BEIRUT: Regime forces have retaken several villages in northwestern Syria, a monitor said on Thursday, a move that could tee up an offensive against the last major insurgent bastion of Idlib.
More than six years into the deadly Syria conflict, Idlib province, which borders Turkey, is the only major region in the country still completely beyond regime control.
Fierce clashes have in recent days pitted regime forces against Fateh Al-Sham Front, a former Al-Qaeda affiliate, on the edge of the province, the Syrian Observatory for Huan Rights said.
“The army took several villages,” the head of the Britain-based monitor, Rami Abdel Rahman, said.
He said the regime push was backed by Russian airstrikes and added that the “regime wants to seize the southeast of Idlib province.”
The latest fighting took place in villages on the border between Idlib and Hama provinces where clashes have been ongoing for two months.
The regime has had no presence in Idlib province since 2015.
Fateh Al-Sham, previously known as Al-Nusra Front, crushed its former allies in the summer to become the dominant force there.
Idlib is one of four “de-escalation” zones in Syria covered by a deal meant to reduce violence levels that was struck in May by Russia, Iran and Turkey.
Regime forces seize villages in Idlib offensive
Regime forces seize villages in Idlib offensive
UK renationalizes first train operator under Labour reforms
- A private train operator servicing parts of southern England, including London, becomes the first to be returned to public ownership under a a Labour government plan
- Rail unions welcomed the state takeover
LONDON: A private train operator servicing parts of southern England, including London, on Sunday became the first to be returned to public ownership under a government plan to renationalize Britain’s much-maligned railways.
All UK rail operators are due to be renationalized within the next two years in a key policy launched by Prime Minister Keir Starmer following his Labour party’s return to government last July after 14 years in opposition.
“South Western Railway is now under public ownership. And this is just the start,” Starmer said on X, formerly Twitter, naming the service kickstarting his government’s plan.
He vowed the renationalization “will put passengers first,” with “better services, with simpler ticketing, on more comfortable trains.”
Train passengers in Britain suffer from frequent cancelations, in addition to high ticket prices and regular confusion over which services they can be used on.
The privatization of rail operations took place in the mid-1990s under the Conservative prime minister of the time, John Major, but the rail network remained public, run by Network Rail.
Four of the 14 operators in England are already run by the state owing to poor performance in recent years, but this was originally meant to be a temporary fix before a return to the private sector.
Labour triumphed over the Conservative party in elections last year, with its manifesto including promises to fix the country’s ailing transport services.
Legislation was approved in November to bring rail operators into public ownership when the private companies’ contracts expire — or sooner in the event of poor management — and be managed by “Great British Railways.”
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said in a statement that will end “30 years of fragmentation,” but warned that “change isn’t going to happen overnight.”
“We’ve always been clear that public ownership isn’t a silver bullet, but we are really firing this starting gun in that race for a truly 21st-century railway, and that does mean refocusing away from private profit and toward the public good,” she added.
In an example of how passengers might not immediately notice much difference, South Western’s first service under public ownership on Sunday was set to include a rail replacement bus because of engineering work.
Government figures show that the equivalent of four percent of train services in Britain were canceled in the year to April 26.
The rate was three percent for South Western.
Rail unions — which have staged a stream of strikes in recent years over pay and conditions due to a cost-of-living crisis — welcomed the state takeover.
“We’re delighted that Britain’s railways are being brought back where they belong — into the public sector,” said Mick Whelan, general secretary of union Aslef.
“Everyone in the rail industry knows that privatization... didn’t, and doesn’t, work,” he added.
Two operators serving towns and cities in southeastern and eastern England are next to be brought back into public ownership by late 2025.
All the current contracts are set to expire by 2027.
UK media reported that the renationalization of South Western means a third of journeys are now on publicly owned services.
The government has said renationalization will save up to £150 million ($200 million) per year because it will no longer have to pay compensation fees to rail operators.
The main rail operators in Scotland and Wales, where transport policy is handled by the devolved administrations in Edinburgh and Cardiff, are also state-owned.
Kuwait authorizes Investment Authority to borrow abroad, central bank to borrow domestically
- Law allows the government to issue financial instruments with maturities of up to 50 years
KUWAIT CITY: Kuwait’s minister of finance has authorized the country’s Investment Authority to carry out foreign borrowing operations and the Central Bank of Kuwait to conduct domestic borrowing operations on behalf of the ministry.
