Putin to travel to India in rare trip abroad

Russian President Vladimir Putin will travel to India next month, in only his second trip abroad since the Covid-19 pandemic began two years ago, the Kremlin said yesterday. Moscow said the Russian leader will go to India on December 6 for talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Putin has only left Russia once during the pandemic -- to meet US President Joe Biden in Geneva in June. In a statement, the Kremlin said Putin and Modi will hold talks on furthering the "privileged strategic partnership" between Russia and India. It said the pair will discuss their "joint work" within the G20, BRICS group, and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.

Indian builds Taj Mahal replica home for wife

A lovestruck and historically minded Indian husband has emulated the world's most famous display of marital devotion by building for his wife a replica of the Taj Mahal. The original "Monument to Love" was constructed on the orders of heartbroken Mughal emperor Shah Jahan to house the tomb of his favourite wife, Mumtaz, in the 17th century. Anand Prakash Chouksey's beloved remains very much alive, and even helped consult on the project and his version of the marble wonder of the world, around one-third the size of the original. "My wife's only demand was for a meditation room. She's a spiritual woman," the 52-year-old businessman told AFP.

Italy hits Apple, Google with antitrust fine

Italy's antitrust watchdog imposed 20 million euros ($22.5 million) in fines on Apple and Google yesterday, the second time the regulator has sanctioned US tech giants this week. European countries have cracked down on the business practices of Big Tech in recent years, while the EU is moving forward with legislation to tighten regulation. The Italian competition authority said it fined Apple and Google 10 million euros each for violations of the consumer code, including failing to provide enough information to customers and resorting to "aggressive methods" in the use of their data for commercial ends. "Neither Apple nor Google provided clear and immediate information on the acquisition and use of user data for commercial ends," the statement said. Google said in a statement that it would appeal the fine.