Category: World

SoftBank Group shares fell sharply on Thursday, bringing the Japanese investment company's market value close to half its June peak as investors questioned the cost of financing its expanding artificial intelligence commitments. The stock dropped more than 5% in Tokyo trading, extending a retreat that has accompanied broader selling across Asian technology markets. The decline has put renewed attention on SoftBank's reliance on borrowing and the uncertain timetable for returns from investments in OpenAI and other artificial intelligence businesses. SoftBank's shares reached

Paris police have prohibited unauthorised demonstrations across prominent parts of the capital on Thursday, including the presidential palace, parliament and tourist districts, as authorities seek to prevent further violence during nationwide protests. The order issued by the Paris Police Prefecture applies from 8am until 8pm on 22 October. It covers gatherings, marches and processions that have not been declared under French law, rather than imposing a blanket prohibition on ordinary movement through the designated neighbourhoods. Restricted areas include the Élysée Palace, the

A US food importer has challenged President Donald Trump’s 50 per cent tariffs on Canadian goods in the United States Court of International Trade, arguing that the administration exceeded its legal authority. Gellert Global Group filed the lawsuit on Tuesday, October 20, with representation from the Liberty Justice Center. The New York-based court has been asked to halt collection of the duties, declare them unlawful and order refunds with interest for importers that have already paid. The complaint targets Trump’s use of

Britain has approved drilling at the Jackdaw gas field in the North Sea, seeking to strengthen domestic energy supplies and reduce dependence on imports despite objections from environmental campaigners. The government announced the decision on Wednesday, clearing a major obstacle to developing the offshore field approximately 150 miles east of Aberdeen. The project, operated by Adura, a joint venture between Shell and Norway's Equinor, had faced prolonged uncertainty following a successful legal challenge to its earlier environmental approval. Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has asserted that its military strength has increased by at least 50 per cent, citing improved missiles, drones and additional weapons, although the scale of the claimed expansion has not been independently established. The assertion follows statements by IRGC spokesman Brigadier General Hossein Mohebbi that Iran has acquired more advanced weaponry since its confrontation with the United States and Israel earlier this year. The force has not published an independently auditable inventory, comparative assessment or operational

Walt Disney has agreed to offer jobs to most employees of bankrupt artificial intelligence chatbot developer Character. AI, expanding a proposed $20 million technology deal as the startup struggles with mounting legal liabilities and heavy operating losses. Bankruptcy court filings show that Disney has committed to making employment offers to at least 60 Character. AI employees, representing a majority of its workforce. Their estimated annual compensation totals approximately $60 million, substantially exceeding the proposed purchase price for selected intellectual property. The documents

Voters across Canada's oil-rich Alberta province went to the polls on Monday in a referendum that could initiate a constitutional process towards independence, amid warnings of economic disruption and deepening political divisions. The non-binding vote asks residents whether Alberta should remain within Canada or whether its government should begin the legal steps necessary to hold a binding referendum on separation. A victory for the independence option would not immediately remove the province from the Canadian federation. Prime Minister Mark Carney has urged

Chief executives must take direct responsibility for artificial intelligence transformation rather than leave it to technology departments, Keystone chief executive Jeff Marowits has argued, as the advisory firm expands its international operations and investment in executive AI capabilities. His emphasis on leadership comes as businesses confront a widening gap between experimenting with AI tools and changing how their organisations operate. Keystone is positioning its advisory services around the decisions executives face over strategy, workforce skills, governance and competitive advantage. The firm opened

French President Emmanuel Macron has promised tougher security measures and prosecutions after nationwide demonstrations over living costs descended into arson, looting and clashes with police, intensifying political confrontation ahead of next year's presidential election. Macron condemned the destruction following an emergency meeting on Sunday, while stopping short of imposing a state of emergency. His intervention came as police confronted fresh disturbances in Paris and municipal authorities assessed extensive damage to shops, vehicles and public buildings. The Interior Ministry said nearly 2,400 people

A former OpenAI software engineer accused of secretly installing a recording device inside the company's San Francisco offices has sought release from federal custody, rejecting prosecutors' contention that he intended to flee the United States. Abdulrahman Alfozan, 35, told a federal court in a filing submitted late Friday that his planned journey to Saudi Arabia had been arranged before he became aware of the criminal investigation. His lawyers argued that a one-way airline ticket did not establish an intention to evade

Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke was due before a magistrate on Saturday after Delhi Police arrested him ahead of a protest against disputed electoral roll revisions, extending a confrontation between demonstrators and authorities in the capital. Police took Dipke into custody on Friday under preventive provisions intended to avert a breach of public peace. He was expected to appear before a Special Executive Magistrate, while the precise conditions of his detention and any subsequent judicial order remained unclear. The arrest followed

Katie Zacharia has been removed as White House press secretary after just five days in the position, following mounting scrutiny of her professional credentials and a troubled debut briefing that raised questions about her suitability for the high-profile role. President Donald Trump indicated on Friday that he had encouraged Zacharia to reconsider her position, expressing concern about the criticism she had encountered since assuming responsibility for the administration’s public communications. Senior administration officials subsequently confirmed that she was leaving the post. The

By K Raveendran | Chief Minister V D Satheesan, who came to power with the image of being 'the prince of principles' has suffered the biggest collateral damage from the Kerala High Court verdict against former chief minister and leader of opposition Pinarayi Vijayan and his family in the CMRL Exalogic pay-off case. Thursday’s division bench ruling represents a legal setback for Vijayan, his daughter T Veena and son-in-law P A Mohammed Riyas. Politically, however, the proceedings have exposed an uncomfortable

European Union leaders backed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at a Brussels summit on Friday while debating further financial assistance, as a renewed dispute with US President Donald Trump complicated Kyiv’s efforts to sustain its defence against Russia. Zelenskyy appealed for air defence systems, energy support and funding before winter, warning that Russian attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure continued despite Washington’s attempts to broker a halt to strikes on energy facilities. “We want to end this war as quick as possible,” Zelenskyy said on

An Israeli advertising company used online advertisements to track internet users and facilitate spyware infections, potentially exposing hundreds of millions of people worldwide, cybersecurity researchers have disclosed. Investigations published on Thursday by the University of Toronto’s Citizen Lab and advertising security company Confiant identified Discover-Tech as an intermediary connecting commercial surveillance operators with major digital advertising networks. The researchers documented spyware infections at Al Jazeera and surveillance activity across government, corporate and public networks. Citizen Lab said Discover-Tech’s advertisements appeared on more

Federal Reserve chairman Kevin Warsh reinforced expectations of an October pause in US interest rates on Friday, declining to signal another increase despite inflation remaining above the central bank’s target. Speaking during the International Monetary Fund and World Bank annual meetings in Bangkok, Warsh said policymakers remained committed to price stability but would not announce their decisions before the Federal Open Market Committee meets on 27 and 28 October. Traders reduced the probability of an increase at that meeting from about 27