logo
EU stalls probe into Musk's X amid US trade talks, FT reports

EU stalls probe into Musk's X amid US trade talks, FT reports

The Star17-07-2025
FILE PHOTO: A 3D-printed miniature model of Elon Musk and the X logo are seen in this illustration taken January 23, 2025. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo/File Photo
(Reuters) -The European Commission has stalled one of its investigations into Elon Musk's social media platform X for breaching its digital transparency rules while it seeks to conclude trade talks with the U.S., the Financial Times reported on Thursday.
The Commission will miss the deadline for finalising its investigation into X, which was expected to be done before its summer recess, the report said, citing three officials familiar with the matter.
A decision was likely to come after clarity emerged in the EU-U.S. trade talks, the report said.
EU tech regulators said last year that X breached EU online content rules under the Digital Services Act. Any firm found in breach of the act faces a fine worth up to 6% of its global turnover, and repeat offenders may be banned from operating in Europe altogether.
An EU spokesperson said that the proceedings against X are ongoing.
"The enforcement of our legislation is independent of the current ongoing negotiations," the spokesperson said in an emailed statement to Reuters.
X did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.
(Reporting by Gnaneshwar Rajan and Surbhi Misra in Bengaluru; Editing by Mrigank Dhaniwala)
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Saudi Arabia privatises three local soccer clubs through public offering
Saudi Arabia privatises three local soccer clubs through public offering

The Star

time27 minutes ago

  • The Star

Saudi Arabia privatises three local soccer clubs through public offering

DUBAI (Reuters) -Saudi Arabia announced on Thursday the privatisation of three soccer clubs, Al-Ansar, Al-Kholood, and Al-Zulfi, through a public offering, the sports ministry said. Ownership of these three clubs has been transferred to investment entities, it said, without giving any financial details. The ownership of Al-Zulfi Club will transfer to Nojoom AlSalam company, Al-Kholood to Harburg Group, and Al-Ansar to the Awdah Al Biladi And His Sons company. As for other clubs, the ministry confirmed it has completed the bidding stage for Al-Nahda Club and is reviewing offers, with an extension granted for further proposals. Sport is one of the pillars of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 economic diversification plan that seeks to build new industries and create jobs. (Reporting by Jana Choukeir and Ahmed ElimamEditing by Tomasz Janowski, Kirsten Donovan)

Nvidia AI chips worth US$1bil entered China despite US curbs
Nvidia AI chips worth US$1bil entered China despite US curbs

New Straits Times

time37 minutes ago

  • New Straits Times

Nvidia AI chips worth US$1bil entered China despite US curbs

NEW YORK: Nvidia's advanced artificial intelligence chips worth at least US$1 billion were smuggled into China in the three months after Washington tightened chip export controls, the Financial Times reported on Thursday The AI chip designer's high-end B200 processors — banned for sale in China — are widely available on a thriving Chinese black market for US chips, the report said, citing sales contracts, company filings and multiple people with direct knowledge of the deals. Nvidia told Reuters that building data centres with smuggled products is inefficient both technically and financially, as the company only offers service and support for authorised products. The US Department of Commerce, White House and Thai government did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Reuters could not independently verify the FT report. In May, multiple Chinese distributors began selling B200s to suppliers of data centres serving Chinese AI groups, according to the report. The US and China are battling for global dominance in AI and other cutting-edge technologies, triggering a tightrope walk for companies such as Nvidia between the world's two largest economies. Nvidia last week said it would be allowed to resume sales to China after the Trump administration reversed an export restriction on the sales of chips such as the H20. The curbs were imposed in April. In the three months before that, Chinese distributors from Guangdong, Zhejiang and Anhui provinces sold Nvidia's B200s, as well as other restricted processors such as the H100 and H200, according to the report. Southeast Asian countries have become markets where Chinese groups obtained restricted chips, the report said, citing industry experts. The US Commerce Department is discussing adding more export controls on advanced AI products to countries such as Thailand as soon as September, the report said.

