DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The 66th annual Grammy Awards are on Sunday, airing live from Los Angeles' Crypto.com Arena on CBS and Paramount+. In 2021, they had the idea to turn musicians into each other’s audiences when there couldn’t be one, a concept that has informed every Grammys since. We’ve really just tried to make it a loving room for the music community.”Some elements of the stage – like the gramophone in the middle – will remain the same. There are three new categories at the 2024 Grammy Awards as well, including the first-ever best African music performance award. If Victoria Monét ’s “Hollywood” wins best traditional R&B performance, her daughter Hazel Monét will become the youngest Grammy winner in history at 2 years old.

Persons: Raj Kapoor, Ben Winston, Jesse Collins, “, ” Winston, “ We’ve, ”, — “, Trevor Noah, “ There’s, There’s, Harvey Mason jr, Winston, “ I’m, Kapoor, we’re, It’s, ” Mason, we’ve, ” “, Burna, Dave McLeod, Mason, Taylor Swift, she’d, Victoria Monét, Hollywood ”, Hazel Monét, Karol G, Jack Antonoff, Babyface, Kelly Clarkson, Kendrick Lamar, Baby Keem Organizations: ANGELES, CBS, Paramount, COVID, Associated Press, Recording Academy, —, WHO, Hollywood, “ Locations: Los Angeles, people’s, urbana, Será

☆ Trump vs. Biden: Goldman Sachs names the global stocks to play the U.S. elections
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-31 | by ( Ganesh Rao | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

As the U.S. presidential election comes into the spotlight, Goldman Sachs has assessed the potential impact on global markets by changes in regulation, taxation, and other government policies. However, it sees U.S. subsidiaries of foreign companies potentially gaining if Trump delivers on a cut to corporation taxes. On average, European companies generate 25% of sales in the U.S., but most come from U.S.-based businesses rather than exports from the EU, according to Goldman Sachs. As these companies run substantial U.S. operations and assets, Goldman also sees them as benefiting from potential U.S. corporate tax cuts under Trump. However, they flagged that Biden has mentioned increasing the rate of corporate tax, "which would have an impact on US-exposed companies."

Persons: Goldman Sachs, Donald Trump, Trump, DAX, Sharon Bell, Joe Biden, Goldman, Biden, Michael Bloom Organizations: U.S, Ukraine, Trump, Eurostat, Stocks, Intercontinental Hotels Group, Boeing, Aero, BAE Systems, Kerry Group, Goldman, Republican Locations: United States, U.S, Europe

☆ E.U.’s Hungary Problem Looms Large Ahead of Crucial Ukraine Summit
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-31 | by ( Matina Stevis-Gridneff | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The only thing standing in their way is Prime Minister Viktor Orban of Hungary. A compromise with Mr. Orban, who has demanded an annual veto on the spending, has remained elusive, meaning that the unanimity required for such a deal among the 27 E.U. If Mr. Orban continues to stand in the way, E.U. Yet even if the remaining 26 leaders are not forced to go ahead without Mr. Orban, a larger problem is now firmly front and center: What will the E.U. For a small country that accounts for just 1 percent of the bloc’s economic output, Hungary has been a big headache.

Persons: Viktor Orban of Hungary, Orban Organizations: Union, U.S Locations: Brussels, Ukraine, Hungary

☆ Farmers in Europe Step up Protests Against Rising Costs, Green Rules
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-31 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +4 min

Farmers say they are not being paid enough, are choked by taxes and green rules and face unfair competition from abroad. French farmers have already won several concessions, including the government dropping plans to gradually reduce subsidies on agricultural diesel. On Wednesday, European Commissioners proposed limiting agricultural imports from Ukraine and greater flexibility on rules on fallow land in a bid to quell protests. In Italy, farmers have blocked traffic with hundreds of tractors near motorway access points near Milan, in Tuscany and elsewhere in recent days. While a deal looks possible on fallow land, the question of talks on a major trade deal with the Mercosur group is more contentious.

