North Korean leader Kim Jong Un petted puppies and kittens with his delighted daughter as they toured a new Pyongyang housing district, state media said Friday. The Hwasong area, formerly mostly farmland, is a newly developed residential district with about 40,000 housing units built through a seri»»»

A roundtable discussion on tax policy and administration was held in Bishkek, organized by the International Business Council of Kyrgyzstan (IBC). Representatives of businesses and government agencies discussed the growing fiscal burden and penalty calculation rules. IBC Executive Director Askar Sy»»»

Kyrgyzstan’s Ombudsperson delivered three reports at a meeting of the CIS Human Rights Commission held in Minsk, the press service of the Ombudsman’s Institute reported. Jamilya Jamanbaeva spoke about the observance of Kyrgyzstanis’ rights to medical care and assistance. She noted that 32 monitorin»»»

Washington: Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has ousted the Army's top uniformed officer and two other generals, the Pentagon said Thursday without giving a reason for the departures while the United States is waging a war against Iran. General Randy George "will be retiring from his position as the »»»

The Paris police on Thursday banned an annual gathering of French Muslims north of the capital, citing a "major terrorist risk" that it might be targeted. The Annual Gathering of the Muslims of France had been due to take place at Bourget, just north of Paris, from Friday until Monday. The order ba»»»

RIYADH: The Saudi Ministry of Defence has announced the interception and destruction of a drone over the past few hours. This was reported by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), quoting Brigadier General Turki Al-Malki, the official spokesperson for the ministry. Get updated faster and for FREE: Download»»»

Cuba's government announced Thursday that it was pardoning 2,010 prisoners as a "humanitarian" gesture to mark Easter after previously pledging to release dozens amid heightened US pressure on Havana. The individuals being released include young people, women and prisoners over 60 years old who are»»»

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»»»

Dubai: Several churches across Dubai have announced the suspension of in-person services starting April 3, following directives from UAE authorities to ensure public safety and community well-being. Parishes across denominations have moved quickly to comply, with many shifting to online worship whi»»»

KUWAIT: Kuwait announced that its air defences intercepted hostile missile and drone attacks. The Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) quoted the official spokesperson for the Ministry of Defence, Colonel Staff Saud Al-Atwan, stating that the sounds of explosions were the result of air defence systems interce»»»

Burkina Faso's president, Ibrahim Traore, pictured in 2025 in Moscow meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin, and his regime have killed more than 1,800 civilians -- including dozens of children -- since taking power in September 2022. File Photo by Russian Presidential Office/UPI | License Photo »»»

Dubai: With less than two months remaining until the start of Hajj 2026, preparations are accelerating across the Muslim world as millions prepare for the annual pilgrimage to Mecca, one of the largest religious gatherings on Earth. Hajj, the fifth pillar of Islam, is an obligation upon every Musli»»»

NICOSIA, Cyprus: Skyrocketing oil and gas prices in Europe as a result of the ongoing Iran war won't return to normal levels any time soon, even if peace is declared tomorrow, the European Union's (EU) energy commissioner warned Tuesday. Commissioner Dan Jørgensen said although there are no immedia»»»

As the US-Iran war with Iran continues to disrupt global shipping, British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper has convened around 40 countries to demand the "immediate and unconditional reopening" of the Strait of Hormuz. Iran's Revolutionary Guards effectively shut the key waterway and oil conduit wh»»»

United Airlines on Thursday announced a $10 increase to its checked baggage fees, making it the second airline this week to do so after JetBlue raised its fees by $4 or $9, depending on whether you fly on a peak or off-peak date. File Photo by Tannen Maury/UPI | License Photo April 2 (UPI) -- Unite»»»

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»»»

General Randy George was asked to step down and retire immediately. U.S. Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George on Thursday was asked by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth to step down from his position and retire immediately. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo April 2 (UPI) -- Secretary o»»»

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump has decided to adjust the tariffs imposed on imports of steel, aluminum, and copper to reduce duties on derivatives made from these metals, simplify compliance procedures, and prevent manipulation of import values. The White House stated in a briefing Thursday »»»

President Donald Trump delivers a prime-time address to the nation from the Cross Hall in the White House in Washington D.C., on Wednesday in which he treated to take Iran "back to the Stone Ages." Pool Photo by Alex Brandon/UPI | License Photo April 2 (UPI) -- The U.S. military struck Iran's large»»»

The leaders of the UK and Australia have told their citizens to cut fuel consumption and prepare for months of hardship as a result of the US-Israeli war with Iran. But Keir Starmer and Anthony Albanese couldn’t bring themselves to name who’s responsible. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his Aust»»»

The shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz — amid the US-Israel war with Iran — is fast turning into a windfall for Russia, blunting Washington’s sanctions strategy and forcing a quiet recalibration of pressure on Moscow. As strikes ripple across the Gulf and threatening passage through the world’s most »»»

A survey found that despite many colleges have rules limiting or banning students' use of artificial intelligence tools for their coursework, the majority of students are using the technology at least once per month to understand material, save time or improve their performance in school. File Phot»»»

NEW YORK: Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, Secretary General of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC), has called on the Security Council to take all necessary measures to ensure an immediate end to Iran's unprovoked attacks on GCC states. He further urged the Council to protect wat»»»

Dubai: The Dubai Government has denied reports circulating online that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) targeted a data centre belonging to US technology company Oracle in Dubai. In a statement posted on X, the Dubai Government Media Office said the reports alleging that the IRGC had»»»