EU-Mercosur trade deal faces bumpy ride to finish line
Brussels is headed for a showdown this week over the European Union’s free-trade deal with South American bloc Mercosur, after Paris launched a last-ditch effort to derail the signing of the landmark accord. European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen is due in Brazil on Saturday to sign in the agreement, which, 20 years in […]
For children of deported parents, lonely journeys to a new home
One recent day at Miami’s international airport, Andy, age 6, was getting ready to fly to Guatemala. He was anxious, this was no year-end vacation to visit his relatives. Andy was moving to his ancestral country to reunite with his father, recently deported as part of President Donald Trump’s aggressive policy to expel undocumented migrants. […]
Majority of companies fail to measure AI’s energy impact
Analysis has shown that 97% of companies have failed to assess the environmental or energy impact of their AI systems, despite rapid adoption and growing regulatory focus on “responsible AI”. This is based on research from the Thomson Reuters Foundation’s AI Company Data Initiative (AICDI), analysing AI governance disclosures from 1,000 companies worldwide. The associated report indicates […]
Trump sues BBC for $10 billion over documentary speech edit
US President Donald Trump on Monday filed a lawsuit seeking at least $10 billion from the BBC over a documentary that edited his 2021 speech to supporters ahead of the US Capitol riot. The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Miami, seeks “damages in an amount not less than $5,000,000,000” for each of two counts […]
EU to unveil plan to tackle housing crisis
The EU will on Tuesday present a first-ever plan to address the continent’s deepening housing crisis, aiming to boost construction and regulate short-term rentals. The figures are stark: nearly 1.3 million people are homeless across the 27-nation bloc — more than the entire population of Brussels. Over the past 15 years, housing prices have surged […]
Bank of Japan expected to hike rates to 30-year high
The Bank of Japan is expected to hike interest rates Friday for the first time since January, pushing them to their highest level in 30 years and potentially exacerbating turmoil in debt markets. Yields on Japanese government bonds have risen in recent weeks on worries about Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s budget discipline, while the yen […]
Tomorrowland bets on Chinese dance music fans with first indoor event
“Are you ready Shanghai?!” screamed the DJ, his glowing booth nestled at the heart of a huge intricate structure of pulsating colour and sound. Thousands roared back “yes!” as Tomorrowland, one of the world’s biggest dance music festivals, made its China debut this weekend. The move is a vote of confidence in the country’s small […]
Reggae icon and ‘cultural giant’ Jimmy Cliff dead at 81
Jimmy Cliff, the iconic reggae star who helped transform the island’s rhythmic music into a global cultural phenomenon, has died, his wife said Monday. He was 81. The family announced the death in a post on Cliff’s official Instagram account, saying he “has crossed over due to a seizure followed by pneumonia.” “I am thankful […]
Snapchat begins age checks in Australia ahead of social media ban
Snapchat has begun asking teenage Australians to verify their ages, a company spokesperson said Monday, just weeks before Canberra enforces sweeping laws banning under-16s from social media. From December 10, Australia will force social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, to remove users under the age of 16 or face hefty fines. “Starting this […]
Serbia’s sole refinery faces shutdown after US sanctions
Serbia’s only oil refinery prepared to shut down on Tuesday, as the country’s president set a deadline for the firm’s Russian majority-owners to sell out and end US sanctions. President Aleksandar Vucic, speaking to the press in Belgrade, said the Pancevo refinery had scaled back operations, with a “complete halt” just four days away. “It […]