BEIJING: China's central bank announced Thursday that it has added 12 banks to its list of authorized institutions for digital yuan operations, Xinhua News Agency reported. The move aims to promote the steady development of the digital currency, improve the inclusiveness of its services, and meet p»»»

Iran and its allies traded fire with Israel and the United States, as Washington-linked assets across the Middle East were targeted alongside energy and civilian infrastructure -- with the month-long war on Friday showing little sign of easing. Strikes have increasingly targeted economic and indust»»»

London: British police on Thursday launched a new national hub aimed at cracking down on the sale of banned knives and machetes, often to children, on an online "grey market". In the year ending September 2025 there were about 50,000 knife crimes in England and Wales, according to the Office for Na»»»

U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., joined Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen in countering President Donald Trump's renewed overtures that he wants to pull the United States out of NATO. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo April 2 (UPI) -- Two Republican members of the U.S. Senate have broken with Pre»»»

NOVI SAD - The head of the Vojvodina provincial government Maja Gojkovic met on Thursday in Novi Sad with a delegation of China's Hebei province, headed by Governor Wang Zhengpu. The parties noted that firm foundations were in place for strengthening the cooperation in areas of mutual interest. In »»»

Manila: The Philippines has secured assurances from Iran for the safe passage of its ships and seafarers through the Strait of Hormuz, following high-level diplomatic outreach ordered by Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro said she held a “very productive” phone call o»»»

London: Shipping companies from Greece, the UAE and China are most affected by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, according to data from Bloomberg and marine traffic organisations. Around 670 commodity vessels sent signals from west of the Strait of Hormuz over the last day, with companies from t»»»

When three villagers from China’s Sichuan Province wrote to local officials in 2022 questioning why the government was confiscating their land and evicting them from their homes, they received a brief response: "It is a state secret." An investigation by CNN revealed that this secret centers on Chi»»»

Dubai: Pakistan has stepped up high-level diplomatic engagement with the United States and regional stakeholders in a bid to de-escalate tensions in the Middle East, positioning itself as a key facilitator for dialogue amid a conflict that has rattled global energy markets and heightened geopolitic»»»

Delegates stand and applaud after the adoption of the text of the High Seas Treaty at the United Nations headquarters in New York on June 19, 2023. File Photo by Justin Lane/EPA April 2 (UPI) -- Delegates were gathered in the busy corridors at United Nations headquarters in New York this week for a»»»

Doha, Qatar: While Australia and Malaysia are taking steps to conserve fuel, several Chinese airlines have raised fuel surcharges on domestic flights. The World Bank has also expressed concern over the impact the war will have on inflation, jobs and food security. Stay tuned for more updates: -----»»»

Beijing: Several Chinese airlines, including national carrier Air China, said they will raise their fuel surcharges on domestic flights from Sunday as the war in the Middle East drives up oil prices globally. Air China, China Southern and its subsidiary Xiamen Airlines said in statements that they »»»

Kennedy Space Center, United States: Four astronauts blasted off aboard a massive NASA rocket Wednesday on a long-anticipated journey around the moon, the first crewed lunar flyby in more than 50 years. With a thunderous roar that reverberated far beyond the launchpad, the enormous orange-and-white»»»

President Donald Trump said U.S. forces will "finish the job" in Iran soon as "core strategic objectives are nearing completion," offering a full-throated defense of the war Wednesday night in his first national address since the conflict began more than a month ago. He used his platform before a w»»»

BusinessUnited States of AmericaWealth tax: Why are countries afraid to tax the ultrarich?Timothy RooksGrowing income inequality and public displays of billionaire power are increasing calls for new income and wealth taxes aimed at the world's richest individuals. Can wealth ever be taxed fairly? h»»»

The seventh two-day meeting of the heads of ministries and agencies of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states responsible for environmental issues opened today at the Ala-Archa-1 State Residence. The press service of the Ministry of Natural Resources, Ecology, and Technical Super»»»

