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Spotify adds more AI-generated audiobooks
Spotify adds more AI-generated audiobooks
by  AFP

Spotify on Thursday began accepting audiobooks narrated by digital voices created by artificial intelligence software firm ElevenLabs, pitching it as a cost-effective option for authors. "We're excited to begin accepting audiobooks from ElevenLabs, an AI software company that provides easy-to-use, high-quality voice narration technology," Spotify said in a blog post Thursday.

Netflix says to spend $1 billion producing content in Mexico
Netflix says to spend $1 billion producing content in Mexico
by  AFP

Netflix said Thursday that it would spend $1 billion over four years producing films and series in Mexico, in a boost to the government's efforts to attract investment in the face of US tariff threats. It's why all of our series and all of our films that we make in Mexico, we make in partnership with local production companies.

Unfair? Figures belie Trump's claims on EU trade balance
Unfair? Figures belie Trump's claims on EU trade balance
by  AFP

President Donald Trump repeatedly claims that US-EU trade ties are unfair and that Europe is abusing the United States as justification for threatening tariffs. - US services surplus When Trump criticises the European Union's trade surplus with the United States, he is only referring to trade in goods.

EU trade chief says tariff reciprocity 'must work for both' bloc and US
EU trade chief says tariff reciprocity 'must work for both' bloc and US
by  AFP

EU trade chief Maros Sefcovic said Thursday that reciprocity in tariffs should apply to both the bloc and Washington, after talks with his counterparts in US President Donald Trump's administration. During Sefcovic's three-day Washington visit for talks with US officials and business leaders, he pushed back against Trump's claim of unfairness in US-EU trade ties.

Walmart sales rise but shares tumble on forecast
Walmart sales rise but shares tumble on forecast
by  AFP

Walmart reported solid fourth-quarter results Thursday behind higher US sales, but shares tumbled after its quarterly and annual projections missed estimates. Shares of the retail behemoth fell around eight percent in pre-market trading after the company projected annual profits of between $2.50 and $2.60 a share in fiscal 2026, below the $2.77 expected by analysts.

ECB rate hikes result in record loss in 2024
ECB rate hikes result in record loss in 2024
by  AFP

The European Central bank on Thursday reported a record loss in 2024 after it had aggressively hiked eurozone interest rates in response to soaring inflation. "Increases in the ECB's key interest rates in 2022 and 2023" resulted in higher interest expenses for the central bank itself on its liabilities, while income from interest on its assets did not rise as fast.

Birkenstock sandals are not art, German court rules
Birkenstock sandals are not art, German court rules
by  AFP

They may be the trendy footwear of choice for Hollywood A-listers and pop stars, but Birkenstock sandals are not works of art, Germany's top court ruled Thursday. But the Federal Court of Justice in Karlsruhe sided with the judgement of a lower court, ruling that Birkenstock's sandals could not be considered "copyrighted works of applied art".