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[1/3] FILE PHOTO: German Chancellor Olaf Scholz looks on as he meets NATO's Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in Berlin, Germany, November 9, 2023. Wednesday's decision by the constitutional court could also set a precedent for fiscal responses to future crises. "FAR-REACHING CONSEQUENCES""The court ruling has far-reaching consequences for fiscal policy in Germany," said Clemens Fuest, President of the Ifo economic institute. This was done with the Second Supplementary Budget Act 2021, which retroactively amended the Budget Act for 2021. The constitutional court ruled that this act was incompatible with Germany's Basic Law and so was void.

Persons: Olaf Scholz, Jens Stoltenberg, Liesa, Chancellor Olaf Scholz's, Christian Lindner, Lindner, Scholz, Robert Habeck, Clemens Fuest, Ralph Solveen, Habeck, Friedrich Merz, Maria Martinez, Christian Kraemer, Ursula Knapp, Matthias Williams, Kirsti Knolle, Madeline Chambers, Susan Fenton, William Maclean, Catherine Evans Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Finance, Union, Social Democrats, Free Democrats, Christian Democratic Union, Thomson Locations: Berlin, Germany, Ukraine

☆ Premarket stocks: Why the American Whiskey industry is freaking out
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-13 | by ( Nicole Goodkind | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Between June 2018 and December 2021 there was a 25% tax imposed on the spirit, which decreased American whiskey exports by 18%. American whiskey exports to the EU jumped 118% in the first half of 2023 when compared to the same period in 2022. They went back and forth until 2021 when the tariffs on American whiskey were suspended and we took a great sigh of relief. The Biden administration’s leadership and efforts on this have enabled the suspension of tariffs on American whiskey and all distilled spirits products, but we are rightly anxious because a 50% tariff on American whiskey would be beyond devastating to exports. Since those tariffs have been suspended, we’ve seen American whiskey exports rebound to beyond pre-pandemic levels.

Persons: Bell, Chris Swonger, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Ursula von der Leyen, we’re, Biden, We’ve, we’ve, It’s, Gina Raimondo, ” Raimondo, CNN’s Christiane Amanpour, Raimondo, ”, Read, Bill Ackman, Leslie Wexner, —, “, Claudine Gay, Dean, Harvard College Rakesh Khurana, Gay Organizations: CNN Business, Bell, New York CNN, EU, European Commission, European Union, Biden administration’s, US, China, Commerce Department, Harvard, Harvard University, Pershing, Harvard College, Harvard College Jewish Alumni Association, ” Harvard, “ Harvard, Council, Advancement Locations: New York, United States, EU, China, Taiwan, Israel

Meanwhile, a blast in Russian-occupied territory in Luhansk, eastern Ukraine, killed a pro-Moscow official, with a Ukrainian intelligence agency taking credit for the assassination. The Black Sea frontUkrainian Defense Intelligence (GUR) claimed it hit two small Russian naval vessels in the Black Sea on Friday, its latest display of Ukraine’s ability to hit Russian targets in occupied Crimea. “Two Russian landing craft have been hit with Ukrainian sea drones near Chernomorske, Crimea,” Andriy Yusov, a representative of GUR, said in comments to CNN. Ukraine Defence Intelligence released grainy, grayscale video showing what it claims is the moment of its srikes on Russian navy vessels in the Black sea. Kyiv has also focused on breaking Russia’s dominance in Ukraine’s territorial Black Sea waters.

Persons: GUR, ” Andriy Yusov, Vlada, Oleksandr Tarnavskyi, Mikhail Filiponenko, Igor Kornet, Ursula von der Leyen, John Thys, Volodymyr Zelensky, ”, Ursula von der, “ Organizations: CNN, Moscow, Ukrainian Defense Intelligence, CNN . Defence Intelligence, Ukraine Defence Intelligence, Ukrainian Ministry of Defense CNN, Liberian, Operational Command, UN, Police, Getty, Tavria, Forces, Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence, People’s Militia, Luhansk People’s, Defense Intelligence, Russian, European Union, EU, NATO Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Ukraine’s, Crimea, Luhansk, Ukrainian, “, Chernomorske, ”, Russian, Kyiv, Moscow, Odesa, Avdiivka, Donetsk, Luhansk People’s Republic, AFP, Europe