Four astronauts – three Americans and one Canadian – blasted off Wednesday on NASA’s Artemis II, humanity’s first lunar flight in over 50 years. The 32-storey rocket soared from Kennedy Space Center, marking the start of a decade-long plan for sustainable Moon exploration and a future landing near »»»

The Department of Chemicalization, Plant Protection, and Quarantine under the Ministry of Water Resources, Agriculture, and Processing Industry of Kyrgyzstan announces the adoption of Order No. 280 by the General Administration of Customs of China on October 14, 2025, effective June 1, 2026. This d»»»

Singapore’s reclaimed oil refining region, the 32-square-kilometre Jurong Island, has become the primary driver of record-high petrol prices in Australia as Middle East supply shocks ripple through the Asia-Pacific energy corridor, ABC Australia reports. »»»

Singapore’s reclaimed oil refining region, the 32-square-kilometre Jurong Island, has become the primary driver of record-high petrol prices in Australia as Middle East supply shocks ripple through the Asia-Pacific energy corridor, ABC Australia reports. »»»

Singapore’s reclaimed oil refining region, the 32-square-kilometre Jurong Island, has become the primary driver of record-high petrol prices in Australia as Middle East supply shocks ripple through the Asia-Pacific energy corridor, ABC Australia reports. »»»

Singapore’s reclaimed oil refining region, the 32-square-kilometre Jurong Island, has become the primary driver of record-high petrol prices in Australia as Middle East supply shocks ripple through the Asia-Pacific energy corridor, ABC Australia reports. »»»

Singapore’s reclaimed oil refining region, the 32-square-kilometre Jurong Island, has become the primary driver of record-high petrol prices in Australia as Middle East supply shocks ripple through the Asia-Pacific energy corridor, ABC Australia reports. »»»

Singapore’s reclaimed oil refining region, the 32-square-kilometre Jurong Island, has become the primary driver of record-high petrol prices in Australia as Middle East supply shocks ripple through the Asia-Pacific energy corridor, ABC Australia reports. »»»

Singapore’s reclaimed oil refining region, the 32-square-kilometre Jurong Island, has become the primary driver of record-high petrol prices in Australia as Middle East supply shocks ripple through the Asia-Pacific energy corridor, ABC Australia reports. »»»

Singapore’s reclaimed oil refining region, the 32-square-kilometre Jurong Island, has become the primary driver of record-high petrol prices in Australia as Middle East supply shocks ripple through the Asia-Pacific energy corridor, ABC Australia reports. »»»

Beijing has voiced firm opposition to Manila's plan to rename more than 100 maritime features in the Nansha Qundao on April 2, vowing to defend its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights, Global Times reports. The Chinese Foreign Ministry responded to reports that the Philippines intends to ad»»»

Beijing has voiced firm opposition to Manila's plan to rename more than 100 maritime features in the Nansha Qundao on April 2, vowing to defend its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights, Global Times reports. The Chinese Foreign Ministry responded to reports that the Philippines intends to ad»»»

Beijing has voiced firm opposition to Manila's plan to rename more than 100 maritime features in the Nansha Qundao on April 2, vowing to defend its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights, Global Times reports. The Chinese Foreign Ministry responded to reports that the Philippines intends to ad»»»

The World Bank on March 31 approved a $2bn loan for the Istanbul North Rail Crossing Project (INRAIL), a move that has implications for rail transit corridors that run from China across Central Asia and the South Caucasus. »»»

The World Bank on March 31 approved a $2bn loan for the Istanbul North Rail Crossing Project (INRAIL), a move that has implications for rail transit corridors that run from China across Central Asia and the South Caucasus. »»»

The World Bank on March 31 approved a $2bn loan for the Istanbul North Rail Crossing Project (INRAIL), a move that has implications for rail transit corridors that run from China across Central Asia and the South Caucasus. »»»