EU says China's links with Russia now 'determining factor' in ties
EU says China's links with Russia now 'determining factor' in ties

New Straits Times

timean hour ago

  • New Straits Times

EU says China's links with Russia now 'determining factor' in ties

BEIJING: EU (European Union) chief Ursula von der Leyen warned on Thursday that China's ties with Russia were now the "determining" factor in its relations with the European Union, as she wrapped up a summit in Beijing that also saw the bloc agree to speed up exports of rare earth minerals. China's leadership has sought to draw the European Union closer as it positions itself as a more reliable partner than the United States and a bedrock of stability in a troubled world. Though nominally intended to celebrate 50 years of diplomatic ties, the long list of grievances set the stage for a contentious summit. The EU has made clear there are deep divisions over trade, fears that cheap, subsidised Chinese goods could overwhelm European markets, and Beijing's tacit support for Russia's war against Ukraine. Brussels says China's deepening political and economic relations with Russia since the 2022 invasion represent backing for Moscow that have helped its economy weather sweeping Western sanctions. Wrapping up that summit, von der Leyen told a news conference in Beijing that the bloc had made clear that the issue was now the "determining" factor in its relations with China. "We expressed... our expectations that China would follow up on our concerns and the expectation that it would use its influence to bring Russia to accept a cease fire, to come to the negotiation table, enter peace talks and put an end to the bloodshed," she said. She also said the bloc had agreed with Beijing to an "upgraded" mechanism for Chinese exports of rare earth minerals — another key sticking point in ties. And European Council President Antonio Costa, also in Beijing, said the officials had raised human rights concerns with Chinese officials. China, in contrast, framed Thursday's summit as a way for the bloc and Beijing to deepen trust in a turbulent world — pitching itself as a reliable partner in contrast with the United States. Welcoming von der Leyen and Costa at Beijing's ornate Great Hall of the People, President Xi Jinping said "the more severe and complex the international situation is, the more important it is for China and the EU to strengthen communication, increase mutual trust and deepen cooperation." In the context of that turmoil, Xi said, Chinese and European leaders must "make correct strategic choices." "The challenges facing Europe at present do not come from China," he added. "There are no fundamental conflicts of interest or geopolitical contradictions between China and the EU," the Chinese leader said. In response, von der Leyen said "it is vital for China and Europe to acknowledge our respective concerns and come forward with real solutions." Ties had reached an "inflection point", she warned. Costa also stressed to the Chinese leader that the bloc wanted to see "concrete progress on issues related to trade and the economy, and we both want our relationship to be... mutually beneficial." In a separate meeting on Thursday, Chinese Premier Li Qiang told the two EU leaders that "close cooperation" was a "natural choice" for the two major economies. "As long as both China and the EU earnestly uphold free trade, the international economy and trade will stay dynamic", he said. Brussels had acknowledged the talks between its top bosses and Chinese leaders would be tense. "We know that we don't see eye to eye with China on many issues," a senior EU official told AFP last week. "But we believe that it is essential to have this kind of very direct and open and constructive conversation sitting at the table at the highest level." China and the EU also vowed to "step up" efforts to address climate change. The warming planet has historically been an area of convergence between Brussels and Beijing, with both sides signalling a willingness to cooperate on combating climate change. Chinese and European leaders agreed on enhancing bilateral cooperation in areas such as the energy transition and committed to accelerating global renewable energy deployment, a joint statement said. Also on the agenda for the EU is the yawning trade deficit with China that stood at around $360 billion last year and which von der Leyen has described as "unsustainable." Beijing has dismissed those concerns, insisting that Brussels must "rebalance its mentality", not its economic ties with China. If EU concerns were not addressed, "our industry and citizens will demand that we defend our interests", von der Leyen said in Thursday's talks with Li. The EU has imposed hefty tariffs on electric vehicles imported from China, arguing that Beijing's subsidies unfairly undercut European competitors. China has rebuffed that claim and announced what were widely seen as retaliatory probes into imported European pork, brandy and dairy products. — REUTERS

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store