☆ Spain's Sanchez wins support for PM bid amid anger over Catalan amnesty vow
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

"We have managed to secure a majority that will make possible the investiture of Pedro Sanchez," acting minister for parliamentary relations Felix Bolanos said in an interview with SER radio station. Opinion polls have painted a picture of a country divided over the question of amnesty, even within the ranks of the Socialist Party. With Junts and PNV and the national and regional left-wing parties, Sanchez would win an absolute majority of 178 out of 350 lawmakers. Later on Friday, the Socialist Party added one vote more to its wide coalition after Canary Islands' regionalist party Coalicion Canaria also agreed to back Sanchez. Bolanos said the Catalan amnesty law would help ease tension in Catalonia as it would free school directors, firefighters and other civil servants who helped organise an illegal referendum on the region's independence in 2017 from legal proceedings.

Persons: Pedro Sanchez, Ursula von der Leyen, Charles Michel, Jon Nazca, Junts, Sanchez, Felix Bolanos, Bolanos, Canaria, Carles Puigdemont, Belen Carreno, Emma Pinedo, Inti Landauro, David Latona, Jessica Jones, Aislinn Laing, Toby Chopra, Nick Macfie, Hugh Lawson, Andrea Ricci Organizations: European, REUTERS, Rights, Catalan separatists, National Basque Party, Canaries ' Coalition, SER, Socialist Party, Socialist, La, Sigma, Sanchez's Socialist Party, Interior Ministry, El Mundo, Socialists, Police, Thomson Locations: Granada, Spain, Rights MADRID, Catalonia, Galician, Basque, Canary Islands, Junts, Madrid

☆ Palestinian envoy criticises West for Gaza stance, calls for more support
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-10 | by ( Emma Farge | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The Israeli attacks by air, land and sea were triggered by deadly Hamas attacks on Israel on Oct. 7. that killed 1,400. When it comes to us they are put aside, they're violated, they're not used, they're belittled," he told a gathering of diplomats and reporters. Israel says it abides by international humanitarian law at all times and blames Hamas for civilian deaths, saying it uses people as human shields. In the same speech, Khraishi also asked democracies for more support for a ceasefire, and to end the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories, saying humanitarian aid was not enough. Countries are considering calling a special session of the Geneva-based Human Rights Council to debate the Gaza crisis, he said.

Persons: Ibrahim Khraishi, Denis Balibouse, Geneva Ibrahim Khraishi, they're, Ursula Von der, Khraishi, Emma Farge, Nick Macfie Organizations: Human Rights, United Nations, REUTERS, Rights, Palestinian, Ukraine, European Union, EU Commission, Thomson Locations: Palestine, Geneva, Switzerland, Israel, Gaza . Palestinian, Gaza, Ukraine, East, Dutch

☆ Ukraine wants frozen Russian assets for war damage, not just interest
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( Pavel Polityuk | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

KYIV, Nov 9 (Reuters) - Ukraine told Western allies on Thursday that giving it the interest accrued from frozen Russian assets would not be enough to compensate for damage sustained by the war and that it hoped to receive the assets in full. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said last month the Commission was working on a proposal to pool some of the profits derived from frozen Russian state assets to help Ukraine and its post-war reconstruction. She said the value of frozen Russian sovereign assets was around 211 billion euros ($223 billion), noting the bloc had decided that Russia must pay for Ukraine's reconstruction. Iryna Mudra, Ukraine's deputy justice minister, told Reuters Kyiv's partners were considering introducing a tax on income or investment of frozen Russian assets, an idea she said Kyiv welcomed but saw as insufficient. If we use only interest from all (this) frozen money, we can close about a half of this gap."

