new video loaded: Madagascar’s Leader Flees
By Shawn Paik
October 14, 2025
A required part of this site couldn’t load. This may be due to a browser
extension, network issues, or browser settings. Please check your
connection, disable any ad blockers, or try using a different browser.
Cape Verde beat Eswatini 3-0 to qualify for the football World Cup for the first time. The island nation, with a population of just 600,000, is the second smallest country ever to reach the tournament, finishing ahead of Cameroon to top their group.
Published On 14 Oct 2025
Indonesia finance minister expects more capital inflows, rupiah appreciation in Q4
Venezuela announced on Monday it would close its embassy in Oslo, days after opposition leader María Corina Machado was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
In a statement, the Venezuelan government did not comment on Machado’s prize, saying that the closure was part of a restructuring of its foreign service.
Norway’s foreign ministry confirmed that Caracas had closed its embassy in Oslo without providing a reason.
The Nobel Committee in Oslo awarded her the prize on Friday in recognition of what it called “her tireless work promoting democratic rights for the people of Venezuela”, while Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro referred to the 58-year-old laureate as a “demonic witch”.
The Norwegian foreign ministry called the decision “regrettable”.
“Despite our differences on several issues, Norway wishes to keep the dialogue open with Venezuela and will continue to work in this direction,” a ministry spokeswoman said.
She added that the Nobel Prize “is independent of the Norwegian government”.
Machado has for years been campaigning against Maduro, whose 12-year rule is viewed by many nations as illegitimate.
She has been forced to live in hiding for much of the past year.
In honouring her achievement, Nobel chairman Jørgen Watne Frydnes called Machado a “key, unifying figure in a political opposition that was once deeply divided… in a brutal authoritarian state that is now suffering a humanitarian and economic crisis.”
Machado told BBC Mundo her award was “like an injection” for her political movement. “It infuses energy, hope, strength on the Venezuelan people because we realise that we are not alone,” she said.
Caracas also closed its embassy in Australia while opening new outposts in Zimbabwe and Burkina Faso, which it called “strategic partners in the fight” against “hegemonic pressures”.
Venezuela’s closure of embassies in two close US allies comes after weeks of heightened tension between Caracas and Washington.
The US military has destroyed at least four boats that it said were carrying narcotics from Venezuela to the US, killing at least 21 people on board, in what the Trump administration calls a war on drugs.
The strikes have attracted condemnation in countries including Venezuela and Colombia, with some international lawyers describing the strikes as a breach of international law.
The last time Norway suffered a diplomatic blow over the Nobel Peace Prize was with China in 2010, when it was awarded to political dissident Liu Xiaobo. Beijing suspended trade and other relations, and only normalised ties with Oslo six years later.
The escalating trade clash between the U.S. and China has investors on edge, fearing it could mark the beginning of the end for global cooperation as we know it. On Friday, President Donald Trump called China’s new export controls “extraordinarily aggressive” and “hostile”; he threatened a retaliatory 100% tariff. (He later sought to deescalate the situation, calming U.S. markets.)
For Kristalina Georgieva, head of the International Monetary Fund, it’s just another day in the office. Speaking at Fortune’s Most Powerful Women 2025 summit in Washington, D.C., she downplayed any fears of a trade war.
“Frankly, this thing that trade is dead is completely overstated,” Georgieva told Fortune’s Diane Brady. “Trade is like water. You put [up an] obstacle, it goes around it.”
And while Georgieva recognizes the world is becoming “foggier” and full of uncertainty, one of the biggest challenges comes from getting buy-in that cooperation is better than division: “We are in this one big boat. It is a rough sea. We better row together.”
Luckily, many countries already subscribe to this philosophy. She pointed out that following the onset of U.S. tariffs earlier this year, 188 out of the IMF’s 191 member states did not choose to retaliate. Instead, they’ve turned to regional partners for trade. Southeast Asia and the Gulf region are two examples she cited.
Even China has benefited from diversifying its trade portfolio: overall exports rose 8.3% in September—the highest total this year—thanks to strong trade growth with the European Union. Chinese shipments to the U.S. fell 27% in September, marking half a year of double-digit trade declines, according to data released by the General Administration of Customs.
But for business leaders, there’s a growing opportunity to be a grounding voice as long as they are willing to “buckle up,” Georgieva added.
“Good news for the world. The private sector is more agile, more adaptable,” she said. “Over the last years, we have seen in many countries where there was [a] big state presence in the economy—including because of IMF urging them to pull back—more private sector initiative. And in this time of strong winds, [business leaders] are an anchor of stability because you adapt, you just keep doing it.”
For female business leaders, in particular, she reiterated the need to always be thinking about worst case scenarios—and be ready to adapt to them.
