The rivalry between China and Taiwan has separated families for decades, although bilateral ties have improved in recent months.
Jiang Si Zhang, a former soldier forced to fight the Chinese communists, hopes the Olympics will further heal the divide.
He shares his one in a billion hope with Al Jazeera.
Israel’s year-long blockade on Gaza has led to high unemployment and inflation rates in the territory.
Just before the start of the new school year, many families are scrambling to buy basic items such as uniforms and notebooks for their children.
But as Ashraf Amritti reports, they are luxuries many Palestinians simply cannot afford.
Five years ago today, a truck bomb in Baghdad forced the United Nations to leave Iraq.
Twenty-two people were killed including Sergio Vieira de Mello, the UN secretary-general’s special representative.
The UN’s mission is back, but not at full strength and many still argue it shouldn’t be there at all.
John Terrett reports.
Sergio Vieira de Mello, the UN envoy who was killed in a suicide attack on the world body’s Baghdad office in 2003,
earned praise and respect as a peace-maker and humanitarian.
Born in Brazil, one of those he left behind is his 90-year old mother Gilda who recently spoke to Al Jazeera.
Despite the recent thawing of ties between Taiwan and China, the island’s athletes are competing as Chinese Taipei, and under a flag different to the one flown back home.
Al Jazeera’s Dan Nolan reports on how politics and sports mix at the Olympics.