Persons: Russia's, Ursula von der Leyen, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Pavel Polityuk, Mark Potter Organizations: Western, Reuters, Reuters NEXT, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Kyiv, Ukrainian

☆ EU executive proposes to grant Georgia EU candidate status
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

BRUSSELS, Nov 8 (Reuters) - The European Union's executive recommended on Wednesday that the bloc grants formal candidate status to Georgia, if and when it fulfils remaining conditions. "The Commission recommends that the (European) Council grants Georgia the status of a candidate country on the understanding that certain reforms that steps are taken," said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. The outstanding conditions include Georgia aligning itself with the EU's foreign policy sanctions, pushing back against disinformation and political polarisation, as well as ensuring a free and fair 2024 election. Reporting by Marine Strauss, Gabriela Baczynska, Andrew GrayOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Ursula von der Leyen, Marine Strauss, Gabriela Baczynska, Andrew Gray Organizations: European, Council, Georgia, Andrew Gray Our, Thomson Locations: BRUSSELS, Georgia

In a series of reports on countries wanting to join the bloc's ranks, the EU’s executive branch recommended that war-ravaged Ukraine should be permitted to open membership talks, once it’s addressed some shortfalls. “Moldova is the subject of constant destabilization efforts against its democracy,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said. For 20 years, the prospect of EU membership has been a powerful driver of pro-democratic reform in aspiring countries. The commission said that it should only start membership talks after more progress is made. The country started its EU membership talks in 2005, but they have ground to a halt in recent years.

Persons: it’s, “, Ursula von der Leyen, ”, von der Leyen, Turkey's, backsliding Organizations: —, European Union, European Commission, Georgia, EU, Kosovo –, Kyiv “ Locations: BRUSSELS, — Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, Ukraine, Brussels, Hungary, Slovakia, Balkans, Albania, Bosnia, Montenegro, Serbia, Kosovo, Bosnian, Turkey, Europe

☆ EU report says Ukraine is ready to start process of joining
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( Manav Tanneeru | Luke Mcgee | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

The same report suggests that accession talks with Moldova should also begin. Ukraine has held ambitions to join the EU for more than a decade. The aim of joining the bloc – along with NATO - has formally been part of Ukraine’s constitution since 2019. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky applied for EU membership in February 2022, shortly before Russia invaded his country. With Ukraine currently at war, it is unclear and unlikely that those conditions will be met any time soon.

Persons: Ursula von der Leyen, ” Von der Leyen, Viktor Yanukovych’s, Volodymyr Zelensky Organizations: CNN, EU, European Union, NATO, Ukraine Locations: Ukraine, Moldova, Russia, Crimea

If accepted, EU officials expect formal accession talks with Kyiv to start next year. A top aide to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said Budapest would not support Ukraine's EU integration unless Kyiv changes its laws on minorities, in particular as regards education. "Moldova is firmly on the path for EU membership and we will continue working relentlessly towards this goal," the country's president, Maia Sandu, said in welcoming the move. The Commission said the EU should also begin membership talks with Bosnia and Herzegovina once a long list of extensive conditions are met. In 2020, Britain was the first country to ever leave the EU, a major setback for European integration following World War Two.

Persons: Yves Herman, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Zelenskiy, Ursula von der Leyen, Von der Leyen, Viktor Orban, Maia Sandu, von der Leyen, enlargements, Andrew Gray, Yuliia, Olena, Alexander Tanas, Gabriela Baczynska, Nick Macfie, Sharon Singleton Organizations: REUTERS, European Union, European Commission, EU, Kyiv, Ukraine, Russia, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Brussels, Belgium, Moldova, Bosnia, Georgia, BRUSSELS, KYIV, Hungary, Kyiv, Hungarian, Budapest, EU, Moscow, Tbilisi, Herzegovina, Sarajevo, Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, Netherlands, Britain

☆ Italy PM hails migrants deal with Albania as possible model for EU
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The agreement announced on Monday is the first example of a non-EU country accepting migrants on behalf of an EU nation. "I believe it (the deal) could become a model of cooperation between EU and non-EU countries in managing migration flows... I think this agreement features a bold European spirit," Meloni told Il Messaggero daily. Asked about the scheme by two Italian newspapers, Rama said Italy had not been the only EU country to propose such a deal, but he said he accepted Rome's offer as a sign of "gratitude". In the 1990s, Italy took in large numbers of Albanians and Rome is now one of the most solid backers of Albania's EU accession hopes.

