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This looks set to be a 30-year deal between the US and Saudi Arabia, to build civil nuclear capacity, potentially bringing in tens of billions of dollars for US firms. But it's a different kind of deal to traditional US commercial nuclear agreements. What is being widely reported is that Saudi Arabia might not be subject to the normal "gold standards" the US has previously demanded of partner countries in terms of inspections and, in particular, the non-enrichment of uranium on the host country's soil. So, this is a different kind of deal that the US is proposing, and the reason they are pushing for it - particularly now - is that Russia and China have been knocking on the door and the US simply did not want to miss out. It's a deal that’s been in the offing for some time - the Biden administration had pursued something similar; though that deal had been tied to Saudi Arabia normalising relations with Israel. That link seems now to have been dropped by...

EZEIZA: Thousands of fans braved the cold and rain Monday to give a rapturous welcome to the Argentine football squad who landed back home without star Lionel Messi, after their World Cup final loss to Spain. It was not the homecoming Argentines had hoped for, four years after millions celebrated their team’s tournament victory in 2022, but fresh scenes of joyful chaos filled the street as they danced, sang and set off fireworks to thank the players. The Argentine Football Association (AFA) said earlier that some squad members would not be on the flight, and iconic team captain Messi was not seen descending from the aircraft in images broadcast on local television. Coach Lionel Scaloni and the rest of the team were welcomed with a red carpet outside the aircraft and a military band. They then boarded a bus, waving to frenzied fans along the way. Despite falling short of a second straight championship, “Argentines will celebrate anyway,” said housewife Marga Ledezma. The 36-...

The trial of ousted Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, is scheduled to begin on 1 June 2027, a New York judge ordered on Wednesday. US forces seized Maduro and Flores from their compound in the Venezuelan capital, Caracas, in a dramatic, night-time raid on 3 January, and brought them to New York to face allegations of weapon and drug offences, which they deny. Judge Alvin Hellerstein scheduled a pre-trial hearing for 17 November to hear motions from both parties. Maduro's attorney Barry Pollack signalled that he will argue at trial that his client was protected by sovereign immunity, a legal principle shielding heads of state from prosecution. The courtroom was packed with spectators, with some people lining up for hours for the chance to glimpse Maduro in person. Before the hearing began, a court officer warned the public to remain seated and that that they "can't say anything to him." Anyone who disobeyed decorum "might ...

And just like that, the 2026 World Cup  is over. After 308 goals were scored during 104 matches in 16 host cities across three countries, it was Spain  that lifted the trophy. And while the final wasn’t exactly one for the neutral, it was fitting that the best team  in the tournament won in the end. But while La Roja supporters around the world celebrated the country’s second title ( Spanish editor’s note: my headache and I can confirm this occurred in North London ), everyone else was left reflecting on an emotional, record-breaking, superstar-studded edition of the tournament. For years, there were so many concerns around this World Cup. Would it be safe? Would the locals care? Would it be a waste of money? And while those critics were proved right at times, the 2026 edition can still be considered a resounding success .  And that’s not down to the politicians or governing bodies; it’s down to the millions of fans who flocked to N...

Over the past week, the conflict between the United States and Iran has gone from a simmering tit-for-tat to something that much more resembles all-out war. US President Donald Trump last week threatened to broaden the war unless Iran stops attacking ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz. In recent days, the US has expanded its targets beyond Iranian coastal sites housing radar and drone facilities to include roads, tunnels, railways, port infrastructure and, according to Iranian media, a desalination plant. Iran has, in turn, expanded its target list across seven countries  in the region, and official media outlets have suggested that major ports in Gulf Arab states may soon be added. Kuwait has borne the brunt of Iranian strikes, with a desalination plant and oil refinery damaged. Jordan too has seen regular barrages. The conflict is at an inflection point. It might give way to yet another round of mediation and negotiation. But to most analysts, that seems unlikely. ...

