Asia’s Potential Trade Hot Spots

Global tech leaders and industry giants have descended on the French capital for the seventh edition of VivaTech, Europe's largest trade fair for new technology. Artificial intelligence (AI) is taking centre stage this year. French President Emmanuel Macron announced €500 million ($543 million) in new funding to "create champions" in AI and praised projects targeting French speakers, as concern grows about Silicon Valley firms fuelling English-language domination of AI systems.

The EU has come under flak for not loudly speaking up for LGBTQ rights in Southeast Asian countries where those rights are most at risk. But is the criticism justified?

It was meant to be the jewel in the Brexit crown, but the UK has, so far, failed to sign a free trade agreement with the US.

Brussels says the bloc's trade with New Zealand could now grow by 80%. In a first for an EU trade pact, there is a section that commits both sides to targets to tackle climate change.

Niger's President Mohamed Bazoum vows democracy will prevail after mutinous soldiers detain him. Amid Russia's withdrawal from the Black Sea grain deal, President Vladimir Putin pledges free shipments to six African countries.

Armed militias are fighting against Ethiopia's National Defense Forces in the Amhara region. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has declared a state of emergency, and experts warn that the national peace process is in jeopardy.

Some 1.3 million civil servants are due to retire by 2030. Unions say the government will need to hike pay and improve working conditions to recruit new workers.

Wildfires have been raging in northeastern Greece for days. Media reports suggest the bodies were those of migrants.

As BRICS leaders meet in Johannesburg on Tuesday, they will be sure to discuss ways to increase commercial exchanges within the bloc of emerging economies comprised of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. The group, which represents 16% of global trade, will also look to encourage the use of local currencies in exchanges. However, the Brazilian idea of creating a common currency for the bloc appears to now be on the back burner.

The health and cost-of-living crises has disproportionately affected the poor and women in developing Asia, hurting their chances of long-term improvement.

Since the start of the fighting mid-April in Sudan, some areas have been completely cut off. As a result, people have been sending hand written messages to loved ones delivered by taxi drivers. Also, a series of attacks in Mali: a military camp has been attacked a day after more than 60 people are killed in two seperate assaults. And the economic fallout of the coup in Niger: sanctions also impact neighbouring country, Nigeria. We hear from some traders in Kano.

The Camargue is a breed of domestic cattle native to the Camargue marshlands of the river delta of the Rhône in southern France. It is used for the traditional sport of course camarguaise, a kind of bloodless bull-fight, but not for the corrida, Iberian-style bull-fighting.