Persons: Ursula von der Leyen, Giorgia Meloni's, Yara, Giorgia Meloni, Meloni, Il, Rama, Federico Maccioni, Alvise Armellini, Nick Macfie Organizations: Italian, REUTERS, Rights, European Union, EU, European Commission, La Stampa, Thomson Locations: Lampedusa, Italy, Albania, EU, British, Rwanda, Rome

☆ EU weighs advancing Ukraine's membership bid as Russia war drags on
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( Gabriela Baczynska | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's Brussels-based executive will publish a report on Wednesday assessing progress achieved towards membership by EU hopefuls. The Commission said last June that Ukraine met two out of seven conditions the EU had set to start membership talks. MOLDOVA, GEORGIAIn good news for Ukraine, Germany's foreign minister expressed confidence that the EU would advance its bid to join. The latter got nine conditions to start membership talks, including fighting organised crime, and can get a conditional positive recommendation along with its neighbour Ukraine. But Tbilisi has the backing of Orban and could still move ahead on its EU path as the bloc wrestles for influence with Russia.

Persons: Ursula von der Leyen's, von der Leyen, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Zelenskiy, Viktor Orban, Orban, Gabriela Baczynska, Sharon Singleton Organizations: Georgia BRUSSELS, European Union, Kyiv, EU, Hungarian, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Moldova, Ursula von der Leyen's Brussels, Kyiv, Europe, Italian, MOLDOVA, GEORGIA, Moscow, Georgia, Chisinau, Russia, Tbilisi

☆ Ukraine war: Zelensky insists conflict with Russia is not at a ‘stalemate’ as tensions grow
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-05 | by ( Rob Picheta | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Apparent divisions between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and his military command are becoming increasingly public, after a bitter back-and-forth over the state of play in the war with Russia. Zhovka told Ukrainian television that Zaluzhny’s interview will have been “carefully read, noted down and conclusions drawn” by the Russians. He said he had received calls from counterparts in partner countries “in a panic” asking if the war really is at a stalemate, as described by Zaluzhny. It came as a separate interview, given by Zelensky to TIME, painted the Ukrainian president as an increasingly isolated figure. Commander of the Ukrainian Air Force Mykola Oleschuk congratulated pilots involved in the strikes in a post on Telegram.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelensky, Igor Zhovka, Valery Zaluzhny, Zhovka, Zaluzhny, ” Zhovka, Kyiv’s, Zelensky, Ursula von der Leyen, ” Zelensky, “, Ukraine’s, von der, Israel ”, Ukrainian Air Force Mykola Oleschuk Organizations: CNN, EU, Hamas, Russian Federation …, Russian, Ukrainian Air Force Locations: Russia, Kyiv, Ukraine, United States, Europe, Israel, East, “, Kerch, Russian, Crimean

☆ EU Weighs Advancing Ukraine's Membership Bid as Russia War Drags On
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-05 | by ( Nov. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +4 min

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's Brussels-based executive will publish a report on Wednesday assessing progress achieved towards membership by EU hopefuls. Such talks take years before candidates meet extensive legal and economic criteria to join, and the bloc is not willing to take in a country at war. The Commission said last June that Ukraine met two out of seven conditions the EU had set to start membership talks. MOLDOVA, GEORGIAIn good news for Ukraine, Germany's foreign minister expressed confidence that the EU would advance its bid to join. But Tbilisi has the backing of Orban and could still move ahead on its EU path as the bloc wrestles for influence with Russia.

Persons: Gabriela Baczynska BRUSSELS, Ursula von der Leyen's, von der Leyen, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Zelenskiy, Viktor Orban, Orban, Gabriela Baczynska, Sharon Singleton Organizations: European Union, Kyiv, EU, Hungarian, Reuters Locations: Ukraine, Ursula von der Leyen's Brussels, Kyiv, Europe, Italian, MOLDOVA, GEORGIA, Moscow, Georgia, Moldova, Chisinau, Russia, Tbilisi

Interest rates for long-term borrowing for capital improvements also would be less costly for Pine Tree Power. The anger and frustration from electric ratepayers in Maine is a far cry from the days when Iberdrola bought Central Maine Power, the state’s largest electric utility. The privately operated, nonprofit Pine Tree Power utility would contract with a private grid operator through a competitive bidding process. But Pine Tree Power would face some of the same constraints as CMP and Versant. And, like the existing utilities, Pine Tree Power would have no control over the actual cost of electricity, which comprises about half of consumers' monthly bills.