In March, Kuwait issued a decree law on public debt that outlined a framework for managing public borrowing, as the country prepares to return to global debt markets for the first time in eight years.
The law allows the government to issue financial instruments with maturities of up to 50 years and sets a ceiling for public debt at 30 billion Kuwaiti dinars ($97.9 billion), or its equivalent, in major convertible foreign currencies, said a statement on the official gazette.
Article 1 of the decision, signed by Finance Minister Noura Al-Fusam, authorizes the Central Bank of Kuwait, on behalf of the Ministry of Finance and “in coordination and consultation” with it, to carry out borrowing operations in Kuwaiti dinars or major convertible foreign currencies within the state “in accordance with recognized financial instruments and methods.”
Article 2 authorizes the Kuwait Investment Authority, on behalf of the Ministry of Finance and “in coordination and consultation” with it, to carry out borrowing operations in major convertible foreign currencies in global markets “in accordance with recognized financial instruments and methods.”
The last time Kuwait issued bonds was in 2017.
Pakistan, Uzbekistan hope to finalize framework agreement for 573-km railway line via Afghanistan
- The $4.8 billion project aims to enhance regional trade and logistics movement by connecting the three countries
- It is part of Pakistan’s efforts to position itself as a key transit hub, connecting landlocked Central Asia to the world
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Sunday discussed the Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan (UAP) railway line project with his Uzbek counterpart Saidov Bakhtiyor Odilovich, the Pakistani foreign ministry said, adding the two figures expressed hope the project’s framework agreement would be completed soon.
The $4.8 billion Uzbekistan–Afghanistan–Pakistan railway line is an extensive project with the objective of creating a direct railway link between Uzbekistan and Pakistan, passing through Afghanistan’s territory.
It aims to enhance trade and logistics efficiency by establishing a 573-kilometer rail connection that would connect Termiz in Uzbekistan to the northwestern Pakistani city of Peshawar via Afghanistan’s Mazar-i-Sharif.
The project is part of Pakistan’s efforts to position itself as a key trade and transit hub, connecting landlocked Central Asian states to the global market through its strategic location.
“Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar today held a telephone conversation with the Foreign Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Saidov Bakhtiyor Odilovich. The two leaders discussed existing bilateral relations, particularly Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan (UAP) Railway Line Project,” the Pakistani foreign office said.
“They expressed the hope that framework agreement for the regional connectivity project will be finalized soon. Views were also exchanged on current regional situation.”
The three neighboring countries signed an agreement to build the regional connectivity project in February 2021. Dar also visited Afghanistan in April this year and discussed the project with the Afghan Taliban rulers in Kabul.
Pakistan is seeking to leverage its strategic position as a key trade and transit hub to connect Central Asia with global markets and since last year, there has been a flurry of high-level visits, investment discussions and other economic engagements between Islamabad and Central Asian republics.
Pakistan and Uzbekistan have also been working toward optimizing cargo flows, establishing green corridors at border customs points, and digitalization of customs clearance processes to facilitate smoother trade operations.
Man killed by automatic gunfire in French city of Dijon
- The police criminal investigation unit determined the shooter
- The southern Chenove district where the killing occurred was known for drug trafficking
LYON: A 29-year-old man was fatally shot overnight in the eastern French city of Dijon, the local prosecutor said on Sunday, adding that a gangland killing was suspected.
The southern Chenove district where the killing occurred was known for drug trafficking, the prosecutor, Olivier Caracotch, said in a statement.
“A dozen shell casings used by an automatic weapon” were found in the street where the killing took place, he said.
Nearby vehicles and a third-floor apartment were hit by some of the shots, but there were no other casualties, he said.
The police criminal investigation unit determined the shooter had approached a group that included the victim around midnight, opened fire, then escaped by car, Caracotch said.
The man killed lived in the city and had no police record for drug-related crimes, he said, adding that the investigation opened was for organized gang murder and criminal association.
Pakistan allocates 2,000MW for bitcoin mining, AI data centers in digital transformation push
- Pakistan offers a strategic location in the world for data flow and digital infrastructure as a digital bridge between Asia, Europe, and the Middle East
- The country is positioning itself as a sovereign economy that can accumulate digital assets, export digital services, and lead in technological transformation
KARACHI: The Pakistani government has allocated 2,000 megawatts (MW) of electricity in the first phase of a national initiative to power bitcoin mining and Artificial Intelligence (AI) data centers, the finance ministry announced on Sunday, in a push to transform Pakistan into a global leader in digital innovation.
