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The draft needs to be thrashed out between EU countries and EU lawmakers, called a trilogue, before the rules can become law. This led to different AI tools being classified according to their perceived risk level: from minimal through to limited, high, and unacceptable. Almost all of the big tech players have stakes in the sector, including Microsoft (MSFT.O), Alphabet (GOOGL.O) and Meta (META.O). BIG TECH, BIG PROBLEMSThe EU discussions have raised concerns for companies -- from small startups to Big Tech -- on how regulations might affect their business and whether they would be at a competitive disadvantage against rivals from other continents. A recent survey by industry body appliedAI showed that 51% of the respondents expect a slowdown of AI development activities as a result of the AI Act.

☆ Explainer: What is the European Union AI Act?
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Apart from uses of AI by companies, it will also look at AI used in public sector and law enforcement. A GPAIS (General Purpose AI System) is a category proposed by lawmakers to account for AI tools with more than one application, such as generative AI models like ChatGPT. The proposals say those found in breach of the AI Act face fines of up to 30 million euros or 6% of global profits, whichever is higher. WHEN WILL THE AI ACT COME INTO FORCE? The Act is being discussed by parliamentarians, and after they reach common ground, there will be a trilogue between representatives of the European Parliament, the Council of the European Union and the European Commission.

☆ Police officer shot during raids in German Reichsbuerger probe
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-22 | by ( Madeline Chambers | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The searches follow raids in December, when German police foiled a plot by members of the Reichsbuerger movement to stage a violent coup and install aristocrat Heinrich XIII Prinz Reuss as national leader. One SEK officer was slightly injured and a suspect Reichsbuerger was arrested in Reutlingen during nation-wide raids in the extreme far-right movement. REUTERS/Markus Ulmer 1 2 3 4 5Germany's domestic intelligence service Verfassungsschutz put the Reichsbuerger movement under observation in 2016. The measure is related to the Reichsbuerger scene. "In an exchange of fire, a police officer was shot in the arm," prosecutors said in a statement.

☆ China OKs its first mRNA vaccine, from drugmaker CSPC
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BEIJING, March 22 (Reuters) - China's CSPC Pharmaceutical Group Limited (1093.HK) said on Wednesday its messenger RNA (mRNA) COVID-19 vaccine had received emergency use authorisation from Chinese health authorities, making it the country's first domestically developed mRNA shot. China has declined to use mRNA vaccines from abroad and vaccines available in China are widely considered less effective than the Moderna (MRNA.O) and Pfizer (PFE.N)-BioNTech (22UAy.DE) mRNA shots. The company said its independently developed mRNA vaccine SYS6006 targets some major Omicron variants and its booster dose showed good neutralization effect against Omicron subvariants BA.5, BF.7, BQ.1.1., XBB.1.5 and CH.1.1. The firm got emergency approval to conduct clinical trials of the mRNA shot in April last year, around the same time as CanSino, another China-based company that is testing an mRNA Omicron booster shot. Shares in the company rose as much as 7.7% after the result and the announcement of the mRNA approval.

"We have found widespread bullying, discrimination, institutional homophobia, misogyny and racism," the report said, adding "women and children do not get the protection and support they deserve". [1/4] A Metropolitan Police officer stands on duty in Westminster, London, Britain, October 1, 2021. The review said the biggest barrier was the Met's culture of defensiveness and denial about the scale of its problems. Met Commissioner Mark Rowley, Britain's most senior police officer, told reporters: "We've let Londoners down and we've let our own frontline down ... The 360-page report listed strong leadership, a women's protection service, and a new children's strategy as some of its recommendations.

☆ South African rand weakens ahead of anti-government protest
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

JOHANNESBURG, March 20 (Reuters) - The South African rand weakened against the dollar on Monday ahead of planned protests by the Marxist Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party. At 0743 GMT the rand traded at 18.4350 against the dollar, 0.16% weaker than its previous close. South African security forces on Monday said 87 people had been arrested over the past 12 hours over public violence. The Marxist Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party has called for a national shutdown to protest crippling power cuts and demand the resignation of President Cyril Ramaphosa. "This constitutes a risk event for the country and could harm sentiment on South African markets if the outcome is bad," ETM Analytics said in a note.

