Colman, Ruffalo among 1,500 film workers to boycott Israeli cinemas
The signatories included British actors Aimee Lou Wood, Josh O'Connor and Tilda Swinton, American actors Ayo Edebiri and Cynthia Nixon, and filmmakers Ken Loach and Yorgos Lanthimos.
Two-State solution nearing point of no return: UN chief
He renewed calls for an immediate and lasting ceasefire, the unconditional release of all hostages, and full humanitarian access. He also underscored the need to uphold international law, protect UN personnel and facilities, and ensure accountability for attacks on aid workers.US imposes sanctions to curb Iran oil despite talks
The United States said Wednesday it was imposing sanctions on seven companies involved in selling Iranian oil, tightening pressure despite new nuclear talks between the adversaries.AI companions present risks for young users, US watchdog warns
New York, United States -- AI companions powered by generative artificial intelligence present real risks and should be banned for minors, a leading US tech watchdog said in a study published Wednesday. The explosion in generative AI since the advent of ChatGPT has seen several startups launch apps focused on...UAE says foils bid to transfer weapons to Sudan army
"The security services succeeded in preventing the transfer of a quantity of military equipment to the Sudanese Armed Forces following the arrest of members of a cell involved in unauthorized mediation, brokering and illicit trafficking of military equipment," UAE Attorney General Hamad Saif Al Shamsi said.Trump Organization inks deal to build a golf course and villas in Doha
Doha, Qatar -- The Trump Organization signed on Wednesday its first development deal in Qatar to build a golf course and residential villas near the capital Doha, real estate firm Qatari Diar said. Eric Trump, executive vice president of the Trump Organization and the US president's son, attended the signing...Borouge Q1 net profit $281 million
The total dividend paid to shareholders in 2024 $1.3bn.Global stocks mostly rise as Trump grants auto tariff relief
Stocks moved sideways on Monday after notching four straight positive sessions last week as Trump adopted a more conciliatory posture on the trade war with China and said he doesn't plan to fire Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell.Tunics & turbans: Afghan students don Taliban-imposed uniforms
Kabul, Afghanistan - Since the start of the school year in March, Afghan boys have been required to wear new uniforms of turbans and long tunics, following an order to adopt outfits reflecting Taliban rule. The Taliban government's education ministry cites strengthening discipline, masking social inequalities and promoting what the...Syria FM says wants to ‘strengthen relations’ with China
Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani expressed on Monday his government's willingness to build a "strategic partnership" with China, a key backer of ousted ruler Bashar al-AssadLoyalty Lost: How brands need to adapt to the modern traveler
Dubai, UAE: As 2025 unfolds, travel brands are facing a significant challenge: customer loyalty. Traditional rewards programmes, often based on points systems, struggle to meet the expectations of modern travelers who increasingly value personalised experiences over generic incentives. To stay competitive, brands must move away from price-based rewards like discounts, which can...Abu Dhabi launches $500mn maternal health fund for Africa
Nairobi, Kenya -- A $500-million fund aimed at improving maternal and neonatal health in sub-Saharan Africa was launched Tuesday in Abu Dhabi at a time when Western countries are sharply cutting aid to Africa. The Beginnings Fund brings together philanthropists including the Gates Foundation and the Mohamed bin Zayed Foundation...Emirates expects first 777X delivery in H2 2026
Boeing had pushed back the first delivery to 2026 from 2025.UN rights chief demands world act to stop Israel’s Gaza ‘catastrophe’
"As the complete blockade of assistance essential for survival enters its ninth week, there must be concerted international efforts to stop this humanitarian catastrophe from reaching a new, unseen level," Volker Turk said in a statement. Israel strictly controls all inflows of international aid vital for the 2.4 million Palestinians...Meta releases standalone AI app, competing with ChatGPT
San Francisco, United States -- Social media behemoth Meta unveiled its first standalone AI assistant app on Tuesday as it tries to take on ChatGPT by giving users a direct path to its generative artificial intelligence models. "A billion people are using Meta AI across our apps now, so we...UN ‘alarmed’ by US strikes in Yemen that Huthis say killed 68 migrants
The United Nations expressed deep alarm on Monday at reports that US strikes on Yemen killed scores of people at a migrant detention centre in a stronghold of the Huthi rebels.Amnesty accuses Israel of ‘live-streamed genocide’ against Gaza Palestinians
