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New certification system to safeguard Bhutan's local handcrafted products
THIMPHU, Bhutan (Kuensel/ANN) — Bhutan‘s Ministry of Home Affairs is working to address concerns regarding the huge influx of mass-produced arts and crafts products from neighboring countries, which undermine the authenticity of Bhutanese handicraft products and threaten the livelihoods of local artisans. At the meet-the-press session on April 1, Home Affairs Minister Tshering said that the situation is not as dire as some have suggested, asserting that Bhutanese traditional arts and crafts cont
April 14, 2025 -
If you have a sweet tooth, Mithai Gali in Pakistan's Karachi is a must visit
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (Dawn/ANN) — Upon turning into the street and looking around, one wonders why the people have not gotten fat. In Liaquatabad, the street nicknamed “Mithai Gali” by locals is full of pakwan (commercial kitchen) shops busy preparing sweets in droves. They produce so many sweetmeats or “mithai” that they sell at wholesale rates — about one-fourth of the rates of a regular candy shop. At Azeem Sweets and Rabri House, the per-kilogram rate of gulab jamun is $1.25. Chumchum, the ne
April 14, 2025 -
More than 30 people killed, 84 injured in Russian missile attack on Ukrainian city of Sumy
At least 32 people have been killed in a Russian missile strike on the Ukrainian city of Sumy on Sunday, officials said. Two ballistic missiles struck the heart of the city at around 10:15 a.m. as people gathered to celebrate Palm Sunday, according to officials. Images posted from the scene on official channels showed lines of black body bags lying on the side of the road, while more bodies were seen wrapped in foil blankets among the debris. Video footage also showed fire crews as they fought t
April 13, 2025 -
Trump receives a standing ovation at Miami UFC event
MIAMI (AP) — US President Donald Trump entered to a standing ovation and cheers from a crowd of thousands attending a UFC event on Saturday night, shaking hands with supporters against a backdrop of fans waving his trademark MAGA hats. Just as Trump entered, he greeted podcast host Joe Rogan, who sat to the right of the president. On the other side of Trump sat Elon Musk, billionaire and chief of the Department of Government Efficiency. Trump, who accented his dark suit with a bright yellow tie,
April 13, 2025 -
Israel expanding Gaza offensive, seizes key corridor
Israel said Saturday it planned to expand its military offensive in Gaza after seizing a new corridor as part of a broader effort to take large parts of the war-battered Palestinian territory. It also told tens of thousands of residents of Khan Younis and surrounding areas in southern Gaza to evacuate and launched strikes after projectiles were fired from there. "Soon, IDF operations will intensify and expand to other areas throughout most of Gaza, and you will need to evacuate the combat zones,
April 13, 2025 -
World Expo opens in Japan's Osaka
OSAKA, Japan (AFP) — World Expo opened on Sunday with 160 countries and regions showcasing their technology, culture and food, with host Japan hoping to provide the world with some much-needed hope. Highlights at the show in Osaka until mid-October include a Mars meteorite, a beating artificial heart grown from stem cells and Hello Kitty figures in algae form. Surrounding most of the pavilions — a chance for architects' fancies to run wild — is the world's largest wooden structure, the "Grand Ri
April 13, 2025 -
Russia, Ukraine accuse each other of failing to pause strikes
Russia and Ukraine’s top diplomats on Saturday used a high-level conference in Turkey to once again trade accusations of violating a tentative United States-brokered deal to pause strikes on energy infrastructure, underscoring the challenges of negotiating an end to the 3-year-old war. The two foreign ministers spoke at separate events at the annual Antalya Diplomacy Forum, a day after US envoy Steve Witkoff met with with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss peace prospects. Ukraine's Eur
April 13, 2025 -
Iran, US hold 'positive' talks in Oman, agree to resume this week
