World News

EU, US ready common code of conduct on artificial intelligence

The European Union and the United States said Wednesday that they would soon release a voluntary code of conduct on artificial intelligence, hoping to develop common standards among democracies as China makes rapid gains.. After talks with EU officials in Sweden, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters that Western partners felt the "fierce urgency" to act and would ask "like-minded countries" to join the voluntary code of conduct.

Wed, May 31, 2023 3 mins read

World News

Macron urges 'tangible' NATO security guarantees for Kyiv

French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday called on the West to offer Ukraine "tangible and credible" security guarantees as it battles Russia's invasion.. Stressing that Ukraine "is today protecting Europe", Macron said in Bratislava that it is in the West's interest that Kyiv have security assurances from NATO.  "That is why I'm in favour, and this will be the subject of collective talks in the following weeks... to offer tangible and credible security guarantees to Ukraine," he added.

Wed, May 31, 2023 2 mins read

World News

1.5C of warming is too hot for a just world: study

Curbing global heating at 1.5 degrees Celsius will avert runaway climate change but not mass suffering in developing nations, a consortium of 50 researchers warned Wednesday.     . Besides climate change, they found the tolerable threshold of ambient particle pollution -- especially across Asia -- must also be lowered compared to the original planetary boundaries schema.

Wed, May 31, 2023 3 mins read

World News

EU, US to ready voluntary AI code of conduct

The European Union and United States said Wednesday they expect to draft a voluntary code of conduct on artificial intelligence "within weeks" with the hope that fellow democracies will sign on.. European Commission Vice President Margrethe Vestager added that a draft would be put forward "within weeks."

Wed, May 31, 2023 2 mins read

World News

Germany orders four Russian consulates on its soil closed

Germany said Wednesday it will drastically reduce Moscow's diplomatic presence on its soil in response to a similar move from Russia, in the latest escalation of tensions over the war in Ukraine.. In April, Germany expelled several Russian diplomats "to reduce the presence of intelligence services", prompting a tit-for-tat response from Moscow which booted out some 20 German embassy staff. 

Wed, May 31, 2023 2 mins read

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Russia evacuates children from border villages as situation 'alarming'

Russia said it would evacuate hundreds of children from villages due to intensifying shelling in the border region of Belgorod, where the situation was deemed "alarming" by the Kremlin.. "The situation is quite alarming," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said when asked about shelling in the region. 

Wed, May 31, 2023 3 mins read

World News

NATO-led peacekeepers step up security after Kosovo clashes

NATO-led peacekeepers stepped up security around a town hall in northern Kosovo on Wednesday, where hundreds of ethnic Serbs gathered again at the scene of clashes earlier this week that left more than 80 people injured.. On Monday, NATO-led peacekeepers used shields and batons in a bid to disperse the crowd but were met by a hail of rocks, bottles and Molotov cocktails. - '700 more troops' - A total of 30 peacekeepers -- 11 Italians and 19 Hungarians -- were wounded in Monday's clashes, according to KFOR. Fifty-two protesters were also injured, three of them "seriously", while five Serbs were arrested for taking part in the clashes.

Wed, May 31, 2023 2 mins read

World News

Sudan army quits truce talks with paramilitary foes

The Sudanese army suspended its participation in US- and Saudi-brokered ceasefire talks Wednesday accusing its paramilitary foes of failing to honour their commitments.. The RSF, led by Burhan's deputy-turned-foe Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, said they will "exercise their right to defend themselves" and accused the army of violating the truce.

Wed, May 31, 2023 3 mins read

World News

Tensions high in north Kosovo as Serbs gather again

Tensions remained high in northern Kosovo on Wednesday, as hundreds of ethnic Serbs again gathered outside a town hall after clashing with NATO-led peacekeepers (KFOR) earlier this week.. NATO said Tuesday it was deploying more forces to northern Kosovo after 30 of its peacekeepers were injured in clashes with ethnic Serb protesters.

Wed, May 31, 2023 2 mins read

World News

Musk talks 'new energy vehicles' with industry minister during China visit

Elon Musk and China's industry minister discussed ways to develop new energy vehicles Wednesday, a day after the Tesla CEO flew into Beijing and declared he wanted to expand his business in the world's second largest economy.. On Wednesday he met Jin Zhuanglong in Beijing to discuss "the development of new energy vehicles and intelligent connected vehicles", the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology said in a readout.

Wed, May 31, 2023 1 mins read