“Think of the unthinkable so you’re ready when the unthinkable comes,” Georgieva said. “Because we know from COVID, we know from the war in Europe, it will come, and we women are so strong and resilient, and we can face it.”
new video loaded: ‘War in Gaza Is Over,’ Trump Says During Middle East Trip
transcript
transcript
After years of suffering and bloodshed, the war in Gaza is over. Together, we’ve achieved what everybody said was impossible. At long last, we have peace in the Middle East. This took 3,000 years to get to this point. Can you believe it? And it’s going to hold up, too. It’s going to hold up. This is the end of an age of terror and death and the beginning of the age of faith and hope and of God. This is the historic dawn of a new Middle East [a gavel pounds twice] [shouting in the crowd] ”Please expel this Knesset member.“ “Please expel this Knesset member.” [cheering]
By Ang Li
October 13, 2025
Universal Music Group Chairman and CEO Sir Lucian Grainge has sent a comprehensive memo to UMG staff outlining the company’s strategy for generative AI partnerships and product development.
The letter, sent on Monday (October 13) and obtained by MBW, addresses three core areas: (i) UMG’s expanding portfolio of AI company agreements, (ii) how artists can participate in AI opportunities, and (iii) the company’s public policy advocacy around responsible AI development.
Grainge writes that Universal is “playing a pioneering role in fostering AI’s enormous potential”.
His memo confirms that UMG is “very actively engaged with nearly a dozen different companies on significant new products and service plans that hold promise for a dramatic expansion of the AI music landscape.”
“WE WILL NOT LICENSE ANY MODEL THAT USES AN ARTIST’S VOICE OR GENERATES NEW SONGS WHICH INCORPORATE AN ARTIST’S EXISTING SONGS WITHOUT THEIR CONSENT.”
SIR LUCIAN GRAINGE
Central to UMG’s approach is what Grainge calls “the belief that together, we can foster a healthy commercial AI ecosystem in which artists, songwriters, music companies and technology companies can all flourish”.
However, Grainge draws a firm line on certain AI applications. “To be clear—and this is very important—we will NOT license any model that uses an artist’s voice or generates new songs which incorporate an artist’s existing songs without their consent,” he writes.
Grainge comments that UMG “was the first company to enter into AI-related agreements with companies ranging from major platforms such as YouTube, TikTok and Meta to emerging entrepreneurs such as BandLab, Soundlabs, and more.”
His memo reveals that Universal Music Japan recently announced an agreement with KDDI, a leading Japanese telecommunications company, to develop new music experiences for fans and artists using generative AI.
UMG has also entered into agreements with AI developers including ProRata and KLAY, selecting partners whose products “both protect music and enhance its monetization”.
Grainge points to other recent developments as promising signs, noting that “Spotify‘s recent integration with ChatGPT offers a pathway to move fluidly from query and discovery to enjoyment of music—and all within a monetized ecosystem.”
Looking ahead, Grainge expresses particular enthusiasm about the potential of advanced AI systems.
“I believe that Agentic AI, which dynamically employs complex reasoning and adaptation, has the potential to revolutionize how fans interact with and discover music,” he writes.
Grainge emphasizes that “AI has the potential to deliver creative tools that will enable us to connect our artists with their fans in new ways—and with advanced capability on a scale we’ve never encountered.”
Crucially, Grainge states: “We will only consider advancing AI products based on models that are trained responsibly.”
The memo addresses ongoing policy battles around AI training, with Grainge noting that UMG remains “acutely aware of the fact that large and powerful AI companies are pressuring governments around the world to legitimize the training of AI technology on copyrighted material without owner consent or compensation.”
“To be clear: all these misguided proposals amount to nothing more than the unauthorized (and, we believe, illegal) exploitation of the rights and property of creative artists,” writes Grainge.
Universal Music Group is currently in active litigation against AI company Anthropic over the alleged unauthorized use of copyrighted lyrics to train its Claude chatbot, as well as against AI music generators Suno and Udio for alleged copyright infringement in training their AI models.
Grainge points to UMG’s 2023 introduction of Artist-Centric principles to combat what he describes as “AI ‘slop’ on streaming platforms,” characterizing the issue as “essentially platform pollution.”
Since then, Grainge notes that “many of our platform partners have made significant progress in putting in place measures to address the diversion of royalties, infringement and fraud—all to the benefit of the entire music ecosystem.”
The memo also highlights UMG’s recent agreement with SoundPatrol, “a new company led by Stanford scientists that employs patented technology to protect artists’ work from unauthorized use in AI music generators.”
Grainge concludes by expressing confidence that “by displaying our willingness as a community to embrace those commercial AI models which value and enhance human artistry, we are demonstrating that market-based solutions promoting innovation are the answer.”
Read Sir Lucian Grainge’s memo in full below:
Dear Colleagues,
I am writing today to update you on the progress that we are making on our efforts to take advantage of the developing commercial opportunities presented by Gen AI technology for the benefit of all our artists and songwriters.
I want to address three specific topics:
Responsible Gen AI company and product agreements; How our artists can participate; and What we are doing to encourage responsible AI public policies.
UMG is playing a pioneering role in fostering AI’s enormous potential. While our progress is significant, the speed at which this technology is developing makes it important that you are all continually updated on our efforts and well-versed on the strategy and approach.