BRUSSELS, July 20 (Reuters) - Alibaba's AliExpress was hit with a record €550 million ($629 million) fine from the European Union on Monday for ‌failing to tackle sales of illegal, unsafe and counterfeit products on its platform. The fine was the third issued by the European Commission under the EU's landmark Digital Services Act, which requires very large online platforms to do more to counter illegal and harmful content. The Commission charged AliExpress in June last year with ​failing to comply with a DSA requirement to assess and mitigate the risks of dissemination of illegal products. It set an ​October 20 deadline for AliExpress to propose remedial measures, and the company could face further penalties if ⁠the regulator decides in December that they do not comply with the DSA. "This is very dangerous for consumers, unfair for companies ​which are complying with all our rules," EU tech chief Henna Virkkunen told reporters. She pointed to AliExpress...

Football legend Cristiano Ronaldo is reportedly set to retire from international football after 23 years of dedication to his national team. Portugal’s UEFA Nations League match against Wales at the Jose Alvalade Stadium in Lisbon on Thursday, September 24, is expected to be his last appearance wearing Portugal’s jersey. According to sports journalist Mohamed Awaad on his account on X, a Portuguese agent told him that Ronaldo’s match against Wales will be his last dance. Awaad wrote:  “I was talking with a Portuguese agent, and he told me that what he thinks is ‘news’ is that Cristiano Ronaldo will retire internationally after just one appearance with Portugal” “He will play against Wales in the UEFA Nations League; the match will be at Lisbon club stadium, Jose Alvalade,” Awaad stated, citing the Portuguese agent’s statement. Awaad added that the agent’s justification is that the match will take place in the stadium where the star first started, “allowing Ronaldo to b...

July 20 (Reuters) - Five years ago PayPal was a Wall Street favorite and a leader in digital payments. Since then the stock has plunged, ​Apple Pay dominates payment services in the U.S. and PayPal is facing a takeover bid it does not like. What happens next? The company synonymous with digital payments this past week got a  $53 billion offer  to be taken private by upstart rival Stripe and buyout shop Advent International.  PayPal’s board is discussing the bid but believes $60.50 a share is not enough , people familiar with the company said. The board is expected to meet on Monday, said the people familiar with PayPal. It is a comedown for a company that helped to pioneer e-commerce and email-based payments, launching the careers of tech titans Elon Musk and Peter Thiel in the process. Founded in 1998, the San Jose, California, firm was acquired by eBay in 2002 and spun off as an independent company ​in 2015. Continued growth pushed its market value...

FIFA is set to break with football tradition and present World Cup winners’ rings to the champions of Sunday’s final between Argentina and Spain at MetLife Stadium. The American-style hardware will be handed over in a ceremony attended by US President Donald Trump, who is scheduled to present the World Cup trophy itself. While winners’ rings are a time-honoured tradition in American sports, most famously awarded to the NFL’s Super Bowl champions, they represent a radical departure for FIFA, which has historically stuck to classic gold medals. A total of 30 exclusive rings will be made available to the newly crowned world champions. For the public, a further 1,996 replica rings will go on sale to fans looking to own a piece of history. Despite the tournament being co-hosted across North America, President Trump has not attended any of the 102 World Cup matches played so far. He notably missed all of the United States’ fixtures before the host nation was knocked out by Belgiu...

Spain winger Lamine Yamal missed his team’s first training session in New Jersey as preparations intensified for Sunday’s 2026 FIFA World Cup final against Argentina. Spain arrived in New Jersey on Wednesday, a day after defeating France 2-0 in the semi-finals, and held their first training session on Thursday at the New York Red Bulls’ training facility. Yamal was absent from the session alongside Tottenham Hotspur defender Pedro Porro. However, according to AS, both players are still expected to be available for selection when Spain face Argentina at New York New Jersey Stadium. With the World Cup reaching its climax, both finalists are hoping to avoid any late injury setbacks that could derail their quest for the trophy. Below is the latest injury update involving key players. Yeremy Pino (Spain) Crystal Palace winger Yeremy Pino suffered a collarbone injury during Spain’s group-stage match against Uruguay, initially raising fears that his tournament was over. Subsequent...