☆ Vietnam seizes 7 tonnes ivory in largest wildlife smuggling case in years
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

HANOI, March 20 (Reuters) - Vietnamese authorities on Monday seized seven tonnes of ivory smuggled from Angola, the largest seizure of wildlife products in years, the government said. Trade in ivory is illegal in Vietnam but wildlife trafficking remains widespread. Other items often found smuggled into the country include pangolin scales, rhino horns and tiger carcasses. This followed the finding of more than 600 kilograms of African ivory last month at the city's Lach Huyen Port. Last month, a court in Vietnam sentenced a man to 13 years in prison for trafficking nearly 10 tonnes of endangered animal parts from Africa, including ivory and rhino horns.

☆ South African authorities arrest 87 ahead of anti-government protest
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

JOHANNESBURG, March 20 (Reuters) - South African security forces said on Monday that 87 people had been arrested in the last 12 hours across the country over public violence ahead of planned protests by the Marxist Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party. The EFF has called for a national shutdown to protest crippling power cuts and demand the resignation of President Cyril Ramaphosa. The party's main constituency are the poor and working class Black South Africans who feel left out of the country's prosperity since the governing African National Congress (ANC) ended white minority rule in 1994. Parliament said in a statement on Sunday that the South African military would deploy 3,474 troops for a month until April 17 to prevent and combat crime in cooperation with the police. "Law enforcement officers are on high alert and will continue to prevent and combat any acts of criminality," NatJOINTS said.

☆ South Africa's EFF marches to demand president's resignation
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/5] Members of the political party, Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), gather at Church Square after calling for a "National Shutdown" and demanding resignation of President Cyril Ramaphosa in Pretoria, South Africa March 20, 2023. REUTERS/Alet PretoriusJOHANNESBURG, March 20 (Reuters) - Thousands marched through the streets of South Africa's cities on Monday to demand that President Cyril Ramaphosa resign, as security forces guarded malls and roads to prevent violence and looting. The Marxist Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party, whose supporters are mainly poor and working class Black South Africans who feel marginalised since the governing African National Congress (ANC) ended white minority rule in 1994, had called for a national shutdown. South African security forces said on Monday that 87 people had been arrested in the last 12 hours over public violence ahead of planned protests. Parliament said in a statement on Sunday that the South African military would deploy 3,474 troops for a month until April 17 to prevent and combat crime in cooperation with the police.

☆ China to import 27 new video games, including Tencent, NetEase titles
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-20 | by ( Josh Ye | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

HONG KONG, March 20 - China's online gaming regulator on Monday granted licences to 27 foreign games in March, including titles to be published by Tencent Holdings (0700.HK), NetEase Inc (9999.HK) and Bilibili Inc (9626.HK) . NetEase secured approval for at least one mobile game named Audition: Everybody Party, while Bilibili received a licence for a game called Shanyao! The crackdown by China on online gaming had halted the approval process for foreign video games for 18 months between 2021 and 2022. XD Inc (2400.HK) received licences for two mobile games named Gorogoa and Wizard of Legend respectively. Other notable titles approved by China via this batch include a mobile game called Fairy Tale: Fighting and a console game named Yo-kai Watch 4.

☆ 'Climate time bomb ticking', emissions must urgently be cut, UN chief says
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-20 | by ( David Stanway | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

March 20 (Reuters) - U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres warned that the "climate time bomb is ticking" as he urged rich nations on Monday to slash emissions sooner after a new assessment from scientists said there was little time to lose in tackling climate change. "The rate of temperature rise in the last half century is the highest in 2,000 years," he said. The synthesis report summarised findings from three expert assessments published between 2021 and 2022 that looked at the physical science, impacts, and mitigation of climate change. The summary report is designed to provide clarity for policymakers as they consider further action to slash emissions. The document will also serve as a guide for a global climate change "stocktake" set to take place this year, in which countries will assess progress.

☆ Japan PM Kishida, India's Modi set to strengthen cooperation, Kishida says
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

[1/2] Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Japan Prime Minister Fumio Kishida talk before their meeting at the Hyderabad House in New Delhi, India, March 20, 2023. REUTERS/Adnan AbidiNEW DELHI, March 20 (Reuters) - Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said on Monday he confirmed with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi that they would strengthen cooperation between the two nations. Kishida was speaking to reporters in New Delhi. Reporting by Sakura Murakami, writing by Kaori Kaneko; Editing by Bernadette BaumOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ No conditions for Polish rate cuts until end of 2025, says c.banker Kotecki
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