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (Reuters) — Iran and the United States held "positive" and "constructive" talks in Oman on Saturday and agreed to reconvene this week, both sides said, a dialogue meant to address Tehran's escalating nuclear program with US President Donald Trump threatening military action if there is no deal. "I think we are very close to a basis for negotiations and if we can conclude this basis (this) week, we’ll have gone a long way and will be able to start real discussions base
April 13, 2025 -
Pope makes another surprise appearance at St. Peter's, greeting restorers of papal tombs
ROME (AP) — Two art restorers were putting the final touches on a months-long restoration of the tomb of Pope Urban VIII, who in 1626 consecrated St. Peter's Basilica, when the convalescing Pope Francis appeared, unannounced, in a wheelchair — his third such surprise appearance in less than a week. Francis thrilled the crowd at St. Peter's during a Jubilee Mass for the ill on Sunday, met privately with King Charles III and Queen Camilla on Wednesday, before the impromptu turn through St. Peter's
April 13, 2025 -
Harvard professors sue over Trump's funding review
BOSTON (Reuters) -- Harvard University professors are suing to block the Trump administration's review of nearly $9 billion in federal contracts and grants awarded to the Ivy League school as part of a crackdown on what it says is antisemitism on college campuses. The Harvard faculty chapter of the American Association of University Professors and the national arm of the academic organization said in a lawsuit filed on Friday in a Boston federal court that the administration was trying to unlawf
April 13, 2025 -
Trump defends policy after China hits US with 125% tariffs
President Donald Trump insisted Friday that his tariff policy was "doing really well" despite China hiking levies on US goods to 125 percent in the spiraling trade war between the world's two biggest economies. Investors dumped US government bonds, the dollar tumbled and stocks seesawed after Beijing's retaliation against Trump deepened concerns on already traumatized global markets. Trump sent financial markets into a tailspin by announcing sweeping import taxes on dozens of trade partners last
April 12, 2025 -
Columbia University activist Mahmoud Khalil can be deported, immigration judge finds
Columbia University graduate student Mahmoud Khalil can be kicked out of the US as a national security risk, an immigration judge in Louisiana found Friday during a hearing over the legality of deporting the activist who participated in pro-Palestinian demonstrations. The government’s contention that Khalil’s presence in the US posed “potentially serious foreign policy consequences” was enough to satisfy requirements for his deportation, Immigration Judge Jamee E. Comans said at the conclusion o
April 12, 2025 -
Hope of survivors fades in aftermath of Dominican nightclub roof collapse
SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (AP) — Rescue crews in the Dominican Republic on Thursday dug through the remains of a legendary nightclub whose roof collapsed earlier this week, killing at least 184 people, but hope of finding survivors was slim. Meanwhile, dozens of people in the capital of Santo Domingo still searched for their loved ones, growing frustrated upon getting no answers after visiting hospitals and the country's forensic institute. Doctors warned that some of the two dozen patie
April 10, 2025 -
In Malaysia, dodol-making stirs up tradition and sweet memories
JOHOR BARU, Malaysia (The Star/ANN) — For as long as she can remember, Nur Siti Farhana Aziz has enjoyed eating dodol every Hari Raya. However, the 24-year-old sales adviser had never given much thought to how the sticky-sweet confection was made, until now. She spent hours stirring the thick, gooey mixture over an open fire alongside friends and local residents during a dodol-making event at Stulang Laut Mosque here recently. "It was then I realized that what seemed like a simple festive delica
April 10, 2025 -
At Nepal's only hunting reserve, tourism brings no joy
BAGLUNG, Nepal (Kathmandu Post/ANN) — Tourism can lead to economic development through direct and indirect effects. Direct effects include revenue generation and foreign exchange. Indirect effects include local employment and business activities. Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve, Nepal's only game reserve located 126 kilometers west of the Baglung district headquarters, has drawn hundreds of wealthy tourists, who have spent millions over decades to hunt. Yet, there is no transformation in local livelih
April 10, 2025