CBN’s hammer on Fintech Startups and the implications on the ecosystem

The revised anti-espionage law increases security risks for foreign individuals and businesses operating in China, say experts, especially amid growing geopolitical and trade frictions between Beijing and the West.

As sanctions cut off major Russian banks from much of the West's payment systems, finding ways to pay for the crude India imports from Russia has become a challenge.

The U.S. should require companies to be licensed by the government if they want to develop powerful artificial intelligence systems, the head of one the country's top AI companies said at a Senate committee hearing Tuesday.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said that AI will "address some of humanity's biggest challenges, like climate change and curing cancer," but admitted he was "anxious" about how it could change the way we live.

Oil extraction and repeated spills have turned the Nigerian state of Bayelsa into one of the world's most polluted areas. A report estimates the cleanup cost to be more than 12 billion dollars, and calls for oil companies Shell and Eni to foot the bill.

Russia's Vladimir Putin has lifted the ban on direct flights with Georgia and introduced a visa-free regime for Georgian nationals. Georgian authorities welcome the initiative; critics see it as "provocation" by Moscow.

Lawmakers say the groundbreaking legislation is aimed at protecting fundamental rights whilst fostering consumer confidence and nuturing responsible further development. But it's not likely to take effect until 2025.

Several companies at the Paris Air Show are presenting advanced prototypes of air taxis that could offer an alternative means of inner city transport. One of them, German group Volocopter, is aiming to get its aircraft up and running for the 2024 Paris Olympics. Also in the show, we look ahead to the Summit for a New Global Financing Pact that's taking place in Paris later this week. World leaders will be convening to discuss changes to the global financial system in order to better respond to the climate emergency.

Across Africa, the adoption of AI technologies is facing challenges. But Ghana is one the few African countries that have taken steps to develop policies and strategies focused on advancing the use of Artificial Intelligence.

Cameroonian journalist and whistleblower Paul Chouta was abducted and left for dead by unknown attackers in March 2022. His colleague Martinez Zogo was killed under similar circumstances in 2023. Today, Chouta is determined to seek justice for both himself and his friend.

On July 12, the landmark Nature Restoration Law was adopted in a cliffhanger vote at the European Parliament. Our guest, prominent Finnish MEP Heidi Hautala – who's one the parliament's vice-presidents – says she is "relieved" that the EU parliament now has a position to negotiate with the member states. She applauds the law as "step towards combating climate change", and decries what she calls the use of "fake news and disinformation" by far-right as well as right-wing parties on the nature restoration issue.

A leading social media analyst on Monday (July 24) questioned the reasoning behind a Twitter rebrand, saying many issues the social media app has faced over recent months will remain.