"Today there are not conditions (for rate cuts) until the end of the projection period, so until the end of 2025," he told private broadcaster TOK FM. Glapinski has said he expects inflation to fall to single digits at the turn of August and September. However, Kotecki said that inflation did not show signs of weakening and that prospects of it reaching single digits by the end of the year were receding. "What worries me is that inflation still does not show significant, lasting signs of weakening," he said. Reporting by Alan Charlish and Marek Strzelecki; Editing by Toby Chopra and Bernadette BaumOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

WASHINGTON, March 16 (Reuters) - In a rare move, the Pentagon on Thursday released a de-classified video showing Russia's intercept of a U.S. military surveillance drone downed over the Black Sea two days ago. It was the first direct U.S.-Russian incident since the Ukraine war began, worsening already tense relations between Washington and Moscow. It also shows the loss of the video feed after another close Russian maneuver, which the Pentagon says resulted from the Russian jet's collision with the drone. It ends with images of the drone's damaged propeller, which the Pentagon says resulted from the collision, making the aircraft inoperable. [1/4] A Russian Su-27 aircraft dumps fuel while flying upon a U.S. Air Force intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance unmanned MQ-9 aircraft over the Black Sea, March 14, 2023 in this still image taken from a handout video.

☆ Poland to send Ukraine four MiG-29 jets in coming days
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] A Polish Air Force MiG-29 aircraft fires flares during a performance at the Radom Air Show at an airport in Radom August 24, 2013. REUTERS/Kacper PempelWARSAW, March 16 (Reuters) - Poland will send Ukraine four MiG-29 fighter jets in coming days, the president said on Thursday, making it the first of Kyiv's allies to provide such aircraft. One of Ukraine's staunchest supporters, Warsaw has taken a leading role in persuading sometimes hesitant allies to provide Kyiv with heavy weaponry. NATO allies in the former communist east such as Poland and Slovakia have been particularly vocal supporters of Kyiv since Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022. Slovakia has also been considering whether to send MiG-29s to Ukraine but has yet to reach a decision.

☆ China renews pledge for wider market access for foreign investors
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BEIJING, March 16 (Reuters) - China's commerce ministry said on Wednesday it will continue to push for the relaxation of market access for foreign investors, renewing efforts to lure foreign capital as the world's second-largest economy emerges from three years of COVID disruptions. As China reopens after dropping its zero tolerance policy for COVID-19 in December, convincing foreign investors to return to China will help reinvigorate an economy that grew at its slowest rates last year in half a century. China will "help foreign companies seize the opportunity to deepen their presence in China," Shu Jueting, a commerce ministry spokesperson, told reporters. Shu told reporters that China will also "steadily expand institutional openness." China's fresh efforts to court foreign investors and businesses also came as global uncertainties, from wars to bank crises, push them to search for new safe havens.

☆ Taiwanese financial sector has low exposure to Credit Suisse -regulator
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

TAIPEI, March 16 (Reuters) - The Taiwanese financial sector's exposure to Credit Suisse (CSGN.S) is low and "controllable", the island's financial regulator said on Thursday. Taiwanese insurers - large investors on global bond markets - have the highest exposure at T$108.2 billion ($3.54 billion), the regulator said, which is only around 0.35% of their total overseas assets. The overall level of exposure is "within a controllable range", it said. Credit Suisse on Thursday said it would borrow up to $54 billion from the Swiss central bank to shore up liquidity and investor confidence after a slump in its shares intensified fears about a global financial crisis. ($1 = 30.6080 Taiwan dollars)Reporting by Emily Chan; Writing by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Bernadette BaumOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Indonesia tech firm GoTo to cut 600 more jobs - statement
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

March 10 (Reuters) - Indonesia's biggest tech firm PT Goto Gojek Tokopedia (GOTO.JK) announced on Friday another round of layoffs aimed at streamlining the organisation and boosting the company's profitability. About 600 roles will be affected, the company said in a statement, following 1,300 jobs that were cut late last year. The company has previously said the laysoffs are aimed at making the company more "agile" and maintaining growth amid challenging global economic conditions. GoTo said last month that adjusted EBITDA is expected to turn positive in the last quarter of 2023 due to its cost management measures. Reporting by Stefanno Sulaiman, Writing by Bernadette Christina Munthe; Editing by Kanupriya KapoorOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

REUTERS/Nathan Frandino//File PhotoNEW YORK/HOUSTON, March 10 (Reuters) - Corporations and investors have been pouring money into renewable energy projects, seeing an opportunity to grasp the Holy Grail of socially conscious investing: do good while doing well. But sharply higher interest rates have further stressed a model strained by soaring prices for steel and silicon, vital for wind turbines and solar panels. Higher costs have buyers and sellers of renewable power projects recalculating potential returns, hampering fundraising and mergers and acquisitions (M&A). A decade of low interest rates meant borrowers could raise cheap debt to build projects and juice returns. Financial investors traditionally took stakes in operating renewables projects to avoid risks of construction delays and ensure stable returns.