Persons: Mainers, ”, Timothy Cox, Janet Mills, William Harwood, Seth Berry, Harwood, Ann, Ursula Schryver, Schryver, Mike Jacobs, Jacobs, who's, Christie Decker, “, Decker, Freed, Willy Ritch, ” Al, David Sharp, @David_Sharp_AP Organizations: Central Maine Power, Energy Partners, Democratic Gov, Maine Public, CMP, Nationwide, American Public Power Association, Union of Concerned Scientists, Iberdrola, Maine, Tree, Maine Affordable Energy Coalition Locations: PORTLAND, Maine, U.S, Washington, Tree, Francisco, San Diego, Ann Arbor , Michigan, Rochester , New York, Nebraska, Boston, Wilton, Pine, ” Al Cleveland

☆ US officials are concerned that Ukraine is running out of troops and have hinted at peace talks with Russia, report says
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-04 | by ( Alia Shoaib | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Western officials have suggested Ukraine consider peace negotiations with Russia, a report says. US officials fear that Ukraine is running out of troops, while Russia seems to have an endless supply. AdvertisementAdvertisementWestern officials have begun broaching the topic of holding peace negotiations with Russia with the Ukrainian government, a report says. Biden administration officials are also concerned that Ukraine is running out of forces as it struggles to recruit more troops for the fight. The Russian president might be hoping to "wait out the West" and hope support for Ukraine wanes, officials told the outlet.

Persons: —, Biden, Joe Biden, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Vladimir Putin, Ursula von der Leyen, Ilia yefimovich, Adrienne Watson, Ukraine wanes, Putin, Donald Trump Organizations: Service, US, NBC, Pentagon, Biden, European Commission, Getty, Kyiv, National Security Council, Ukraine, Republican Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Israel, Ukrainian, United States, Kyiv, Gaza, Russian

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russian attacks in Ukraine wounded at least 14 civilians over the past day, officials said Saturday, as the president of the European Union's executive arm returned to the Ukrainian capital to meet with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Overall, 26 cities and settlements in the region came under attack over the past day, he said. He said that attacks in the region came from artillery, mortars, drones, warplanes and tanks. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen arrived in Kyiv on Saturday morning and was met by Zelenskyy at the train station. This is impressive to see,” von der Leyen said after the meeting with Zelenskyy.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Malashko, Oleksandr Prokudin, Serhii Lysak, Ursula von der Leyen, Zelenskyy, von der Leyen, ” von der Leyen, “ Organizations: Gov, EU Locations: KYIV, Ukraine, Russian, Zarichne, Kherson, Dnipropetrovsk, Kyiv, russia, ukraine

Kyiv, Ukraine CNN —For many Ukrainians, a recent somber assessment of the battlefield by Ukraine’s military chief was not a surprise. On Saturday, Igor Zhovka, deputy head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, slammed Zaluzhny for his comments. The situation may be better now but the truth of where the war stands “must be accepted, whatever it is,” he told CNN. But now even as the war moves into what Zaluzhny described as “positional warfare,” Shevchuk is convinced it will remain on everyone’s minds. Kyiv resident Natalia Kovalchuk believes everyone in Ukraine will have to join the war effort in the long run.

