Author: i2wtc

Ukraine’s diplomatic situation was upended during the past week, as its main ally, the United States, reversed several positions. US President Donald Trump announced on February 12 that he was beginning direct talks with Russia to end the war, overturning his predecessor’s promise that there would be “nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine”. On the same day, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth echoed Russian diplomatic language invoking “realism”, when he told Ukraine Defence Contact Group partners in Brussels that “returning to Ukraine’s pre-2014 borders is an unrealistic objective,” and that “the United States does not believe that NATO membership for Ukraine…

A general view of the ESPN Monday Night Countdown booth prior to the game between the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Cincinnati Bengals at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida, on Dec. 4, 2023.Mike Carlson | Getty ImagesIn an attempt to court younger audiences, Disney’s ESPN is planning to add some user-generated content to its yet-to-be-named flagship streaming service, which will debut later this year.While the details are still unclear, ESPN will allow subscribers to post their own content at some point in the application’s evolution, according to people familiar with the matter. The technology likely won’t be available at launch, which…

Who: Bangladesh vs IndiaWhat: ICC Champions Trophy 2025Where: Dubai International Stadium, Dubai, United Arab EmiratesWhen: Thursday, February 20 at 1pm (09:00 GMT)Follow Al Jazeera’s live text and photo commentary stream of the match. The favourites to lift the Champions Trophy, India, enter the tournament on Thursday when they face Bangladesh in Dubai. All of India’s matches will be played in UAE instead of Pakistan, the host nation of the 2025 edition, after reaching an agreement – with regards their participation in the tournament – with the International Cricket Council (ICC) and Pakistan. Rohit Sharma’s side were defeated finalists in the…

Fazal Baloch’s translation, In Every Verse for You, carries Balochi poet Mubarak Qazi’s poetic fire across languages. In the streets of Pasni or along its crystal-clear coast, you would often see an old man—his lips rarely parting from a cigarette, sometimes drunk, other times laughing around people. He wandered freely, never a stranger to anyone. From his hometown Pasni to distant cities and places, everyone knew him—there was no other Mubarak Qazi. He was, in his truest form, Qazi—the poet whose final drag of a cigarette could birth verses. Some say art should exist for its own sake, while others…

Brad Lightcap of OpenAI.Courtesy: OpenAIOpenAI appears to be growing quickly despite increasing competition. The San Francisco-based tech company had 400 million weekly active users as of February, up 33% from 300 million in December, the company’s chief operating officer, Brad Lightcap, told CNBC. These numbers have not been previously reported.Lightcap pointed to the “natural progression” of ChatGPT as it becomes more useful and familiar to a broader group of people.”People hear about it through word of mouth. They see the utility of it. They see their friends using it,” Lightcap said in an interview, adding that it takes time for individuals…

In-form Shubman Gill made an unbeaten 101 to anchor India’s chase in a six-wicket win over Bangladesh as the two teams began their Champions Trophy campaign on Thursday in Dubai. Needing a tricky 229 for victory on a seemingly tough pitch, India rode on Gill’s second successive ODI ton to achieve their target with 21 balls to spare. Title favourites India are playing their matches in the 50-over tournament at the Dubai International Stadium after refusing to tour host nation Pakistan over political tensions. Pace spearhead Mohammed Shami set up victory with figures of 5-53, helping reduce Bangladesh to 35-5…

Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump.Dan Kitwoodnicholas Kamm | Afp | Getty ImagesU.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday he expected Chinese President Xi Jinping to visit the United States without giving a timeline for his trip.Trump made the remarks to reporters on Air Force One and said “it’s possible” for the U.S. and China to have a new trade deal. A conversation or interaction between Xi and Trump is seen as crucial to a potential easing or delay of trade tariffs.”We’ll have, ultimately, President Xi, we will have everybody coming (to the U.S.),” Trump said while also speaking about others leaders visiting the United States.Xi last travelled to the U.S. in November 2023, in his fifth visit to the country as Chinese president, for a summit…

Rwanda is facing international backlash for backing M23 rebels in DR Congo, an accusation it denies.The US Department of the Treasury has imposed sanctions on a Rwandan government minister and a senior member of an armed group for their alleged role in the conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), as M23 rebels there continue an offensive that is fuelling a mass exodus to Burundi. The US Treasury Department on Thursday said Rwanda’s Minister of State for Regional Integration James Kabarebe was being targeted because he is “central to Rwanda’s support” for the M23 armed group. The US…

Walmart shares fell roughly 6% in afternoon trading Thursday, as the big-box retailer said profit growth will slow this fiscal year even as sales continue to climb.Walmart said holiday-quarter revenue rose about 4% and e-commerce sales shot up 20% in the U.S., as growth in store pickup and home deliveries and gains with upper-income shoppers boosted results. But its outlook disappointed Wall Street.In the fiscal year ahead, the discounter said it expects net sales to grow 3% to 4% and adjusted operating income to increase between 3.5% to 5.5% on a constant currency basis. The company said that includes a…

Gupta’s ascent to power hands control of the capital city to Prime Minister Modi’s party for the first time in 27 years.A member of India’s ruling Hindu-nationalist party has been sworn in as chief minister of Delhi, handing the party control of the capital for the first time in decades after landslide elections. Rekha Gupta, 50, of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was sworn in as the top official of the Indian capital on Thursday, becoming the fourth woman to hold the post of the sprawling megacity of more than 30 million people. “I will faithfully and…