Paris, France - Amnesty International on Tuesday accused Israel of committing a "live-streamed genocide" against Palestinians in Gaza by forcibly displacing most of the population and deliberately creating a humanitarian catastrophe. In its annual report, Amnesty charged that Israel had acted with "specific intent to destroy Palestinians in Gaza, thus...Amazon launches first Starlink-rival internet satellites
Project Kuiper, a subsidiary of the online retail giant founded by Jeff Bezos, is playing catch-up with Starlink - SpaceX's sprawling network of internet satellites that has reshaped the sector and handed Musk significant geopolitical clout.Putin orders three-day ceasefire; Zelensky slams it as manipulative ahead of Victory Day
Before Putin's announcement, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio held new talks with Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov, having declared that this will be a crucial week in a US decision on whether to halt its peace efforts.Brazil calls for Israeli withdrawal from Gaza at BRICS ministers’ meet
The meeting comes at a critical moment for the world economy after the International Monetary Fund this week slashed growth forecasts over the impact of the American leader's sweeping new tariffs. Foreign ministers from the 10-member trading bloc -- which includes current-chair Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa --...Aramco, unit and Sinopec ink $4bn deal
The two companies will establish a joint venture company.Amazon set for launch of its first batch of Starlink-rival satellites
Washington, United States -- After delaying an earlier attempt due to bad weather, Amazon is preparing to launch its first batch of Project Kuiper internet satellites on Monday, stepping into direct competition with Elon Musk's Starlink. The mission, called Kuiper Atlas 1, is scheduled to lift off from Cape Canaveral...Etihad unveils new A321LR aircraft
A321LR features First Suite - a private, enclosed space with a sliding door.Gen Z travellers in UAE seek purposeful, tech-enabled journeys: Wyndham study
Dubai, UAE - Gen Z travellers in the UAE are reshaping the future of tourism, prioritizing cultural immersion, sustainability, and digital convenience, according to new research by Wyndham Hotels & Resorts. The study, conducted by YouGov, found that nearly two-thirds (63%) of Gen Z respondents prefer accommodations that reflect local...China says on ‘right side of history’ in trade standoff with US
Since returning to the presidency in January, US President Donald Trump has imposed 10 percent tariffs on most US trading partners and a separate 145 percent levy on many products from China.Trump thinks Zelensky ready to give up Crimea to Russia
US President Donald Trump said he believed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was ready to concede Crimea to Russia as part of any ceasefire deal, as talks on a truce entered what Washington called a critical week on Monday.Khamenei orders probe into port blast as Iran’s nuclear talks, regional tensions simmer in background
The New York Times quoted a person with ties to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss security matters, as saying that what exploded was sodium perchlorate -- a major ingredient in solid fuel for missiles.Mohamed Salah: Liverpool’s Egyptian King
Salah's tally of 185 goals in the English top flight is the joint fifth highest in Premier League history and he is in the top 10 for assists.Screens, drones, massages: Shanghai flaunts the future of cars
Shanghai, China -- At the huge Auto Shanghai industry show this week, the chatter was less about powerful engines and more about cutting-edge technology and passenger comfort. Hundreds of carmakers and equipment supplies have filled the exhibition space since Wednesday, showcasing models packed with screens, massage seats and other add-ons...Qatar Prime Minister sees some progress on Gaza truce
"We need to find an answer for the ultimate question: how to end this war. That's, that's basically, I think, the key point of the entire negotiations," Sheikh Mohammed added. Qatar, alongside Egypt and the United States, brokered a truce between Israel and Hamas in Gaza which came into effect...Saudi Arabia and Qatar to settle Syria’s World Bank debt
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- Saudi Arabia and Qatar announced on Sunday that they would settle Syria's debt to the World Bank totaling roughly $15 million, according to a statement published by the Saudi Press Agency. Both Gulf states have played a key role in the diplomatic outreach to Syria's new...Massive explosion at Iran’s Shahid Rajaee Port kills 18, injures 800
Although the cause of the blast was not immediately clear, the port's customs office said in a statement carried by state TV that it probably resulted from a fire that broke out at the hazardous and chemical materials storage depot.Trump trade war pushes firms to consider stockpiling
Even if they don't all acknowledge it so openly, firms in many different sectors are stockpiling their products in the United States. In March, exports of Swiss watches to the United States jumped nearly 14 percent compared to the same month last year.‘Something new for the honey market’: Austria trials DNA testing to uncover fraud