Persons: Ukrainian Armed Forces Valery Zaluzhny, Zaluzhny, Igor Zhovka, “, ” Zhovka, Volodymyr Zelensky, ”, Ursula von der, Vitalii Shevchuk, CNN Vitalii, ” Shevchuk, Shevchuk, Alexander Ermochenko, Zaluzhny’s candor, ” Lyuba Shipovich, Zelensky, Maxym, Iryna Avramets, ” Iryna, “ Zelensky, Oksana Yarosh, don’t, Natalia Kovalchuk, CNN Natalia Kovalchuk, ” CNN’s Gul Tuysuz Organizations: Ukraine CNN, Ukrainian Armed Forces, Economist, ”, European, CNN, Russian, Reuters, Dignitas, Getty, Kyiv, Spain Locations: Kyiv, Ukraine, Ukrainian, Russia, ” Ukraine, Hostomel, Ukraine’s Crimean, Donetsk, Luhansk, Russian, Moscow, Saltovka, Kharkiv, Crimea

☆ EU's von der Leyen visits Kyiv ahead of report on accession progress
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen attends the UK Artificial Intelligence (AI) Safety Summit at Bletchley Park in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, Britain November 2, 2023. Joe Giddens/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsKYIV, Nov 4 (Reuters) - European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen arrived in Kyiv on Saturday ahead of a report the European Union is expected to present next week about Ukraine's progress in its membership bid, a Ukrainian lawmaker said. Parliamentary deputy Yaroslav Zheleznyak said on his Telegram channel that von der Leyen was expected to speak in the Ukrainian parliament. Ukraine, which applied to join the European Union days after Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022, sees joining the trade bloc as a top priority. Von der Leyen's visit comes at a difficult moment for Ukraine as its troops battle fatigue and concerns swirl over the future of vital U.S. military assistance which Kyiv relies on heavily.

Persons: Ursula von der Leyen, Joe Giddens, Yaroslav Zheleznyak, der Leyen, Ukraine's, Annalena Baerbock, Von der, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Olena, Tom Balmforth Organizations: Artificial Intelligence, Bletchley, Rights, European, German, Thomson Locations: Milton Keynes , Buckinghamshire, Britain, Kyiv, European Union, Ukrainian, Ukraine, European

☆ Ukraine's Zelenskiy Says War Not in 'Stalemate', More Air Defence Help Needed
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-04 | by ( Nov. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

KYIV (Reuters) - Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy denied on Saturday that the war with Russia had reached a "stalemate", and said more work with allies was needed to strengthen air defences. But this is not a stalemate," Zelenskiy said during a news conference with visiting European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Zelenskiy acknowledged there had been difficulties in the war, now in its 21st month, and that Kyiv had yet to achieve any major successes in its counteroffensive. But he said Ukrainian troops had no other alternative but to keep fighting and required more support from Western allies, especially with air defences. Russian troops were mounting numerous attacks near Avdiivka, Lyman and Mariinka in the eastern Donetsk region, the Ukrainian military said in its daily update.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelenskiy, General Valery Zaluzhnyi, Zelenskiy, Ursula von der Leyen, Lyman, Mariinka, Olena Harmash, Andrew Heavens Organizations: Ukraine's, European Locations: Russia, Moscow, Avdiivka, Donetsk, Azov

China's delegate to the meeting, Vice Minister of Science and Technology Wu Zhaohui, was present on Thursday, his ministry said on Friday. The Chinese technology ministry declined to say why China did not agree to the proposal, which was about AI model testing. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak chaired Thursday's meeting that comprised "a small group of like-minded senior representatives from governments around the world", Britain said, including the U.S. vice president and the EC president. Some British lawmakers had criticised China's participation in the inaugural AI summit. Sunak told reporters: "Some said we shouldn't even invite China, others said we would never get an agreement with them.

Persons: Ursula von der Leyen, Kamala Harris, Rishi Sunak, Giorgia Meloni, Antonio Guterres, Yoshua Bengio, Mila, Microsoft Brad, Technology Wu Zhaohui, Wu, Oliver Dowden, Sunak, Paul Sandle, Brenda Goh, Alistair Smout, Cynthia Osterman Organizations: Italy's, UN, Quebec AI Institute, Microsoft, Safety, Science, Technology, Bloomberg, U.S, European Union, Thomson Locations: British, SHANGHAI, LONDON, China, Britain, Beijing, Bletchley Park, England, United States, Bletchley, London, Shanghai

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak attends an in-conversation event with Tesla and SpaceX's CEO Elon Musk in London, Britain, Thursday, Nov. 2, 2023. Risks around rapidly-developing AI have been an increasingly high priority for policymakers since Microsoft-backed Open AI (MSFT.O) released ChatGPT to the public last year. "It was fascinating that just as we announced our AI safety institute, the Americans announced theirs," said attendee Nigel Toon, CEO of British AI firm Graphcore. China’s vice minister of science and technology said the country was willing to work with all sides on AI governance. Yoshua Bengio, an AI pioneer appointed to lead a "state of the science" report commissioned as part of the Bletchley Declaration, told Reuters the risks of open-source AI were a high priority.