The initiative is spearheaded by the Pakistan Crypto Council (PCC), a government-backed body under the Ministry of Finance, as part of a broader strategy to monetize surplus electricity, create high-tech jobs, attract billions of dollars in foreign direct investment.
Pakistan is uniquely positioned, both geographically and economically, to become a global hub for data centers, and offers the most strategic location in the world for data flow and digital infrastructure as a bridge between Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.
Pakistan’s combination of surplus power, geographic advantage, advanced subsea cable connectivity, renewable energy potential, and a large, digitally engaged population creates a compelling case for becoming a regional epicenter of Web3, AI, and digital innovation.
“This strategic allocation marks a pivotal moment in Pakistan’s digital transformation journey, unlocking economic potential by turning excess energy into innovation, investment, and international revenue,” Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb was quoted as saying by his ministry.
Since the inception of the PCC, there has been tremendous interest from global bitcoin miners and data infrastructure companies, and several international firms have already visited Pakistan for exploratory discussions, according to the finance ministry. Following this landmark announcement, more global players are expected to visit in the coming weeks.
It said Pakistan’s underutilized power generation capacity is now being repurposed into a high-value digital asset.
“AI data centers and Bitcoin mining operations, known for their consistent and heavy energy usage, provide an ideal use case for this surplus,” the ministry said. ‘Redirecting idle energy, especially from plants operating below capacity, allows Pakistan to convert a long-standing financial liability into a sustainable, revenue-generating opportunity.”
PCC CEO Bilal bin Saqib emphasized the transformative nature of this initiative, saying Pakistan could become a global crypto and AI powerhouse with proper regulation, transparency, and international collaboration.
“This energy-backed digital transformation not only unlocks high-value investment but enables the government to generate foreign exchange in USD through bitcoin mining,” he said.
“Additionally, as regulations evolve, Pakistan can accumulate bitcoin directly into a national wallet, marking a monumental shift from selling power in Pakistani Rupees (PKR) to leveraging digital assets for economic stability.”
In April, Pakistan introduced its first-ever policy framework to regulate virtual assets and service providers, aligning with compliance and financial integrity guidelines of the global Financial Action Task Force (FATF). The move followed the establishment of the PCC in March to create a legal framework for cryptocurrency trading in a bid to lure international investment.
With the right incentives, strategic investments, and collaborative partnerships, Pakistan is positioning itself not only as a destination for global digital infrastructure but also as a sovereign economy that can accumulate digital assets, export digital services, and lead in the next generation of technological transformation.
“By offering stable and affordable energy, Pakistan presents a highly competitive environment compared to regional counterparts like India and Singapore, where rising power costs and land scarcity limit scalability,” the finance ministry said.
“Pakistan’s strategic advantage is further underscored by the global context: while AI data center demand has soared to over 100GW, global supply remains around 15GW. This massive shortfall creates an unprecedented opportunity for countries like Pakistan with surplus power, land, and an emerging regulatory framework.”
Pakistan’s digital connectivity has also been significantly strengthened by the landing of the world’s largest submarine Internet cable. The Africa-2 Cable Project, a 45,000-kilometer global network connecting 33 countries through 46 landing stations, has now landed in Pakistan. This milestone enhances Pakistan’s Internet bandwidth, latency, and resilience through redundant fiber routes — key for ensuring high availability and operational continuity for AI data centers.
With a population of over 250 million and more than 40 million crypto users, Pakistan holds immense potential as a regional leader in digital services, according to the finance ministry.
Establishing local AI data centers will not only address growing concerns around data sovereignty but will also enhance cybersecurity, improve digital service delivery, and empower national capabilities in AI and cloud infrastructure. These centers are expected to create thousands of direct and indirect jobs, catalyzing the development of a skilled workforce in engineering, IT, and data sciences.
“This announcement marks only the first phase of a broader, multi-stage digital infrastructure rollout. Future developments are expected to include renewable energy-powered facilities — leveraging Pakistan’s immense wind (50,000 MW potential in the Gharo-Keti Bandar corridor), solar, and hydropower resources — strategic international partnerships with leading blockchain and AI companies, and the establishment of fintech and innovation hubs,” the ministry said.
“These efforts will be complemented by proposed incentives such as tax holidays, customs duty exemptions on equipment, and reduced taxes for AI infrastructure developers.”
