraw from southern Lebanon, while both sides will resume direct talks later this month aimed at reaching a broader agreement.

18:29
View from Tbilisi

Washington opens the door but Georgia may face tougher questions ahead

A series of signals from Washington, including congressional testimony, a U.S. Embassy statement and a senior diplomat's visit to Tbilisi, has given Georgia's ruling party reason to declare a diplomatic reset. But Washington's message is more nuanced than Tbilisi is suggesting.

15:10
Sri Lanka Fire

12 dead in Sri Lanka care home fire

Twelve people have died following a fire at a care home for elderly residents in Anguruwatota, Sri Lanka, on Thursday. Authorities are investigating the cause of the blaze, which also left several people injured.

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20:39
Middle East conflict

live Israel and Lebanon agree to ceasefire as talks resume

Israel and Lebanon have agreed to implement a ceasefire after U.S.-backed talks in Washington. The deal requires Hezbollah to halt attacks and withdraw from southern Lebanon, while both sides will resume direct talks later this month aimed at reaching a broader agreement.

16:37
View from Iran

Iran claims missile and drone strikes on U.S. targets after Hormuz attack

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) said on Wednesday that they had targeted the U.S. Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain and a U.S. air base in the Persian Gulf with missiles and drones, in retaliation for Tuesday’s air raid on a telecommunications tower on an island in the Strait of Hormuz.

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16:57
Delhi hotel fire

Delhi hotel fire kills 21, including 18 foreign nationals

At least 21 people, including 18 foreign nationals, have died after a devastating fire swept through a hotel in India's capital, Delhi, on Wednesday. The blaze is among the deadliest fires recorded in the city since 2022.

16:37
View from Iran

Iran claims missile and drone strikes on U.S. targets after Hormuz attack

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) said on Wednesday that they had targeted the U.S. Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain and a U.S. air base in the Persian Gulf with missiles and drones, in retaliation for Tuesday’s air raid on a telecommunications tower on an island in the Strait of Hormuz.

16:14
View from Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan pitches $100bn investment pipeline to Hong Kong

Kazakhstan has used a high-level visit by Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee to promote itself as a gateway to Central Asia, offering investors access to industrial projects worth more than $100 billion and a growing regional market.

16:10
View from Georgia

Georgia and U.S. dismantle fake asylum scheme as ties show signs of reset

Georgian and American law enforcement agencies have dismantled two criminal groups that charged hundreds of Georgians to build fabricated asylum cases for entry into the United States. The arrests came on the same day Washington signalled it was ready to reset relations with Tbilisi.

20:23
View from Uzbekistan

Eco Expo Central Asia 2026 drives regional action on climate and water

International organisations, investors, environmental experts and business representatives gathered in Samarkand for the opening of Eco Expo Central Asia 2026, one of the region's largest environmental events focused on green growth, climate resilience and sustainable development.

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