Persons: Rishi Sunak, Tesla, Elon Musk, Kirsty Wigglesworth, Sam Altman, Kamala Harris, Ursula von der Leyen, China –, Sunak, Finance Bruno Le Maire, Vera Jourova, Jourova, Harris, Nigel Toon, Wu Zhaohui, Musk, you’ve, Martin Coulter, Paul Sandle, Matt Scuffham, Louise Heavens Organizations: British, Elon, U.S, European Commission, Microsoft, of, Finance, EU, Reuters, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, China, Bletchley, U.S, South Korea, France, United States

Sunak organized the first-ever AI Safety Summit as a forum for officials, experts and the tech industry to better understand “frontier” AI that some scientists warn could pose a risk to humanity’s very existence. Sunak has said that the U.K.'s approach should not be to rush into regulation but to fully understand AI first. Political Cartoons View All 1230 ImagesShe announced a new U.S. AI safety institute to draw up standards for testing AI models for public use. Sunak had proposed his own AI safety institute, with a similar role, days earlier. Musk is among tech executives who have warned that AI could pose a risk to humanity's future.

Persons: Kamala Harris, Rishi Sunak, Sunak, “, Harris, Antonio Guterres, Ursula von der Leyen, He's, Elon Musk, Musk, ” Musk, ” Sunak Organizations: — U.S, British, Safety, United Nations, European Union, U.S Locations: BLETCHLEY, England, London, China, South Korea, France, U.S, United Nations

☆ Serbia's Vucic dissolves parliament, sets snap vote for Dec 17
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The parliamentary election will coincide with local votes in 65 municipalities, including the capital Belgrade. Experts say the vote and an absence of a working parliament, will allow Vucic to buy time and delay decisions over ties with independent and predominantly Albanian Kosovo, which Serbia still sees as its southern province. Opposition parties and rights groups accuse Vucic, the SNS and its allies of autocracy, oppressing media freedoms, election fraud, violence against political opponents, corruption and ties with organised crime. After signing the decree, Vucic said it was important for Serbia to "preserve peace, stability, and internal cohesion and (to) show democracy". "This campaign is an opportunity to present different ideas, programs, policies ... , but which must never threaten vital interests of Serbia," he said.

Persons: Aleksandar Vucic, Vucic, Ursula von der Leyen, Stata, Aleksandar Vasovic, Andrew Cawthorne, Alison Williams Organizations: EU, Russia, Serbian Progressive Party, SNS, Thomson Locations: BELGRADE, Serbian, Kosovo, Belgrade, Albanian Kosovo, Serbia, Ukraine

BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — People younger than 18 have been barred from visiting this year's World Press Photo exhibition in Budapest, after Hungary's right-wing populist government determined that some of its photos violate a contentious law restricting LGBTQ+ content. The prestigious global photo exhibition, on display in Hungary's National Museum in Budapest, receives more than 4 million visitors from around the world every year. Showcasing outstanding photojournalism, its mission is to bring visual coverage of a range of important events to a global audience. Political Cartoons View All 1227 ImagesJoumana El Zein Khoury, executive director of World Press Photo, called it worrisome that a photo series “that is so positive, so inclusive,” had been targeted by Hungary’s government. “How the LGBTQ minority lives is not the biggest problem in the world,” Duro told the AP.

Persons: Hannah Reyes Morales, El Zein Khoury, ”, Khoury, Viktor Orbán, Ursula von der, ” Dora Duro, ” Duro, ” Reyes Morales, “, Tamas Revesz, Morales, ” Revesz Organizations: —, World Press, Associated Press, European Union, AP, Press Locations: BUDAPEST, Hungary, Budapest, Philippines, Europe, Ukraine

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