05-07-2025 BRUSSELS: The European Union’s landmark rules on artificial intelligence will be rolled out according to the legal timeline in the legislation, the European Commission said on Friday, dismissing calls from some companies and countries for a pause. Google owner Alphabet, opens new tab, Facebook owner Meta, opens new tab …
Read More »Saudi Aramco considers power assets sale to raise billions
05-07-2025 RIYADH: Saudi oil giant Aramco, opens new tab is looking to sell up to five gas-fired power plants, three sources with knowledge of the matter told media, part of a broader effort to free up funds that could generate tens of billions of dollars. The potential sale of four …
Read More »Hezbollah weighs scaling back its arsenal
05-07-2025 BEIRUT: Hezbollah has begun a major strategic review in the wake of its devastating war with Israel, including considering scaling back its role as an armed movement without disarming completely, three sources familiar with the deliberations say. The internal discussions, which aren’t yet finalized and haven’t previously been reported, …
Read More »India-Bangladesh organ traffickers rob poor donors
05-07-2025 KOLKATA, NEW DELHI/ JOYPURHAT, DHAKA: Under the mild afternoon sun, 45-year-old Safiruddin sits outside his incomplete brick-walled house in Baiguni village of Kalai Upazila in Bangladesh, nursing a dull ache in his side. In the summer of 2024, he sold his kidney in India for 3.5 lakh taka ($2,900), …
Read More »Russia becomes first nation to recognize Afghan Taliban Gov’t
05-07-2025 MOSCOW/ KABUL: Russia has become the first country to formally recognize the Taliban government in Afghanistan, sparking outrage from opposition figures. The decision marks a major milestone for the Taliban almost four years after they swept into Kabul and took power. Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi said he hoped …
Read More »No progress on a Russia-Ukraine ceasefire: Trump
05-07-2025 WASHHINGTON/ MOSCOW: President Donald Trump said he “didn’t make any progress” toward a potential ceasefire in the Russia-Ukraine war when he spoke by phone Thursday with Russian President Vladimir Putin. “No, I didn’t make any progress with him today at all,” Trump told reporters when asked about his call …
Read More »UN calls for companies to stop doing business with Israel
04-07-2025 UNITED NATIONS/ WEST BANK: A United Nations expert has called on dozens of multinational companies to stop doing business with Israel, warning them they risk being complicit in war crimes in Gaza and the occupied West Bank. Francesca Albanese, presenting her report to the UN human rights council, described …
Read More »US, India push for trade pact after Trump strikes deal with Vietnam
04-07-2025 WASHINGTON/ NEW DELHI: India and America trade negotiators were pushing on Wednesday to try to land a tariff-reducing deal ahead of President Donald Trump’s July 9 negotiating deadline but disagreements over US dairy and agriculture remained unresolved, sources familiar with the talks said. The push comes as Trump announced …
Read More »Dalai Lama confirms he will have a successor after his death
04-07-2025 DHARAMSHALA: The Dalai Lama has confirmed that he will have a successor chosen in accordance with “past tradition”, ending years of speculation about the centuries-old office. In a video message on Wednesday, just days before his 90th birthday, the Tibetan spiritual leader said the Gaden Phodrang Foundation, which he …
Read More »Hamas-run Court gives Gaza gang leader 10 days to surrender
04-07-2025 GAZA STRIP: A Hamas-run court in Gaza has ordered Yasser Abu Shabab, the leader of a criminal group allegedly backed by Israel, to surrender himself for trial. The Revolutionary Court of the Military Judiciary Authority in Gaza gave the 35-year-old head of the Popular Forces group, which stands accused …
Read More »