Persons: Marco Trujillo, Philip Blenkinsop PARIS, Adelin Desmecht, Gerald Darmanin, Bruno, Coldiretti, Le Maire, Abdul Saboor, Jean, Stephane Brosse, Gus Trompiz, Dominique Vidalon, Benoit van Overstraeten, Geert de Clercq, Charlotte van, Phil Blenikinsop, Alvise Arminelli, Ingrid Melander, Ros Russell Organizations: EU, South, Farmers, Mercosur, French Finance, European Commission, South American, Charlotte van Campenhout Locations: BRUSSELS, Europe, Brussels, Belgian, France, Paris, Belgium, Zeebrugge, Ukraine, Mercosur, Italy, Milan, Tuscany, Bordeaux, Amsterdam

☆ EU Deal for Ukraine 'Difficult' Despite Move by Hungary -Official
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-30 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Talks between European Union countries aimed at agreeing on more aid for Ukraine later this week remain "difficult", a senior EU official said on Tuesday, despite Hungary having signalled its readiness for a compromise. It has already once blocked the aid package and has also voiced opposition - along with EU paymaster Germany - to topping up the military fund. "We are not there yet," the EU official said under condition of anonymity, referring to preparations for the Thursday summit in Brussels of the leaders of the bloc's 27 member states. As the EU mounts pressure on Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban to agree, the official said Budapest's conditions for lifting its veto on the financial assistance to Kyiv were not acceptable to the other EU countries. The official added that Hungary's EU peers did not want to agree to review any support to Kyiv every year as that would give Orban a veto each time.

Persons: Russia's, Viktor Orban, Orban, Jan Strupczewski, Gabriela Baczynska, Mark Heinrich Organizations: European Union, EU, Germany, Hungarian Locations: BRUSSELS, Ukraine, Hungary, Kyiv, Russia, Brussels

☆ Euro zone economy narrowly skirts recession, stagnates in fourth quarter
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-30 | by ( Jenni Reid | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The euro zone economy stabilized in the fourth quarter of 2023, flash figures published by the European Union's statistics agency showed on Tuesday. The euro zone's seasonally-adjusted GDP was flat compared with the previous quarter and expanded by 0.1% versus the previous year. The French economy was steady in the fourth quarter, while Spain outperformed forecasts to expand by 0.6%. The U.S. economy smashed expectations for the end of the year, expanding by 3.3% in the fourth quarter. The latest euro zone inflation flash figures are due Thursday.

Persons: industrials, Bert Colijn Organizations: ING, U.S, European Central Bank Locations: Frankfurt, Germany, Spain, U.S

☆ Belgian Farmers to Block Zeebrugge Port as French Protests Spill Over - Reports
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-30 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Belgian farmers outraged over rising costs, European Union environmental policies and cheap food imports plan to block access roads to the Zeebrugge container port in Belgium, financial daily De Tijd reported on Tuesday. Farmers also disrupted traffic close to the Dutch border on the E19 highway on Tuesday morning, with a tractor convoy heading towards port city Antwerp, state broadcaster RTBF said. Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo is set to meet with farmers' associations on Tuesday. In recent weeks, farmers across Europe including Germany, Poland and Romania have demonstrated over what they call excessive red tape, high fuel costs and unfair competition resulting from liberal European Union trade policies. On Monday, Belgian farmers blocked highways in southern Belgium and parked tractors near to the EU Parliament in Brussels.

Persons: De Tijd, RTBF, Alexander De Croo, Emmanuel Macron, Tassilo Hummel Organizations: Reuters, Farmers, Belgian, European Union, European Commission, South America's Mercosur, GV De Locations: BRUSSELS, Union, Zeebrugge, Belgium, Antwerp, Europe, Germany, Poland, Romania, Belgian, France, Paris, Brussels

☆ Analysis-West Africa's 'Brexit' Moment Spells Trouble for the Region
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-30 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +6 min

Ivory Coast alone is home to more than 5 million people from Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger. Earlier this month, Russia and Niger, ruled by a junta since a coup last year, agreed to develop military ties. Russian military personnel flew into Burkina Faso's capital Ouagadougou last week to ensure the safety of the country's military leader. EMPTY THREATECOWAS has responded to a wave of coups in the region since 2020 with sanctions that the juntas have called "illegal and inhumane." "The departure from ECOWAS will have catastrophic consequences for the ability to respond to the many security challenges facing this region," said Abba.

