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InstaDeep CEO takes AI from Tunis to London
Karim Beguir launched the artificial intelligence start-up InstaDeep in Tunisia in 2014 with just two computers and $2,000.
Splashy Saudi mega-project NEOM chases Chinese funds
Bigwigs behind a Saudi megacity dogged by questions about its viability have wrapped up a tour courting Chinese investors, detailing plans for a futuristic ski resort and 170-kilometre-long skyscrapers.
Bill to ban TikTok in US moves ahead in Congress
The US House of Representatives approved a bill Saturday that would force the wildly popular social media app TikTok to divest from its Chinese parent company ByteDance or be shut out of the American market.
Mass protests in Canary Islands decry overtourism
Tens of thousands of demonstrators hit the streets across Spain's Canary Islands on Saturday to demand changes to the model of mass tourism they say is overwhelming the Atlantic archipelago.
AI's relentless rise gives journalists tough choices
The rise of artificial intelligence has forced an increasing number of journalists to grapple with the ethical and editorial challenges posed by the rapidly expanding technology.
In historic election, Volkswagen workers in Tennessee vote to unionize
Volkswagen workers in Tennessee voted decisively to become a union shop, according to election results released Friday, marking the first victory for organized labor at a foreign-owned auto plant in the American South.
Hong Kong regulator to investigate PwC auditing of Evergrande
Hong Kong's accounting regulator said it would start an investigation into PwC's role in auditing Chinese real estate giant Evergrande, citing the publication of a "whistle-blower report".
'Halving' arrives for bitcoin miners
The bitcoin market on Friday engineered the "halving" of the reward for operating the cryptocurrency, a much-anticipated step designed to limit production and boost the digital money.
'No to mining': activists demand closure of Guatemala gold mine
Waving banners and shouting "no to mining," environmental activists gathered in small boats on a lake between El Salvador and Guatemala on Friday calling for the closure of a Canadian-owned gold mine.
X owner Musk says opposed to US ban of competitor TikTok
Elon Musk on Friday came out against banning TikTok in the United States, even if it would mean less competition for his social media platform X, formerly Twitter, as the initiative sees fresh bipartisan momentum in Congress.
IMF calls on EU to deepen single market integration to boost growth
Deeper integration of the European Union's internal market could prove crucial for boosting lackluster economic growth and productivity levels in the 27-member trading bloc, a senior IMF official told AFP Friday.
P&G profits rise despite hit from Middle East tensions
Procter & Gamble reported higher profits Friday, citing strong demand in the United States and many European markets that offset weakness elsewhere due to Middle East tensions and a lackluster performance in China.
Oil, gas drilling blocked in Alaska wilds as Biden seeks green cred
The United States on Friday blocked oil, gas and mining operations across tracts of unspoiled wilderness in Alaska, winning praise from environmentalists for safeguarding habitat for polar bears, caribou and other Arctic species.
Taylor Swift, tortured poet, exorcises demons with new double album
Taylor Swift's hotly anticipated "The Tortured Poets Department" is here along with a surprise second album -- 31 tracks released Friday in which the megawatt star purges her inner turmoil while scorching former lovers.
China auto sector steps up Europe push with Spain plant
Chinese carmaker Chery signed a deal Friday to produce mainly electric vehicles in Spain, as Beijing's auto sector pushes ahead with plans to expand into Europe despite growing competition concerns.
Tesla to recall Cybertruck over acceleration defect
Tesla is recalling 3,878 Cybertruck vehicles because of a defect that can cause unintentional vehicle acceleration, increasing crash risk, according to a US notice posted this week.
Quarter of UK 5 to 7-year-olds have smart phone: study
Around a quarter of British children aged between five and seven-years-old now have a smart phone, a study by the UK communications regulator said on Friday.
Oil jumps, equities fall as Iran blasts fan MidEast fears
Oil prices rallied and equities fell Friday as reports said explosions had been heard in Iran and Syria, fuelling fears of an escalation of the Middle East crisis after last weekend's missile attack on Israel by Tehran.
Taiwan's TSMC founder Morris Chang receives medal of honour
Taiwanese tycoon Morris Chang received one of the island's highest medals of honour on Friday, in recognition of his achievements as the founder of semiconductor giant TSMC.
