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Before Trump: The long US history of tariff wars with Canada and the world

Around The Globe - Tue, 02/04/2025 - 09:30
From a chicken war to a banana brawl, here's a history of tariff wars the US has fought in.

Israel’s Netanyahu to discuss fragile Gaza ceasefire with Trump

Around The Globe - Tue, 02/04/2025 - 09:29
The meeting comes as talks on second phase of truce are due, with US president saying no guarantees peace will hold.

France pitches AI summit as 'wake-up call' for Europe

Technology - Tue, 02/04/2025 - 09:19
PARIS — France hosts top tech players next week at an artificial intelligence summit meant as a "wake-up call" for Europe as it struggles with AI challenges from the United States and China. Players from across the sector and representatives from 80 nations will gather in the French capital on February 10 and 11 in the sumptuous Grand Palais, built for the 1900 Universal Exhibition. In the run-up, President Emmanuel Macron will on Feb. 4 visit research centers applying AI to science and health, before hosting scientists and Nobel Prize winners at his Elysee Palace residence on Wednesday. A wider science conference will be held at the Polytechnique engineering school on Thursday and Friday. "The summit comes at exactly the right time for this wake-up call for France and Europe, and to show we are in position" to take advantage of the technology, an official in Macron's office told reporters. In recent weeks, Washington's announcement of $500 billion in investment to build up AI infrastructure and the release of a frugal but powerful generative AI model by Chinese firm DeepSeek have focused minds in Europe. France must "not let this revolution pass it by," Macron's office said. Attendees at the summit will include Sam Altman, head of OpenAI -- the firm that brought generative models to public consciousness in 2022 with the launch of ChatGPT. Google boss Sundar Pichai and Nobel Prize winner Demis Hassabis, who leads the company's DeepMind AI research unit, will also come, alongside Arthur Mensch, founder of French AI developer Mistral. The Elysee has said there are "talks" on hosting DeepSeek founder Liang Wenfeng, and has yet to clarify whether X owner Elon Musk -- who has his own generative initiative, xAI -- has accepted an invitation. Nor is it clear who will attend from the United States and China, with the French presidency saying only "very high level" representatives will come. Confirmed guests from Europe include European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. 'Stoke confidence' The tone of the AI summit will be "neither catastrophizing, nor naive," Macron's AI envoy Anne Bouverot told AFP. Hosting the conference is also an opportunity for Paris to show off its own AI ecosystem, which numbers around 750 companies. Macron's office has said the summit would see the announcement of "massive" investments along the lines of his annual "Choose France" business conference, at which $15.4 billion of inward investment were pledged in 2024. Beyond the economic opportunities, AI's impact on culture including artistic creativity and news production will be discussed in a side-event over the weekend. Debates open to the public, such as that one, are aimed at showing off "positive use cases for AI" to "stoke confidence and speed up adoption" of the technology, said France's digital minister Clara Chappaz. For now, the French public is skeptical of AI, with 79 percent of respondents telling pollsters Ifop they were "concerned" about the technology in a recent survey. More 'inclusive' AI? Paris says it also hopes the summit can help kick off its vision of a more ethical and accessible and less resource-intensive AI. At present, "the AI under development is pushed by a few large players from a few countries," Bouverot said, whereas France wants "to promote more inclusive development." Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been invited to co-host the Paris summit, in a push to bring governments on board. One of the summit's aims is the establishment of a public-interest foundation for which Paris aims to raise $2.5 billion over five years. The effort would be "a public-private partnership between various governments, businesses and philanthropic foundations from different countries," Macron's office said. Paris hopes at the summit to chart different efforts at AI governance around the world and gather commitments for environmentally sustainable AI -- although no binding mechanism is planned for now. "There are lots of big principles emerging around responsible, trustworthy AI, but it's not clear or easy to implement for the engineers in technical terms," said Laure de Roucy-Rochegonde, director of the geopolitical technology center at the French Institute for International Relations.

