29-01-2025 COPENHAGEN: Denmark has said it will spend 14.6 billion kroner (£1.6bn; $2.05bn) to boost security in the Arctic region, in partnership with its autonomous territories Greenland and the Faroe Islands. The deal includes three new Arctic ships, more long-range drones with advanced image acquisition capacity and stronger satellite capacity. …
Read More »Chinese AI chatbot DeepSeek sparks market turmoil
28-01-2025 BEIJING: Shares in major US technology firms have plunged after the rapid rise of a low-cost chatbot built by a Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) firm. The DeepSeek app, which was launched last week, has overtaken rivals including OpenAI’s ChatGPT to become the most downloaded free app in the US. …
Read More »India to pour billions in state-run firms
28-01-2025 Bureau Report + Agencies NEW DELHI: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is pouring billions into ailing state-run firms after slowing ambitious divestment plans that were intended to reduce the role of the state in business, according to government sources and a document reviewed by Reuters. Less than a month …
Read More »UN experts slam Palestinian journalist arrest in Switzerland
28-01-2025 UNITED NATIONS: United Nations human rights experts and activists have condemned the arrest of a prominent Palestinian journalist in the Swiss city of Zurich, saying it raised concerns about freedom of speech. Ali Abunimah, the executive director of online publication Electronic Intifada which calls itself “Palestine’s weapon of mass …
Read More »New Zealand eases visa rules to lure ‘digital nomads’
28-01-2025 WELLINGTON: New Zealand has relaxed its visa requirements to allow tourists to work remotely while visiting the country in an effort to boost its tourism sector. Under the new rules, visitors can now carry out remote working for a foreign employer while holidaying in the country for up to …
Read More »200,000 return to Gaza in first 2 hours of crossing opening
28-01-2025 GAZA STRIP: Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians are streaming into devastated northern Gaza many for the first time since the early weeks of the 15-month war allowing them to reunite with loved ones and see what has become of their homes. A column of people, some holding infants in …
Read More »Thousands flee as Congo rebels claim control of Goma
28-01-2025 KINSHASA: Rebels from the Congolese M23 movement say they have taken control of the eastern city of Goma, following a lightning advance against the army. At least 13 foreign peacekeepers have been killed in clashes with the rebels. Fighting between the M23 and DR Congo’s army has intensified since …
Read More »Colombia yields on US deportation flights to avert trade war
28-01-2025 BOGOTA/ WASHINGTON: A looming trade war between the US and Colombia appears to have been averted after the Colombian government agreed to allow US military flights carrying deported migrants to land in the Andean country. The spat erupted on Sunday when President Gustavo Petro barred two military planes carrying …
Read More »Poland warns against restarting Russia gas supplies
28-01-2025 WARSAW: Poland’s president has said that gas flows from Russia to Western Europe should never be restored, even if Russia and Ukraine reach a peace deal. Andrzej Duda told media that the Nord Stream gas pipelines, which have not been used since 2022, “should be dismantled”. This, he said, …
Read More »Huge crowds await return to north Gaza after delays
27-01-2025 GAZA CITY: An agreement to release Israeli hostage Arbel Yehud has been reached that would allow people to return to north Gaza, a senior Palestinian Islamic Jihad official has told media, after a dispute over her release caused a delay. The source said she would be freed on Friday …
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