Tech News

AI bot ChatGPT faces growing scrutiny in Europe

France's data regulator said on Wednesday it had received two complaints about the AI program ChatGPT, as European authorities deepened their scrutiny of the chatbot days after Italy banned it.. European authorities including those of France, Ireland and Germany have since approached their Italian counterpart to try to establish a common position on ChatGPT. And the concerns are not limited to Europe -- on Tuesday, Canada's data regulator said it was opening an investigation into OpenAI. France's CNIL, regarded as the most powerful European data regulator, confirmed to AFP on Wednesday it had already received two complaints, though it has not yet announced a full investigation.

Wed, Apr 5, 2023 1 mins read

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Nintendo 'needed to be involved' in new Mario movie, says Miyamoto

When Shigeru Miyamoto first created a princess-rescuing plumber more than four decades ago, Nintendo's future mascot was just a collection of pixels who didn't have a flamboyant Italian accent -- or even a name.. According to Miyamoto, the idea for a film emerged from a major strategic shift by Nintendo around a decade ago, to make its games "more character-driven."

Wed, Apr 5, 2023 4 mins read

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Video games 'blending' with film, says 'Mario' movie producer

Having created the most successful animated franchise of all time with "Despicable Me" and its spin-off "Minions" films, producer Chris Meledandri knows a thing or two about blockbuster movies.. While many video game-adaptation flops have seen Hollywood wrest creative control away from franchises' original creators, basing movies on games is "perfectly viable" if film producers collaborate, said Meledandri. 

Wed, Apr 5, 2023 2 mins read

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WTO sees 'subpar' 2023 global trade growth

The World Trade Organization said Wednesday that 2023 global trade growth would be slightly better than feared, but would remain "subpar", weighed down by the Ukraine war and stubbornly high inflation.. The WTO's report cautioned that "the pace of trade expansion in 2023 is still expected to be subpar, weighed down by the ongoing war in Ukraine, stubbornly high inflation, tighter monetary policy and financial uncertainty".

Wed, Apr 5, 2023 3 mins read

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TotalEnergies, Iraq agree on delayed $10 bn project

French energy giant TotalEnergies announced Wednesday an agreement with Iraq on a long-delayed $10 billion project to improve the country's rundown electricity grid after resolving disputes over the terms of the deal.. The $10 billion Gas Growth Integrated Project includes recovering flared gas from oil fields to power electricity-generation plants.

Wed, Apr 5, 2023 2 mins read

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German economy to grow in 2023 as outlook brightens

The German economy, Europe's largest, is expected to dodge a recession and grow by 0.3 percent this year thanks to a drop in energy prices, leading economic institutes said Wednesday.. The German economy is expected to grow "more strongly" in 2024, expanding by 1.5 percent, the researchers added.

Wed, Apr 5, 2023 2 mins read

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UBS shareholders to weigh in on Credit Suisse mega-merger

UBS shareholders get their first chance to grill the bank's bosses Wednesday over its shotgun marriage to Credit Suisse, done in double-quick time behind their backs.. The annual general meeting comes the day after Credit Suisse held its final AGM before the 167-year-old bank is swallowed up by UBS. Credit Suisse chairman Axel Lehmann said he was "truly sorry" that the national institution could not be saved as he faced angry and tearful shareholders whose money has gone up in smoke.

Tue, Apr 4, 2023 2 mins read

Tech News

Soaring prices dampen UK Ramadan celebrations

Despite the enticing produce in their windows, Muslim-owned retailers on east London's Brick Lane are unusually quiet as a cost-of-living crisis bites into Ramadan earnings.. That makes the cost-of-living crisis particularly painful for communities such as those around Brick Lane, one of the poorest parts of London. 

Tue, Apr 4, 2023 2 mins read

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Cypriots priced out as Russians, Israelis eye coastal city

In Cyprus's southern coastal city of Limassol, Russian and Ukrainian firms fleeing wartime conditions, and Israeli investors betting on real estate, have driven prices up and local residents out.. Behind such big-money projects are often foreign investors, "notably Israelis", he said.

Tue, Apr 4, 2023 4 mins read

Tech News

India's 'brown beauty' make-up influencers go global

Under the glow of a ring light in the spare bedroom of a Mumbai high-rise apartment, Indian make-up maven Debasree Banerjee has found fans across the world with a simple philosophy: brown is beautiful.. Banerjee, 34, began experimenting with make-up videos in her spare time a decade ago, after graduating from university and moving to Mumbai to work in sales.

Tue, Apr 4, 2023 4 mins read