The last three years were the hottest ever recorded and it’s only going to get worse – to the point where people will start to die from overheating. Unless you have an air conditioner.  As a species, humans can only t»»»

The World Bank on March 31 approved a $2bn loan for the Istanbul North Rail Crossing Project (INRAIL), a move that has implications for rail transit corridors that run from China across Central Asia and the South Caucasus. »»»

The World Bank on March 31 approved a $2bn loan for the Istanbul North Rail Crossing Project (INRAIL), a move that has implications for rail transit corridors that run from China across Central Asia and the South Caucasus. »»»

The World Bank on March 31 approved a $2bn loan for the Istanbul North Rail Crossing Project (INRAIL), a move that has implications for rail transit corridors that run from China across Central Asia and the South Caucasus. »»»

The World Bank on March 31 approved a $2bn loan for the Istanbul North Rail Crossing Project (INRAIL), a move that has implications for rail transit corridors that run from China across Central Asia and the South Caucasus. »»»

The World Bank on March 31 approved a $2bn loan for the Istanbul North Rail Crossing Project (INRAIL), a move that has implications for rail transit corridors that run from China across Central Asia and the South Caucasus. »»»

The World Bank on March 31 approved a $2bn loan for the Istanbul North Rail Crossing Project (INRAIL), a move that has implications for rail transit corridors that run from China across Central Asia and the South Caucasus. »»»

The World Bank on March 31 approved a $2bn loan for the Istanbul North Rail Crossing Project (INRAIL), a move that has implications for rail transit corridors that run from China across Central Asia and the South Caucasus. »»»

The World Bank on March 31 approved a $2bn loan for the Istanbul North Rail Crossing Project (INRAIL), a move that has implications for rail transit corridors that run from China across Central Asia and the South Caucasus. »»»

The World Bank on March 31 approved a $2bn loan for the Istanbul North Rail Crossing Project (INRAIL), a move that has implications for rail transit corridors that run from China across Central Asia and the South Caucasus. »»»

The World Bank on March 31 approved a $2bn loan for the Istanbul North Rail Crossing Project (INRAIL), a move that has implications for rail transit corridors that run from China across Central Asia and the South Caucasus. »»»

The World Bank on March 31 approved a $2bn loan for the Istanbul North Rail Crossing Project (INRAIL), a move that has implications for rail transit corridors that run from China across Central Asia and the South Caucasus. »»»

Russia has lost over $1bn in oil export revenues Ukraine’s week-long attacks on its two most important Baltic Sea ports of Ust-Luga and Primorsk. Weekly shipments through both ports have fallen by two-thirds. However, as U»»»

In a historic first, Donald Trump became the first US sitting president to attend oral arguments at the Supreme Court on Wednesday as it weighed his bid to restrict birthright citizenship. During more than two hours of questioning, justices from across the ideological spectrum assessed the policy’s»»»

The World Bank on March 31 approved a $2bn loan for the Istanbul North Rail Crossing Project (INRAIL), a move that has implications for rail transit corridors that run from China across Central Asia and the South Caucasus. »»»

The U.S. and Iran are discussing a potential deal that would involve a ceasefire in exchange for Iran reopening the Strait of Hormuz, three U.S. officials told U.S. news portal Axios on Wednesday. The officials did not say whether those discussions had taken place directly or only through mediators»»»

Kuala Lumpur: Malaysia recorded 2,835,724 international visitor arrivals between March 1 and 26 this year, a 2.4-percent increase from the same period last year and demonstrating the tourism sector's resilience despite the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Tion»»»

Hyundai Rotem is seeking to export its K2 battle tanks to Romania. To support such efforts, Korea Trade Insurance Corp. will provide about $1 billion in pre-emptive financing to Romania. Photo by Hyundai Rotem SEOUL, April 1 (UPI) -- Korea Trade Insurance Corp., or K-Sure, said it would provide abo»»»