Voels, Austria -- At a laboratory in Austria's mountainous Tyrol province, scientists are DNA testing about 100 honey samples a month to learn about their composition -- and in some cases to determine whether they have been adulterated. With fake honey flooding markets, and only a few European laboratories running...Palestinian president Abbas appoints Fatah veteran Hussein al Sheikh as potential successor
Abbas's close aide, 69-year-old Hussein was appointed as the first ever vice president of the Palestine Liberation Organization after the vice presidency position was created during a convention held in Ramallah.Russia says retook Kursk from Ukraine with North Korean help
The Russian army has fully liberated the border Kursk region from Ukrainian control with the help of North Korean soldiers, Chief of Staff Valery Gerasimov said on Saturday, admitting their participation in the conflict for the first time.Hamas says open to 5-year Gaza truce, one-time hostages release
Cairo, Egypt - Hamas is open to an agreement to end the war in Gaza that would see all hostages released and secure a five-year truce, an official said Saturday ahead of talks with mediators. A Hamas delegation was in Cairo to discuss with Egyptian mediators ways out of the...Iran, US discuss nuclear deal in third round of talks
Muscat, Oman - The United States and Iran went into detail about a potential nuclear deal Saturday at their third consecutive round of talks, hoping to strike an accord that would ease regional tensions. US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi again led the talks, which...Trump, Zelensky meet on sidelines of pope’s funeral
US President Donald Trump on Saturday criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin for attacks on civilian areas of Ukraine in recent days, and said "maybe he doesn't want to stop the war."Tariff war: Xi says China must ‘overcome’ AI chip challenges
Beijing, China - President Xi Jinping said China must "overcome" the challenges of developing core AI technologies including high-end chips, state media reported Saturday, as Beijing seeks to become a world leader in the rapidly developing industry. China aims to dominate the artificial intelligence sector, a goal complicated by the...India, Pakistan and threats of a water war: what we know
India, furious after a deadly attack, has suspended the Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan, with Islamabad warning any attempt to stop water flows would be considered an "act of war".Huge crowds flock to Vatican for Pope Francis’s funeral
Tens of thousands of mourners flooded into St Peter's Square on Saturday for the funeral of Pope Francis, the champion of the poor and the Catholic Church's first Latin American leader.UN warns of manmade starvation in Gaza as food aid remains blocked by Israeli authorities
The World Food Programme says it has run out of food in Gaza, warning that hot meal kitchens—Gaza’s last major source of aid—will shut down in the coming days.WFP says has depleted all Gaza food stocks as Israel blocks aid
After 18 months of war, the situation in Gaza "is probably the worst" now, the United Nations' humanitarian agency OCHA said on Tuesday. WFP, one of the main providers of food assistance in Gaza, said it had "delivered its last remaining food stocks to hot meals kitchens in the Gaza...Chinese firms extend EV range with petrol generators
The generator, known as a range extender, is connected to the cars' batteries and feeds them only when needed. Since it is not connected to the wheels, the vehicles, known as EREVs, always run in 100% electric mode even though they consume petrol and emit toxic gases.Saudi Arabia normalizing ties with Israel ‘will happen’: Trump
"Saudi Arabia will go into the Abraham accords," Trump said, referencing the historic agreement struck at the end of his first term in 2020, which saw United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan and Morocco normalize relations with Israel.SAIB reports $139 million Q1 net profit
its assets increased by 20.08 percent to $43.65bn.Remains of 5,000-year-old noblewoman found in Peru dig
The woman's funerary trousseau, which was presented to reporters at the culture ministry, included a toucan's beak, a stone bowl and a straw basket.IMF, World Bank welcome efforts for Syria to reintegrate globally
Washington, United States - The International Monetary Fund and World Bank's leaders said in a joint statement Thursday that they welcome efforts towards helping Syria "reintegrate with the international community." The statement, issued with Saudi Arabia's finance minister, came as Syria's central bank governor and finance minister attended the IMF...Trump confidant Steve Witkoff leads Iran talks amid nuclear tensions, Europe urged to rejoin diplomatic efforts
Witkoff, a businessman friend of Trump who has become his globe-trotting negotiator, last met Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Saturday in Rome, where they reported progress and called for talks among technical teams.India and Pakistan urged to have ‘maximum restraint’ after Kashmir attack
The United Nations urged India and Pakistan to show "maximum restraint" as the nuclear-armed rivals imposed tit-for-tat diplomatic measures over a deadly shooting in Kashmir.