$200,000 Whisky is Pure Hedonism

From mobile phones for the mass market to fine wines for the very rich. Russian millionaire Yevgeny Chichvarkin's new venture Hedonism Wines may contain the finest selection of wine and spirits in the world. They're definitely among the most expensive, with one bottle going for $200,000.

Asia's Best and Worst as 2012 Wraps Up

There's only a few more trading days to go in 2012. Bloomberg's David Ingles looks where the money was made in Asia this year.

As the churn continues (2:01)

Dec. 20 - Summary of business headlines: Stocks rally as hope trumps fear on fiscal cliff talks; NYSE to be sold to ICE for billions; Economic growth faster than thought; RIM, Nike beat forecasts, but Carnival warns. Conway G. Gittens reports.

Visitors flock to Turkish town to escape doomsday (1:02)

Dec. 20 - Tourists begin to arrive in Sirince, the Western Turkish town believed to be one of the few places on earth that will be saved from the end of the world predicted by the Mayan calendar. Sarah Irwin reports.

Life goes on despite 'Mayan Apocalypse'

Published 20 December 2012 05:33

Thousands of tourists are flocking to Mexico's Yucatan peninsula to be part of the so-called "Mayan Apocalypse". Many of them believe the world is coming to an end this Friday, when a major cycle of the Mayan calendar ends. Some say the 5000-year-old Mayan civilization is entering a new era. So what do the Mayan people think themselves? Al Jazeera's David Mercer visited a Guatemalan highland village to find out.

'E-cash' on the rise in Somalia

Published 20 December 2012 17:52

It may be a poor nation, but many people in Somalia have access to mobile phones. The country also has a well-established system of transferring money. Now one aid agency is looking to combine both factors, so that help can be delivered quickly and safely to those that need it. Al Jazeera's Peter Greste reports on the rise of E-cash in Mogadishu.

Syrian family's tough year away from home

Published 20 December 2012 06:42

As 2012 draws to a close, Al Jazeera is taking a look at some of this year's most important stories, through the eyes of familes that have experienced them. Conflict has forced more than two and a half million Syrians to flee their country. Al Jazeera's Nisreen El-Shamayleh went to Al Zaatri camp in northern Jordan to hear one family's story.

Deadly floods strike rain-soaked Sri Lanka

Published 21 December 2012 01:44

Flash floods have killed at least 25 people in Sri Lanka and left more than a quarter of a million marooned in their homes, disaster officials said. Heavy rains, which have battered the island for much of the week, were still being reported in 14 of Sri Lanka's 25 administrative districts on Thursday, with the central highlands - one of the world's key tea producing regions - the worst hit. Al Jazeera's Minelle Fernandez reports from Matale in central Sri Lanka.

India and Asean bloc seek to expand ties

Published 20 December 2012 23:30

Officials of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, a geo-political and economic bloc, have met in New Delhi, India's capital, to discuss a wide range of regional issues, including boosting relations with India. The organisation and India are also expected to focus on how to improve economic and political ties with Myanmar, a country which has seen a recent wave of democratic reforms. Divya Gopalan reports from New Delhi.

Consumers loosen Christmas purse strings

Published on Dec 19, 2012

They're not exactly popping the champagne corks yet, but Australia's long-suffering retailers finally have something to smile about.

Perhaps thanks to a few interest rate cuts, consumers are starting to loosen the purse strings this Christmas.

Spending's already up slightly, and with five days still to go, retailers are hoping the best is still to come.

Pacific seasonal workers give much-needed help

Published on Dec 20, 2012

Farmers across Australia have been busily harvesting their fruit and vegetable crops to get them in to the stores and onto the Christmas tables.

But in many places the harvest couldn't have taken place without seasonal workers from the Pacific.

They're providing much-needed labour in Australia, while at the same time helping their communities back home.

Nha Trang đẹp lộng lẫy trong quảng cáo của HanaTour

Published on Dec 20, 2012

Clip quảng bá du lịch Nha Trang gây xôn xao của HanaTour. Trong gần 3 phút, Nha Trang hiện lên với bãi biển trong xanh miên man bờ cát trắng. Hai thiếu nữ Hàn Quốc cùng đạp xe khám phá các địa danh ở thành phố biển này như chùa Long Sơn, tháp Bà Ponagar, đảo Hòn Tằm... Ở mỗi địa danh, hai du khách xứ Kim chi thích thú khám phá cuộc sống của người dân, thưởng thức những món ăn ngon, chơi thể thao, ở các khu nghỉ dưỡng cao cấp...

Mayan mania: end of times or new era? (1:44)

Dec. 18 - Preparations are underway in Mexico and Guatemala to celebrate the start of a new Mayan calendar on December 21. Travis Brecher reports