Persons: Bate Felix, David Lewis, Giulia Paravicini, Seidik Abba, Russia's Wagner, Mucahid Durmaz, Verisk Maplecroft, Charlie Robertson, Kwesi Aning, Gilles Yabi, Adama Coulibaly, Nagnouma Keita, Abba, Tiemoko Diallo, Boureima, Silvia Aloisi, Andrew Cawthorne Organizations: Giulia Paravicini DAKAR, West, West African States, Reuters, Islamic, FIM Partners, European Union, ECOWAS, CFA Locations: Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Russia, Ivory Coast, Niger . Niger, Nigeria, Paris, Ghana, Togo, Benin, France, United States, Burkina Faso's, Ouagadougou, West Africa, United, London, Bamako, Guinea, China

LONDON (AP) — Italian regulators said they told OpenAI that its ChatGPT artificial intelligence chatbot has violated European Union’s stringent data privacy rules. The watchdog started investigating ChatGPT last year, when it temporarily banned within Italy the chatbot that can produce text, images and sound in response to users' questions. The growing popularity of generative AI systems like ChatGPT are also drawing increasing scrutiny from regulators on both sides of the Atlantic. Competition regulators in the 27-nation EU and Britain, meanwhile, are also examining Microsoft's OpenAI investments. AI systems also face broader oversight in the EU, which is f inalizing its groundbreaking AI Act, the world's first comprehensive rulebook for artificial intelligence.

Persons: OpenAI, chatbot, ChatGPT, “ Organizations: San, EU, Data, U.S . Federal Trade Commission, Google, Microsoft, Competition Locations: San Francisco, Italy, EU, Britain

☆ Europe should brace for ‘harsh decisions’ if Trump is re-elected, says ECB’s Lagarde
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-30 | by ( Hanna Ziady | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

London CNN —Europe should prepare for possible threats to its economy — including new US tariffs on its exports — if Donald Trump returns to the White House, according to European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde. “Let us prepare for potential tariffs, for potential harsh decisions that would be unexpected. The transatlantic relationship was strained during Trump’s first term, not least by a tit-for-tat trade spat between Washington and Brussels. That dispute saw the United States impose tariffs on EU steel and aluminum, to which the EU responded with tariffs on $3 billion worth of US goods, including whiskey, motorcycles and denim. The United States is the EU’s biggest source of foreign direct investment.

Persons: Donald Trump, Christine Lagarde, Mr Trump, ”, CNN’s Richard Quest, ” Lagarde, Trump, Trump’s, Lagarde, “ Organizations: London CNN, White, European Central Bank, United, EU, Republican, Ukraine, Russia, Trade, Trump, French, France, NATO Locations: Europe, United States, Washington, Brussels, Paris

☆ Brussels Threatens to Hit Hungary's Economy if Orban Vetoes Ukraine Aid - FT
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-29 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

(Reuters) - The European Union will sabotage Hungary's economy if Budapest blocks fresh aid to Ukraine at a summit this week, under a confidential plan drawn up by Brussels, the Financial Times reported on Sunday. Brussels has outlined a strategy to explicitly target Hungary's economic weaknesses, imperil its currency and drive a collapse in investor confidence in a bid to hurt "jobs and growth" if Budapest refuses to lift its veto on the aid to Kyiv, the newspaper reported, citing a document drawn up by EU officials. they cannot imagine that" EU funds would be provided to Budapest. Hungary's EU minister Janos Boka told the newspaper Budapest was not aware of the financial threat, but that the country "does not give in to pressure". (Reporting by Disha Mishra in Bengaluru; Editing by Kirsten Donovan)

Persons: Viktor Orban, Janos Boka, Disha Mishra, Kirsten Donovan Organizations: Reuters, European, Financial Times, Budapest, EU, Kremlin, FT Locations: European Union, Budapest, Ukraine, Brussels, Kyiv, Hungarian, Russia, Hungary's, Bengaluru

☆ The Vision Pro needs apps. Now is not a good time for Apple to be at odds with developers.
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-29 | by ( Hasan Chowdhury | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Read previewWhen Apple launches the Vision Pro on Friday, it could really do with developers lapping it up. Given the price tag, Apple watchers aren't expecting the Vision Pro to fly off the shelves immediately. AdvertisementTo spur future consumer sales then, Apple really needs developers onside to help make the Vision Pro a success. In theory, it means developers aren't strictly limited to releasing their apps to Apple users through its own App Store. More broadly, it puts Apple and developers at odds with each other at a moment when Apple really needs apps for Vision Pro.

