AFP
13876 articles published since 08 Mar 2022
Author's articles
EU to resume negotiations on world's first AI law on Friday
The European Union failed to clinch a deal Thursday on a sweeping law on artificial intelligence after nearly 24 hours of negotiations, but vowed to continue talks the next day. Even if the negotiators seal a deal on Friday, the law would not come into force until 2026 at the earliest.
Putin, Saudi leader urge oil cooperation as prices flag
The leaders of Saudi Arabia and Russia used a rare face-to-face meeting to urge oil producers to stick to pledged supply cuts, a joint statement said Thursday. Cooperation between Russia and Saudi Arabia on supply cuts has at times drawn the ire of Washington.
Bitcoin rally shines spotlight on investor risks
A much-anticipated US approval of wider bitcoin trading has helped the world's biggest cryptocurrency reach 20-month heights, risking however pain for new investors unaccustomed to its volatility. Bitcoin this week reached above $44,000 for the first time since April last year, yet still remains far from a record-peak of almost $69,000 in 2021.
Insured disaster losses to again top $100 bn: Swiss Re
Insured losses from natural catastrophes will pass the $100-billion threshold for the fourth year running in 2023, reinsurance giant Swiss Re said Thursday. Insured losses from severe thunderstorms reached an all-time high of $60 billion in 2023, while the February earthquake in Turkey and Syria was the costliest natural catastrophe to date for the year, it said.
China says exports rise for first time in seven months
Chinese exports rose in November for the first time in seven months, officials said Thursday, as the country navigates a troubled recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic. Officials have struggled to sustain a recovery from the impact of the pandemic, even after removing draconian containment measures at the end of 2022.
Stretched to breaking, Germany's debt rule faces reform
Germany's strict constitutional debt rule faces an overhaul after a shock court ruling blew a hole in the budget and left the government scrambling to make its sums add up. As well as pushing the 2023 budget beyond the limit of the debt brake, the ruling has left Germany with a 17-billion-euro ($18-billion) hole in its financial plan for 2024.
Asia tracks Wall St sell-off as US labour market softens
Asian stocks sank Thursday, extending a rollercoaster week across world markets as investors jockey for position ahead of key US jobs data, while oil struggled to bounce back after hitting a five-month low. Data on Thursday from payrolls firm ADP showing a smaller-than-forecast rise in private sector jobs reinforced views that the labour market and economy were slowing as inflation comes down.
Bitzlato founder pleads guilty to running 'criminal' US crypto exchange
The Russian founder of the Bitzlato cryptocurrency exchange pleaded guilty on Wednesday to operating a money transfer business that accepted illicit funds.
Lawsuit says Meta exposes children to exploitation
The US state of New Mexico filed a lawsuit Wednesday accusing Facebook and Instagram of being a "breeding ground" for predators who target children. "Facebook and Instagram are a breeding ground for predators who target children for human trafficking, the distribution of sexual images, grooming, and solicitation," the suit argued.
AFP
Load more