Sberbank, which boasts around 107 million active retail clients, was releasing results under international reporting standards for the first time in over a year. Russian authorities had ordered banks to limit disclosures and dividend payments last year as Moscow tried to maintain financial stability. Net interest income rose 6.6% year-on-year to 1.87 trillion roubles, the bank said, while net commission income rose 15.4% to 697.1 billion roubles. Sberbank's annual profit came around 30 billion roubles lower than what it reported last month under Russian accounting standards. February profit under Russian standards stood at 115 billion roubles.

☆ Three Los Angeles officers stable after confrontation, gunman dead
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

March 9 (Reuters) - Three Los Angeles police officers were in stable condition on Thursday after they were shot during a confrontation with a suspect who was later found dead at the scene, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) said. After the officers called for K9 units, the suspect barricaded himself in a garage, the Los Angeles Times reported. The three officers, who were not identified by police, were rushed to hospital where they were in stable condition, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said, noting she had spoken to two of them. "Every day, the men and women of the Los Angeles Police Department put themselves in harm's way. The unidentified suspect was found unresponsive and pronounced deceased at the scene, the Los Angeles Police Department said on Twitter.

"Credit Suisse remains committed to our investment banking & capital markets clients throughout the APAC (Asia Pacific) region," the company told Reuters in response to a query. Credit Suisse's restructuring plan includes creating a separate unit for its investment bank under the CS First Boston brand. Reuters was not immediately able to ascertain whether the few remaining staff at Credit Suisse's Japanese investment banking division would be shifted to the new unit. Credit Suisse also runs wealth management, equity research, securities trading and asset management businesses in Japan. Some of the major deals that Credit Suisse advised on in Japan included Hitachi Ltd's (6501.T) $9.6 billion acquisition of U.S. software company GlobalLogic Inc.

☆ Brazil airline Gol's shares soar after unexpected Q4 net profit
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-08 | by ( Gabriel Araujo | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The surprisingly strong figures sent shares in the company soaring more than 12% in Sao Paulo morning trading, with analysts highlighting improving operating figures and strong revenue trends. The firm's shares had already jumped roughly 30% in the previous two sessions after rival carrier Azul SA predicted bluer skies ahead, driving travel-related stocks in Brazil up. Analysts polled by Refinitiv had forecast a net loss of 484.75 million reais. Quarterly net revenue totaled 4.7 billion reais, up 61.7% and above analysts' forecasts of 4.46 billion. Full-year net revenue expectations were reduced by 500 million reais to about 19.5 billion reais, but diluted earnings per share in the full year were kept at 0.3 real, the airline added.

☆ Volkswagen pauses on Europe battery plants, awaits EU response to IRA
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-08 | by ( Jan Schwartz | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

"De facto it is the case that we are getting ahead far faster in North America," a person close to the matter said to Reuters, declining to be named. Asked about the report, a Volkswagen spokesperson said the carmaker was "still evaluating suitable locations for our next cell factories in Eastern Europe and North America. The company said in October last year it planned to firmly settle on a location for a plant in eastern Europe in the first six months of 2023. Schmall said he participated in a discussion with EU officials via the European Battery Alliance last week on what conditions were needed in Europe for battery production. These included state aid in line with China and North America, a raw materials strategy and affordable renewable energy, he said.

☆ China's Jan-Feb passenger cars sales down 20% - CPCA
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SHANGHAI/BEIJING, March 8 (Reuters) - China's passenger vehicle sales fell 20% in the first two months of this year, industry data showed on Wednesday, underscoring weak demand in the world's biggest auto market even as some car manufacturers offer reduced prices to revive demand. Sales in February, 1.42 million units, were 10.4% higher than a year earlier, a low base period when a week-long Lunar New Year holiday reduced business activity, the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA) said. Sales of new energy vehicles (NEVs), which include pure battery electric cars and plug-in hybrids, grew faster than the overall market, up 61% in February on a year earlier. NEVs accounted for more than 30% of new car sales. Tesla accounted for 11.5% of China's battery electric car sales in February, little changed from 11.3% a year before, indicating a waning effect of price cuts it implemented in early January.

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