Persons: —, It's, aren't, Apple Apple, Daniel Ek, Ek, Tim Sweeney, Sweeney, Apple, Apps, Mark Gurman Organizations: Service, Apple, Business, Vision, European Union, bloc's, Epic, Microsoft, Valve, Vision Pro

The U.N. aid agency serving Palestinians in Gaza faced more funding cuts Monday amid accusations that 12 of its employees were involved in the Oct. 7 attack that sparked the Israel-Hamas war. The allegations over the weekend triggered a wave of funding cuts by major donors, including the U.S., Britain and France. UNRWA employs roughly 13,000 Palestinians in Gaza and says it will be forced to halt operations within weeks if funding isn’t restored. The Palestinian Health Ministry said the boy was killed near the Israeli settlement of Tekoa. The official Palestinian news agency Wafa said that Israeli forces opened fire after clashing with Palestinians from the area.

Persons: Austria, — Biden, Jordan — Israel, Washington, Sebastian Fischer, Jordan, ” Fischer, Wafa, —, ’, Israel, “, Bassem, Awadi, Magen David Adom, ”, Austria “, Israel ” Organizations: The Associated Press, UNRWA, Ministry, US, UN, JORDAN BERLIN —, Foreign, U.S, BANK, West Bank —, West Bank, Palestinian Health Ministry, EU, BRUSSELS, The European Union, European Commission, BAGHDAD, Government, Hamas, JERUSALEM, BERLIN —, Foreign Ministry, Japanese Foreign Ministry Locations: Gaza, Israel, U.S, Britain, France, Hamas, Iran, Jordan, Qatar, Egypt, israel, GERMANY, JORDAN BERLIN — Germany, Tehran, BANK RAMALLAH, West, Tekoa, West Bank, Dura, Hebron, Silwad, Yamoun, Jenin, IRAQ, Syrian, Iraq, Syria, Palestine, Haifa, Tel Aviv, AUSTRIA, BERLIN — Austria, Vienna, Austria, JAPAN, GAZA TOKYO, Japan

☆ Hungary accuses EU of blackmail over Ukraine aid stand-off
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-29 | by ( Karen Gilchrist | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Viktor Orban, Hungary's prime minister, arrives on day one of the European Union (EU) leaders summit at the EU Council headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, on Monday, May 30, 2022. Hungary accused the European Union of blackmail after a leaked document reportedly suggested that the bloc plans to sabotage Budapest's economy if it vetoes fresh aid for Ukraine at a summit later this week. "Hungary does not give in to blackmail," Bóka János wrote in a post on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. "The document drafted by Brussels bureaucrats only confirms what the Hungarian Government has been saying for a long time: access to EU funds is used for political blackmailing by Brussels," he added. It added that budget talks remain ongoing and will continue to be based on reaching a compromise that is acceptable to all 27 member states.

Persons: Viktor Orban, Hungary's, Bóka János Organizations: European Union, EU, European, Ukraine, Financial Times, Hungarian Locations: Brussels, Belgium, Hungary, European Union, Kyiv, Hungarian Government, Budapest, Hungarian, Ukraine

☆ ASEAN Foreign Ministers Back 'Myanmar-Owned and Led' Solution to Crisis
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-29 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: 1 min

(Reuters) - Southeast Asian foreign ministers on Monday pressed for an end to Myanmar's bloody crisis and expressed unity in their backing for an ASEAN peace plan and a "Myanmar-owned and led solution" to the conflict. The ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) were attending a retreat in Luang Prabang in Laos, which is chair this year of the 10-member bloc. In a statement, they also called for a cessation of hostilities in Myanmar to allow delivery of humanitarian aid, and concerning the South China Sea, urged a conducive environment for the furthering of talks towards a code of conduct between ASEAN and China. (Reporting by Martin Petty, editing by Ed Osmond)

Persons: Martin Petty, Ed Osmond Organizations: Reuters, ASEAN, Association of Southeast Asian Nations Locations: Myanmar, Luang Prabang, Laos, China

☆ Analysis: How Orban’s ties to Putin are putting European aid to Ukraine at risk
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-28 | by ( Luke Mcgee | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —From the start of Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, Hungary has been the weakest link in the West’s response. That’s why there’s so much attention on a meeting on Monday between the foreign ministers of Hungary and Ukraine. Hungary has frustrated European and US-led efforts to support Ukraine for the best part of two years. But time and again, they have blocked important action to support Ukraine and strengthen the Western alliance,” a German foreign affairs official told CNN. But that is what the vast majority of European officials think we are likely to see in the coming months.