The foundation of what we’re doing is the belief that together, we can foster a healthy commercial AI ecosystem in which artists, songwriters, music companies and technology companies can all flourish together.
NEW AGREEMENTS
To explore the varied opportunities and determine the best approaches, we have been working with AI developers to put their ideas to the test. In fact, we were the first company to enter into AI-related agreements with companies ranging from major platforms such as YouTube, TikTok and Meta to emerging entrepreneurs such as BandLab, Soundlabs, and more. Both creatively and commercially our portfolio of AI partnerships continues to expand.
Very recently, Universal Music Japan announced an agreement with KDDI, a leading Japanese telecommunications company, to develop new music experiences for fans and artists using Gen AI. And we are very actively engaged with nearly a dozen different companies on significant new products and service plans that hold promise for a dramatic expansion of the AI music landscape. Further, we’re seeing other related advancements. While just scratching the surface of AI’s enormous potential, Spotify’s recent integration with ChatGPT offers a pathway to move fluidly from query and discovery to enjoyment of music—and all within a monetized ecosystem.
HOW OUR ARTISTS CAN PARTICIPATE
Based on what we’ve done with our AI partners to date, and the new discussions that are underway, we can unequivocally say that AI has the potential to deliver creative tools that will enable us to connect our artists with their fans in new ways—and with advanced capability on a scale we’ve never encountered.
Further, I believe that Agentic AI, which dynamically employs complex reasoning and adaptation, has the potential to revolutionize how fans interact with and discover music.
I know that we will successfully navigate as well as seize these opportunities and that these new products could constitute a significant source of new future revenue for artists and songwriters.
We will be actively engaged in discussing all of these developments with the entire creative community.
While some of the biggest opportunities will require further exploration, we are excited by the compelling AI models we’re seeing emerge.
We will only consider advancing AI products based on models that are trained responsibly. That is why we have entered into agreements with AI developers such as ProRata and KLAY, among others, and are in discussions with numerous additional like-minded companies whose products provide accurate attribution and tools which empower and compensate artists—products that both protect music and enhance its monetization.
And to be clear—and this is very important—we will NOT license any model that uses an artist’s voice or generates new songs which incorporate an artist’s existing songs without their consent.
New AI products will be joined by many other similar ones that will soon be coming to market, and we have established teams throughout UMG that will be working with artists and their representatives to bring these opportunities directly to them.
RESPONSIBLE PUBLIC POLICIES COVERING AI
We remain acutely aware of the fact that large and powerful AI companies are pressuring governments around the world to legitimize the training of AI technology on copyrighted material without owner consent or compensation, among other proposals.
To be clear: all these misguided proposals amount to nothing more than the unauthorized (and, we believe, illegal) exploitation of the rights and property of creative artists.
In addition, we are acting in the marketplace to see our partners embrace responsible and ethical AI policies and we’re proud of the progress being made there. For example, having accurately predicted the rapid rise of AI “slop” on streaming platforms, in 2023 we introduced Artist-Centric principles to combat what is essentially platform pollution. Since then, many of our platform partners have made significant progress in putting in place measures to address the diversion of royalties, infringement and fraud—all to the benefit of the entire music ecosystem.
We commend our partners for taking action to address this urgent issue, consistent with our Artist-Centric approach. Further, we recently announced an agreement with SoundPatrol, a new company led by Stanford scientists that employs patented technology to protect artists’ work from unauthorized use in AI music generators.
We are confident that by displaying our willingness as a community to embrace those commercial AI models which value and enhance human artistry, we are demonstrating that market-based solutions promoting innovation are the answer.
LEADING THE WAY FORWARD
So, as we work to assure safeguards for artists, we will help lead the way forward, which is why we are exploring and finding innovative ways to use this revolutionary technology to create new commercial opportunities for artists and songwriters while simultaneously aiding and protecting human creativity.
I’m very excited about the products we’re seeing and what the future holds. I will update you all further on our progress.
LucianMusic Business Worldwide
By Coleman Hodges on SwimSwam
She may be jetlagged, but her pedigree still shines through. At the first stop of the World Cup, Kylee McKeown scared the 50 back World Record, winning in 25.4. After the race, she spoke with media about racing in the US for the first time in over a decade, saying that while she is adjusting, it’s good practice for the Olympic cycle to come, which will ultimately end in LA.
Read the full story on SwimSwam: Kaylee McKeown on World Cup: “The last time I was in America I was like 12 years old”
Signing comes as families in Israel and Palestine reunite with their loved ones released from captivity in Gaza and Israeli jails.
Published On 14 Oct 2025
Welcome to World Breaking News, your trusted source for fast, accurate, and impactful news coverage from around the globe. We are a dedicated team of journalists, editors, and news enthusiasts committed to delivering breaking stories, in-depth analysis, and real-time updates on politics, business, technology, sports, entertainment, and more.
© Copyright -World Breaking News -2025
