News in Brief
Canada’s largest public sector strike frets immigrants
REUTERS – As Canada’s largest strike by federal workers approaches its third week, thousands of people are in immigration limbo amid canceled hearings and stalled applications, which could make it harder for the country to compete for global talent as employers face a tight labour market.
About 155,000 federal public servants have been on strike since April 19. While wages are a primary sticking point, the union also wants remote work included in its collective agreement.
Singapore to avoid economic contraction: PM
BLOOMBERG – Singapore should avoid an outright contraction in its economy this year, despite being battered by the effects of a global slowdown, the city-state’s prime minister said.
While the city-state’s economic growth will slow, inflation may moderate in the second half of this year, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said in an e-mailed speech.
G7 should adopt AI regulation: Ministers
REUTERS – Group of Seven advanced nations should adopt “risk-based” regulation on artificial intelligence (AI), their digital ministers agreed on Sunday, as European lawmakers hurry to introduce an AI Act to enforce rules on emerging tools such as ChatGPT.
But such regulation should also “preserve an open and enabling environment” for the development of AI technologies and be based on democratic values, G7 ministers said in a joint statement issued at the end of a two-day meeting in Japan.