Persons: Vladimir Putin’s, Viktor Orban, Orban, Vladimir Putin, Jens Stoltenberg, Francois Mori, Orban tantrums, Sean Gallup, hasn’t, ”, Putin, John Thys, – Organizations: CNN, EU, Hungarian, Ukraine, NATO, Getty, Russia, Kremlin, Putin Locations: Ukraine, Hungary, Russia, Brussels, Europe, Hungarian, AFP, brinksmanship, Finland, Sweden, Turkish, Hungary’s, Budapest, Moscow, Scandinavia, Balkans

☆ Germany's Scholz Calls for Completion of EU Capital Markets Union
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-28 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

Berlin (Reuters) - German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called on Sunday for the European Union to complete its creation of a banking and capital markets union so the bloc can compete with the U.S. and China for new technologies. The plan to create a single market for capital has been on the table since 2015 without any real progress. Scholz also called for a minimum tax rate for companies of 15% to be introduced in all EU countries. "Isn't that possibly also the basis for the banking and capital markets union to work?" The heads of EU institutions called for a strengthened euro and progress towards a capital markets union in a joint appeal in December.

Persons: Olaf Scholz, Scholz, Andreas Rinke, Maria Martinez, Andrew Cawthorne Organizations: Berlin, European Union, U.S, Social Democrats Locations: China, Berlin, Europe, EU

☆ Hungary Far-Right Would Lay Claim to Neighbouring Region, if Ukraine Loses War
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-28 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

BUDAPEST (Reuters) - Hungary's far-right Our Homeland party would lay claim to a western region of Ukraine that is home to about 150,000 ethnic Hungarians if Ukraine loses its statehood due to Russia's invasion, the party's leader said late on Saturday. "Regarding the war in Ukraine, our message is very simple: immediate ceasefire, peace and a resolution through talks," Toroczkai said in a video posted on his party's website, calling for autonomy for ethnic Hungarians in western Ukraine. "If this war ends up with Ukraine losing its statehood, because this is also on the cards, then as the only Hungarian party taking this position, let me signal that we lay claim to Transcarpathia," he said, drawing applause from the crowd. Budapest has clashed with Kyiv over what it says are curbs on the rights of roughly 150,000 ethnic Hungarians to use their native tongue. Last month all European Union states except Hungary, which is also a member of NATO, agreed to start EU accession talks with Ukraine.

Persons: Laszlo Toroczkai, Toroczkai, Viktor Orban, Zoltan Kovacs, Peter Szijjarto, Dmytro Kuleba, Denys Shmyhal, Boldizsar Gyori, William Maclean Organizations: Homeland, Dutch Forum for Democracy, Ukraine, Hungarian Foreign Ministry, Hungarian, Union, NATO Locations: BUDAPEST, Ukraine, Ukrainian, Budapest, Hungarian, Hungary

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — Three West African nations of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger have withdrawn from the regional economic bloc known as ECOWAS, their respective juntas announced Sunday, accusing the bloc of “inhumane” sanctions to reverse the coups in their nations. The juntas said in a joint statement read on state television that they have “decided in complete sovereignty on the immediate withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), alleging that the bloc has “moved away from the ideals of its founding fathers and pan-Africanism” after nearly 50 years of its establishment. “Furthermore, ECOWAS, under the influence of foreign powers, betraying its founding principles, has become a threat to its member states and its populations whose happiness it is supposed to ensure,” their statements read. It is the latest twist in a series of events that have deepened political tension in West Africa since it experienced its latest of a string of coups — in Niger — last year. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Persons: juntas, “ Organizations: Economic, West African States, ECOWAS, Associated Press Locations: ABUJA, Nigeria, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, West Africa, Niger —

☆ Russia Ready to Discuss Gas Supplies With EU as Ukraine Transit Deal Expires -Agencies
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-27 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia is ready to hold talks with the European Union on natural gas supplies as a transit deal with Ukraine expires at the end of 2024, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak was quoted as saying by several news agencies on Saturday. Under a five-year deal agreed between Moscow and Kyiv in 2019, Russia is exporting gas to Europe via Ukraine and pays Ukraine for the usage of its pipeline network. The arrangement has continued despite the start of Russia's war in Ukraine in February 2022, although Russian gas deliveries to Europe have plummeted since then. A European Union official on Friday declined to speculate on whether the Ukraine transit deal would be extended beyond the end of 2024, but said the bloc was assessing all scenarios to ensure its preparedness. But the Kremlin-controlled gas pipeline exporting monopoly Gazprom still continues shipping gas via Ukraine.