El Salvador offers to jail US convicts in ‘unprecedented’ proposal

Around The Globe - Tue, 02/04/2025 - 08:54
President Bukele's proposal includes imprisoning US criminals in El Salvador’s largest prison for a fee.

Rwandan-backed M23 rebels declare ceasefire in DRC

Around The Globe - Tue, 02/04/2025 - 08:20
The M23 armed group said it will pause its advance across DR Congo for humanitarian reasons.

‘Criminalised for politics’: Rohingya caught in Delhi election crossfire

Around The Globe - Tue, 02/04/2025 - 08:15
AAP and challenger BJP 'outdo' each other in attacking mainly Muslim refugees to consolidate votes in February 5 polls.

Ex-education minister facing Cardiff Uni lay off

Education - Tue, 02/04/2025 - 08:10
Leighton Andrews speaks of his anger after the institution announced plans to slash hundreds of jobs.

China retaliates with tariffs on US goods after Trump’s move

Around The Globe - Tue, 02/04/2025 - 07:22
China will impose tariffs of 15 percent on imports of coal and LNG from the US in retaliation for 10 percent levy.

OpenAI chief Altman inks deal with S Korea’s Kakao after DeepSeek upset

Around The Globe - Tue, 02/04/2025 - 06:54
Partnership will allow South Korean tech firm to use ChatGPT for its artificial intelligence services.

Trump to withdraw US from UN Rights Council, extend UNRWA funds ban: Report

Around The Globe - Tue, 02/04/2025 - 05:49
The US president is expected to sign the orders cutting ties with the UN agencies as Netanyahu visits the White House.

Elon Musk tightens grip on gov’t, sparking ‘coup’ accusations

Around The Globe - Tue, 02/04/2025 - 05:20
Tech billionaire has upended the federal bureaucracy in the two weeks since US President Donald Trump took office.

Advocates warn Trump’s threat to deport pro-Palestine students harms all

Around The Globe - Tue, 02/04/2025 - 04:52
Critics say Trump's attempt to combat anti-Semitism on campus \ promotes fear and repression among immigrants.

Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events – day 1,076

Around The Globe - Tue, 02/04/2025 - 04:48
Here are the key developments on the 1,076th day of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Petro vs Trump: The diplomatic standoff that could shape Colombia’s future

Around The Globe - Tue, 02/04/2025 - 02:41
The clash between Gustavo Petro and Donald Trump over deportations could have major political and economic consequences.

‘We will not stand idly’: Rights groups file suit against Trump asylum ban

Around The Globe - Tue, 02/04/2025 - 01:03
The move is the latest challenge to Trump's hardline immigration policies, arguing that barring asylum violates US law.

Gaza authorities plead for tents, accuse Israel of obstructing aid

Around The Globe - Mon, 02/03/2025 - 23:58
Government Media Office says securing temporary shelters is the 'most pressing' humanitarian need in Gaza.

Echoing Trump, Ecuador announces 27-percent tariffs on Mexican goods

Around The Globe - Mon, 02/03/2025 - 23:39
President Daniel Noboa also ordered a greater military presence at local ports due to 'destabilisation' by armed groups.

Trump delays Canada tariffs, but anger and calls to rethink US ties persist

Around The Globe - Mon, 02/03/2025 - 23:32
Canada faces calls to reduce its 'dependence' on the US amid threats by President Donald Trump to impose stiff tariffs.

Nigel Farage’s right-wing Reform Party leads in UK poll for first time

Around The Globe - Mon, 02/03/2025 - 22:34
If a general election were held tomorrow, 25 percent of British voters would choose Reform, YouGov poll suggests.

Trump orders creation of sovereign wealth fund, says it could buy TikTok

Around The Globe - Mon, 02/03/2025 - 21:29
Investors were surprised by the news because the US runs a deficit and doesn't have the finances needed for such a fund.

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