Apple drops WhatsApp, Threads from China app store on official order: report
Apple has removed the Meta-owned WhatsApp and Threads from its App Store in China following an order from the country's top internet regulator, Bloomberg reported Friday citing the tech giant.
Taylor Swift's 'The Tortured Poets Department' drops
Taylor Swift released her highly anticipated record "The Tortured Poets Department" on Friday -- the 11th studio album from the megastar who is already having a blockbuster year.
Oil surges, equities sink as Iran blasts fan MidEast escalation fears
Oil prices rallied and equities sank Friday as reports said explosions had been heard in Iran and Syria, fuelling fears of an escalation of the Middle East crisis after last weekend's missile attack on Israel by Tehran.
France imposes curfew on minors in 'cutthroat' Guadeloupe city
France on Thursday ordered a two-month nighttime curfew for minors in a Guadeloupe city after a surge in youth violence in the overseas territory.
Mideast in 'shadow of uncertainty' due to regional conflicts: IMF
Economies in the Middle East and North Africa face a "shadow of uncertainty" from ongoing tensions in the region, a senior IMF official told AFP on Thursday.
Meta releases beefed-up AI models
Meta on Thursday introduced an improved AI assistant built on new versions of its open source "Llama" large language model for powering the technology.
Team behind Italian film 'Io Capitano' returns to Senegal
Members of a 200-strong audience struggle to hold back tears as the credits roll on the film "Io Capitano" in a small auditorium in the outskirts of Senegal's capital Dakar.
Family affair: Two more Arnault sons join LVMH board
Two sons of the world's richest man Bernard Arnault on Thursday joined the board of LVMH after a shareholder vote, further cementing the family's control on the French luxury goods giant.
Taylor Swift's 'The Tortured Poets Department' set to drop
Taylor Swift is primed to release her highly anticipated record "The Tortured Poets Department" on Friday -- the 11th studio album from the megastar who is already having a blockbuster year.
Princess Diana's dresses on display in Hong Kong ahead of auction
Shoulder-padded, daffodil yellow and accented with gleaming gold buttons -- a very of-its-time suit Princess Diana wore during her 1989 trip to Hong Kong is now among six outfits on display in the former British colony.
Norway's wealth fund posts $107 bln first quarter gain
Norway's sovereign wealth fund, the world's largest, posted a gain of more than $100 billion in the first quarter amid the global stock market recovery, it said Thursday.
Taiwan chip giant TSMC's profits surge on AI demand
Taiwanese semiconductor giant TSMC announced Thursday a nearly 9 percent increase in net profits in the first quarter of 2024, buoyed by global demand for its microchips used to power everything from mobile phones to AI technology.
UN says solutions exist to rapidly ease debt burden of poor nations
The heavy debt weighing on developing countries can be alleviated through readily available measures, the UN's trade and development chief said, pleading for bold international action.
EU seeks to take on China, US to reverse economic decline
The European Union's economy is falling further behind China and the United States, a major headache that will dominate leaders' talks on Thursday as they discuss how to stem the bloc's economic decline and bounce back.
Tesla, Starlink entry on agenda when Musk heads to India
Tech billionaire Elon Musk is set to visit India as his businesses seek new markets in the world's most populous nation, with electric carmaker Tesla -- suffering a sales downturn in the United States -- reportedly scouting factory locations.
Michelangelo's scribble sells for $200,000 at New York auction
A square scribbled on a yellowed piece of paper by Renaissance genius Michelangelo sold for $201,600 -- 33 times its estimated value, auction house Christie's said Wednesday.
Russian 'cyber sabotage' a global threat: security firm
A cyber group with links to Russian military intelligence is set to become a significant global threat after playing an increasing critical role in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, a leading cybersecurity firm warned Wednesday.
US to reimpose oil sanctions on Venezuela: officials
The United States is to snap back sanctions on Venezuela's crucial oil industry after President Nicolas Maduro's government continued its "repression" of opponents, US officials said Wednesday.
Biden targets 'cheating' China on trip to US steel heartland
US President Joe Biden called for a hike in steel tariffs on "cheating" China Wednesday as he courted blue-collar voters on an election campaign trip to the battleground state of Pennsylvania.
At IMF, Brazil and France renew push for 'fairer' international taxation
The international community must do more to make the world's richest companies and individuals pay their "fair" share of taxes, Brazil and France's finance ministers said Wednesday.