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Lower Saxony state premier Olaf Lies called on Volkswagen (VW) shareholders to work together to avert plant closures. Volkswagen is headquartered in the northwestern German state. "Lower Saxony is automotive country ... and this must remain so," Lies, who is also on the company's supervisory board, said at the VW factory in Hanover on Monday. The Hanover site is one ​of five VW group plants facing possible closure. Lies was visiting the factory ahead of a series of workers' assemblies taking place this week. During those assemblies, VW staff will have their first opportunity to question VW CEO Oliver Blume on restructuring plans. Some 50,000 jobs could be cut to make Germany's biggest car manufacturer competitive, Blume has warned, in addition to the 50,000 cuts that have already bee...

Australia's official music charts will no longer allow wholly AI-generated tracks to qualify, under new rules announced by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). The changes take effect with the ARIA chart dated August 31 and distinguish between music generated primarily by artificial intelligence and recordings where AI is used only as a supporting creative tool. What AI music will still be allowed in Australia's charts? Recordings made with generative AI can remain eligible if they are substantially human-made and do not raise concerns about manipulation of streams or chart positions. ARIA will use an industry-wide distinction announced in July between: AI-generated music, where AI creates all or the main creative elements of a recording AI-assisted music, which re...

Dutch state broadcaster Avrotros said on Monday that the Netherlands will not be taking part in next year's Eurovision Song Contest (ESC). The event can "no longer be considered neutral," given the war in Gaza, it said. Eurovision boycotts This year, the Netherlands was joined by Spain, Ireland, Iceland and Slovenia in staging the biggest political boycott in Eurovision history in protest at Israel's participation. Hundreds of pro-Palestinian protesters also marched outside the event.  Avrotros Director-General Taco Zimmerman said international conflicts were increasingly affecting the contest and "undermining its neutral character," adding that it had "become a platform for division."Four nations boycott Eurovision over Israel inclusionTo view this video please enable JavaScript, and ...