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A historian and a chef discover a 1,000 year-old Arab cookbook from Baghdad and how its recipes reached southern Spain. A historian and a chef go on a culinary journey through history to discover the roots of Arab cuisine and its influence on the food and flavours of today. Kotoz is a researcher in Arab food history, and Fadi Kattan is a renowned Palestinian chef. They travel around Europe in search of recipe manuscripts from the days of the old Arab dynasties and empires. They start this first episode in the Finnish capital, Helsinki, where they find The Book of Dishes, the oldest known Arabic cookbook. It describes ninth-century rivalries, including a singer-musician called Ziryab, who fell out of favour in the court in Baghdad and fled to Cordoba in Muslim al-Andalus. He brought his knowledge of music, the arts, fashion, and cookery with him to Spain and is famous for a stew called Green Tafaya.

Former Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte has been arrested at Manila Airport on an International Criminal Court warrant. He's accused of crimes against humanity in connection with his crackdown on illegal drugs during his six-year term as president. Duterte flew in from Hong Kong where he spent the weekend with his daughter, Philippines Vice President, Sara Duterte. His former lawyer says the arrest is unlawful.

Ibtihaj Muhammad made history as the first American-Muslim woman to compete in the Olympics while wearing a hijab. This achievement holds immense significance, especially given the ongoing controversy surrounding the hijab in sports. This week on Now You Know, we chat with Ibtihaj about staying true to her identity, pushing back against discrimination, and competing at the highest level.

The Syrian presidency announced on Monday that it has reached an agreement with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to integrate the group with state institutions. The presidency released images of a signing ceremony featuring Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa and the head of the SDF, Mazloum Abdi. The agreement emphasised Syria’s unity and stipulated that all civil and military institutions in northeastern Syria be merged into the administration of the Syrian state, including border crossings, the airport, and oil and gas fields. The United States-backed SDF has controlled a semi-autonomous region in northeastern Syria since 2015. If implemented, the agreement would bring that territory under the full control of the Syrian central government.

A fragile power-sharing agreement in the world's youngest nation is being threatened by an upsurge in violence. South Sudan's President - Salva Kiir - says the army is being attacked by armed groups linked to his vice President Riek Machar. The two were on opposing sides of a five-year civil war, before agreeing to rule together in 2018. With a war ongoing in neighbouring Sudan, what would a new conflict in South Sudan mean for the region?

The clock is ticking down to the next pandemic, which could be deadlier than the last, as new zoonotic diseases emerge and global vaccine inequity persists. Five years since COVID-19, what lessons have we learned and what needs to change before it’s too late?

An oil tanker and a cargo ship collided off the coast of eastern England setting both vessels on fire, with at least 32 casualties brought onshore in a major rescue operation. A spokesperson for the United Kingdom’s Maritime and Coastguard Agency said on Monday that the crash had occurred off the coast of the county of East Yorkshire. US shipping firm Crowley says its tanker is spilling jet fuel and all its crew have abandoned ship after multiple explosions. Stavros Karam-peridis is the head of the Maritime Transport Research Group at University of Plymouth.

Mariia Zolkina, head of regional security and conflict studies at the Democratic Initiatives Foundation, told Al Jazeera that Ukraine's goals for the upcoming talks in Saudi Arabia include easing US pressure after Washington’s direct negotiations with Moscow. She said Ukraine aims to counter claims that it opposes diplomacy. The delegation plans to propose a ceasefire at sea and a ban on long-range strikes. Zolkina added that Ukraine will continue to insist on security guarantees during its talks with the US on Tuesday to “prevent another Russian attack”.

The Japanese city of Kamaishi was almost entirely destroyed in the earthquake and ensuing tsunami of 2011. It was the biggest natural disaster to hit Japan, killing nearly 20,000 people. More than a decade later, local taxi drivers claim to frequently pick up "ghost fares" of the deceased. Passengers spot an increasing number of wild deer which some claim to be intermediaries between the physical and spiritual worlds. A night with Kamaishi’s taxi drivers reveals a community haunted by its loss while still struggling for closure.

Gen Z’s beauty obsession is surging, with skincare spending up 20% and teen cosmetic procedures rising 75% since 2019. Social media is accused of fueling aging anxiety through viral content warning against aging. We explore the societal, economic, and industry-driven forces behind this trend.