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AI robots tell UN conference they could run the world
A panel of AI-enabled humanoid robots took the microphone Friday at a United Nations conference with the message: they could eventually run the world better than humans.
Stock markets diverge, dollar drops before US jobs data
Major stock markets diverged and the dollar fell Friday, with all eyes on more US jobs data for clues on the outlook for interest rates.
Watchdog urges Tunisia to stop expelling migrants to desert
Human Rights Watch on Friday urged Tunisia to put an end to what it called the "collective expulsions" of Black African migrants to a desert area near the Libyan border.
Global maritime sector agrees deal on carbon-reduction target
The International Maritime Organization, overseer of the highly-polluting shipping industry, sealed a landmark deal Friday to improve its target to cut carbon emissions but green campaigners said it fell far short.
Global maritime sector improves carbon-reduction target: draft deal
The International Maritime Organization, overseer of the highly-polluting shipping industry, has agreed to improve on its target to cut carbon emissions, according to a draft agreement seen Friday by AFP.
AIIB says internal review found 'no evidence' of China influence
The China-based Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) said Friday there was "no evidence" it was dominated by Beijing's ruling Communist Party, as it released a review into explosive claims made by a former executive.
Yellen says 'impossible' to decouple China, US economies
US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said Friday that a decoupling of the US and Chinese economies would be "virtually impossible" and would destabilise global markets, in comments made while on a visit to Beijing packed with talks with officials and businesses.
'No second chance' to save Sri Lanka, central banker warns
The man charged with clawing Sri Lanka out of bankruptcy says he had warned about economic calamity years before it hit -- and was pressed into retirement for his troubles.
Sri Lankans jump ship as a bankrupt nation struggles
The snaking queues for food and fuel that crisscrossed Sri Lanka last year have given way to a different kind of line -- people scrambling for travel documents to flee their bankrupt island.
Yellen to discuss US-China ties, global economic outlook in Beijing
US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen begins a full day of meetings in Beijing including with Premier Li Qiang on Friday, as Washington seeks to steady the tense relationship between the world's top two economies.
Asian markets fall further as US data fans rate fears
Stocks tumbled again Friday in Asia after another round of strong US data reinforced expectations the Federal Reserve will resume its interest rate hikes as officials wrestle with stubbornly high inflation.
Pink macarons and empowerment: a day in the 'World of Barbie'
In the "World of Barbie," the news is always happy, the weather is always perfect, and the kitchen is always full of sweet pink macarons.
Tattoos cover up painful pasts for US sex-trafficking victims
Many tattoos carry a deeper meaning behind them. But for Emily, the "7" on her left leg represents a nightmare, a branding imposed by a pimp.
Musk threatens lawsuit as Twitter rival Threads takes off
Twitter threatened to sue Meta just hours after the Instagram parent company launched Threads, an app it hopes will beat out the struggling site owned by Elon Musk.
What we know about Threads, Meta's 'Twitter killer'
Threads, Mark Zuckerberg's Instagram-based challenge to dethrone Elon Musk's troubled Twitter, has already secured tens of millions of downloads, but it remains to be seen whether this Twitter rival will be a winning one.
Drills, red wine: Ukrainians ready for leak at Russia-held plant
In the southern Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia, couples stroll in a popular park and parents push their children on swings on a hot summer day.
Rome's historic bakery to the popes closes
The Arrigoni bakery has made bread for the popes for almost a century, from rosetta rolls to wholewheat loaves -- but mass tourism has proved deadly and no prayers can save it now.
Stocks sink on higher interest rate fears
Stock markets tumbled on Thursday as investors fretted over the prospect of more US interest-rate hikes and the risk of recession.
US safety regulators demand more records on Tesla Autopilot
US auto safety regulators have demanded additional information about Tesla's Autopilot, threatening civil penalties on the automaker for inadequate response, according to a document request reviewed Thursday by AFP.
Tens of millions sign up to Twitter rival Threads
More than 30 million people have downloaded Threads, Meta's rival to Twitter, within the first few hours of its launch, the company's CEO Mark Zuckerberg said Thursday.
What's behind the sudden easing of S.Africa power cuts?
South Africa's crippling blackouts have shrunk from up to 12 hours a day to just over two hours daily in recent weeks, after inflicting a massive hit on the economy.
TotalEnergies CEO says COP28 chief can press oil nations on climate
The head of French firm TotalEnergies says national oil giants from the Gulf and other nations must pull their weight against global warming, and the Emirati oil executive chairing the COP28 climate summit is right man to press them.
Stocks sink on higher US rate worries
Stock markets sank on Thursday as investors fretted over the prospect of more US interest-rate hikes and the risk to the global economy.
Rise of the robots: UN tries to tackle 'mind-blowing' growth of AI
The mind-blowing growth of artificial intelligence poses many questions that have no answers yet, the United Nations admitted Thursday at its AI summit, attended by some exceptionally life-like humanoid robots.
Record storm cost up to 100 mn euros in damage: Dutch insurers
A record-breaking summer storm that pummelled the Netherlands and Germany, leaving two people dead, has caused as much as 100 million euros ($109 million) in damage, Dutch insures said on Thursday.
Ratcliffe still keen to buy Man Utd as sale process drags on
British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe has said he remains focused on completing a takeover of Manchester United as the battle to buy the Red Devils drags on.
17 dead in gas leak at South African slum
At least 17 people, including three children, died in a slum near Johannesburg from a leak of toxic gas apparently used for scavenging gold at an abandoned mine, rescue services said Thursday.
Stock markets slump on higher US rate worries
Major stock markets slumped Thursday, with the biggest falls in Paris and Hong Kong, as investors fretted over the prospect of more US interest rate hikes and the risk to the global economy.
China says critical metals curbs 'not targeting' any country
China's commerce ministry on Thursday said recent curbs on essential chip-making metals were not aimed at any specific country and that they did not represent a "ban on exports".
Rubbish-clearing divers come to rescue of 'pearl of Kyrgyzstan'
On the shores of Lake Issyk Kul in mountainous Kyrgyzstan, a group of divers show off their haul for the day -- a boat engine, car tyres, bottles, clothes and plastic items.
Equities track Wall St losses as traders brace for more Fed hikes
Markets fell again in Asia on Thursday as traders resigned themselves to more US interest rate hikes after minutes from the Federal Reserve's June meeting showed officials felt more needed to be done to rein in inflation.
Twitter rival Threads crosses 10 mn users within hours of launch
More than 10 million people have signed up to Threads, Meta's rival to Twitter, within the first few hours of its launch, the Facebook parent's CEO Mark Zuckerberg said Thursday.