Persons: Alexander Novak, Novak, Clelia Oziel Organizations: European Union, RIA, Gazprom Locations: MOSCOW, Russia, Ukraine, Russian, Moscow, Kyiv, Europe

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden will host German Chancellor Olaf Scholz at the White House on Feb. 9 as the West struggles to provide new aid for Ukraine in the war against Russia. The Biden administration already has sent Ukraine $111 billion in weapons, equipment, humanitarian assistance and other aid since Russian President Vladimir Putin launched his invasion in February 2022. That total includes about $61 billion in assistance for Ukraine. The European Union last month paid the final installment of a multibillion-euro support package to Ukraine to help keep its economy afloat. The Israel-Hamas war will also be a focus of the White House meeting between Biden and Scholz.

Persons: Joe Biden, Olaf Scholz, “, Biden, Vladimir Putin, Viktor Orbán, Scholz, Karine Jean, Pierre Organizations: WASHINGTON, White, Russia, White House, U.S, European Union, European Commission Locations: Ukraine, United States, Kyiv, Russia, Israel, Mexico, Hungary, EU, Gaza, ”

☆ China's defense ministry rips NATO and says it's 'like a walking war machine'
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-26 | by ( Kwan Wei Kevin Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

China's defense ministry called NATO "a walking war machine." AdvertisementChina's defense ministry has accused NATO of being a warmonger. "It's fair to say NATO is like a walking war machine, wherever it goes, there will be instability," defense ministry spokesperson Wu Qian said of the military alliance during a press conference in Beijing on Thursday. Wu's comments came in response to journalists' questions about NATO's ongoing military exercise, Steadfast Defender 2024. "NATO is a military organization, the issue of our relationship with China isn't just a military issue," Macron said after a NATO meeting in 2021.

Persons: Wu Qian didn't, —, Wu Qian, Wu's, Wu, Emmanuel Macron, Macron, China isn't Organizations: NATO, Service, Asia, China, Business Insider Locations: Japan, South Korea, Beijing, China, Asia, Atlantic

☆ Apple faces 'strong action' if App Store changes fall short, EU's Breton says
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-26 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Apple faces strong action if changes to its App Store do not meet incoming European Union regulations, the bloc's industry chief said on Friday. However, critics have said the changes do not go far enough, arguing Apple's fee structure remains unfair, and that the changes may be in violation of the DMA. Under Apple's new EU regime, developers will still have to submit apps to Apple for review for cybersecurity risks and obvious fraud. Apple said on Friday the core technology fee only applies to developers who choose to opt into the new business terms. Under the new business terms for EU apps, Apple estimates that 99 percent of developers would reduce or maintain the fees they owe to Apple, the company said.

Persons: Thierry Breton, Apple Organizations: Apple, Union, Digital Markets, Reuters, EU, Meta, Spotify

☆ Apple Overhauls App Store in Europe, in Response to New Digital Law
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-25 | by ( Adam Satariano | Tripp Mickle | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Since Apple introduced the App Store in 2008, it has tightly controlled the apps and services allowed on iPhones and iPads, giving the company an iron grip on one of the digital economy’s most valuable storefronts. Now Apple is weakening its hold on the store, in one of the most consequential signs to date of how new European regulations are changing consumer technology. To comply with a European Union competition law taking effect on March 7, Apple on Thursday announced major changes to the App Store and other services for consumers in Europe. In Europe, customers will now have access to competing app stores and other services. In the United States, where there are fewer laws and regulations, Apple and other tech giants have more flexibility to operate as they please.

Organizations: Apple, European Union Locations: Europe, China, United States

☆ Opinion | Why Ukraine and Gaza Are Even Bigger Than You Think
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-25 | by ( Thomas L. Friedman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

While the two battlefronts may look very different, they actually have a lot in common. On one side is the Resistance Network, dedicated to preserving closed, autocratic systems where the past buries the future. On the other side is the Inclusion Network, trying to forge more open, connected, pluralizing systems where the future buries the past. Who wins the struggles between these two networks will determine a lot about the dominant character of this post-post-Cold War epoch. Their hearts, and often pocketbooks, are with the Resistors but their heads with the Includers.)

Persons: Iran’s, Xi Organizations: West, Soviet, Resistance Network, Inclusion Locations: Ukraine, Israel, Arab, —, Russia, Iran, China

Search resuls for: "BLOC"

25 mentions found