Washington, United States | AFP | Game console makers Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo have joined forces in opposing expanded tariffs on China, saying the plan would make their products unaffordable for the coming holiday season. In comments filed with the US Trade Representative, the three firms said President Donald Trump’s threat …
Read More »Cigarette, electrical fault ‘may have caused’ Notre-Dame fire
Paris, France | AFP | A poorly stubbed-out cigarette or an electrical fault could have started the devastating fire that ripped through Paris’ Notre-Dame cathedral in April, French prosecutors said Wednesday, while ruling out any criminal intent. The statement by prosecutors, which also said an investigation was being opened into possible …
Read More »Robots to take 20 mn jobs, worsening inequality: study
Washington, United States | AFP | Robots are expected to take over some 20 million manufacturing jobs worldwide by 2030, extending a trend of worsening social inequality while boosting overall economic output, a new study shows. The forecast set to be released Wednesday highlights growing concerns that automation and robots, …
Read More »Boris Johnson challenges rival to back Brexit deadline
London, United Kingdom | AFP | Boris Johnson challenged his rival for Britain’s leadership on Tuesday to deliver Brexit by the end of October whatever happens, only to be accused once again of trying to avoid scrutiny. Johnson, the former foreign secretary and ex-mayor of London, is the favourite to succeed …
Read More »Microsoft missed mobile dominance by ‘tiny’ margin: Gates
Washington, United States | AFP | Microsoft missed its chance to be the dominant firm in mobile technology because it was “distracted” during a lengthy antitrust battle with US authorities, company co-founder Bill Gates said Monday. Gates, speaking at a forum in Washington, said Microsoft would be even more valuable if …
Read More »Governments must regulate social networks: Facebook’s Clegg
London, United Kingdom | AFP | Governments, not companies, must regulate social networks, Facebook’s head of global affairs and former UK deputy prime minister Nick Clegg, said Monday. “It’s not for private companies, however big or small, to come up with those rules. It is for democratic politicians in the democratic …
Read More »China demands FedEx account for undelivered Huawei package in new spat
Beijing, China | AFP | China on Monday called on America’s FedEx to explain why a parcel from Huawei to the United States went undelivered, in the second spat between the companies in less than a month. The ongoing tussle between the two firms comes as Beijing and Washington face off …
Read More »EU leaders warn next British PM: no Brexit renegotiation
Brussels, Belgium | AFP | The EU’s top leaders Friday fired a Brexit warning to whoever wins the battle to become the next British prime minister, saying the existing divorce deal could not be changed. Hot favourite Boris Johnson will face foreign minister Jeremy Hunt in a run-off vote to decide …
Read More »Johnson faces Hunt in battle to be British PM
London, United Kingdom | AFP | Boris Johnson will face Jeremy Hunt in a run-off to become Britain’s next prime minister after a final ballot of MPs on Thursday, with the winner tasked with guiding the country through Brexit. In the fifth ballot of MPs in the governing Conservative Party, former …
Read More »Pilots tell US Congress more training needed on 737 MAX
New York, United States | AFP | US pilots, including Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger III, called Wednesday for enhanced training on the Boeing 737 MAX before the aircraft is returned to service following two deadly crashes. Sullenberger, who famously landed a damaged plane on the Hudson River in New York in 2009, …
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