Author: bhavya.dubey

In a landmark move, global powers sign the first legally binding AI treaty, aiming to protect human rights, regulate AI risks, and promote ethical innovation across both public and private sectors. On Thursday in Lithuania, the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, and other countries signed the Council of Europe’s International AI treaty, marking a significant advancement in the application of AI systems.  The deal was described as the first worldwide legally binding pact on the use of AI systems by the Council of Europe, a human rights organisation with its headquarters in France. Israel, Georgia, Norway, Iceland,…

In a sweeping crackdown, US agencies have indicted key Russian media operatives and imposed sanctions to counter Moscow’s escalating efforts to influence the 2024 elections, marking an intensified defence of American democracy against foreign interference. The United States government has raised concern over Russia’s suspected attempts to meddle in American elections, particularly ahead of the 2024 US presidential race. Russian disinformation efforts, hacking, and covert operations have been linked to Moscow’s strategic goal of undermining American democracy, manipulating public opinion, and promoting politicians who share its interests. Recent actions by the US Treasury Department, Justice Department, and intelligence agencies have increased…

Mongolia faces international scrutiny as it hosts Putin despite an ICC arrest warrant, challenging its foreign policy and legal commitments. The arrival of Vladimir Putin in Mongolia has prompted concerns about the country’s international legal duties. On September 2, the Russian president set foot in Mongolia, his first visit to a nation that, as a member of the International Criminal Court (ICC), was required to hold him under an active arrest warrant for war crimes related to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The visit puts Mongolia in a tight spot, with its role as a member of the ICC being…

Brazil’s Supreme Court bans X due to Elon Musk’s non-compliance with local laws, sparking a backlash from the tech billionaire and a surge in new Bluesky users. On Sunday, one of the world’s most popular social networking platforms, X, went offline in Brazil after Elon Musk’s unwillingness to comply with local laws. The suspension of X, formerly known as Twitter, was suspended by the Brazilian Supreme Court on Friday, following Musk’s failure to provide a new attorney for an ongoing legal dispute. As internet providers and mobile phone firms began to enforce the ban, millions of Brazilian X users found…

RBI new guidelines grant banking rights to queer couples, marking a milestone in financial inclusion. The challenge now lies in effective implementation, especially in semi-urban and rural banks. People in the LGBTQIA+ community and those in queer relationships cannot be barred from creating joint bank accounts, the Union government stated in an advisory issued this week, emphasizing that they can also select one another as beneficiaries. This follows a year after the Supreme Court of India directed the Union government to examine extending equal rights to partners in homosexual relationships, in a decision that rejected to recognize same-sex marriage.  Among…

Billionaire Pavel Durov, founder of Telegram, faces explosive charges in France for enabling a hotbed of illegal activities, from  child pornography to drug trafficking, and other crimes through the app, sparking debate over tech accountability. Pavel Durov, founder and CEO of telegram, has been prosecuted in France for facilitating various criminal activities on the messaging app. The billionaire failed to control the distribution of pornographic images of children, drug trafficking, and other illegal activities on Telegram, the court ruled. Telegram has been linked to the spread of conspiracy theory groups, child sexual abuse material and terrorism. Reportedly, ISIS has used…

Muizzu orders probe into BML’s US dollar payment halt, calling it a ‘financial coup’ attempt, while opposition denies involvement and warns of damage to the Maldives’ financial reputation. The Maldives President, Mohamed Muizzu, has ordered an investigation into the Bank of Maldives’ (BML) recent decision to suspend US dollar payments from MVR (Maldivian rufiyaa) accounts, which was later restored. Muizzu called it an attempted “coup” against the administration. On Sunday, the Bank of Maldives (BML) halted overseas transactions for both existing debit cards along with new debit and credit cards linked to MVR accounts. It also reduced the monthly standard…

Sullivan’s visit to Beijing marks a critical juncture in US-China relations, with tensions flaring over Taiwan, technology, and geopolitical disputes. Jake Sullivan, US National Security Advisor, arrived in Beijing for a three-day visit as the world’s two largest economies try to manage their rivalry through dialogue. Sullivan landed in Beijing on Tuesday, becoming the first US national security adviser to visit China since 2016. He is set to meet Wang Yi, the country’s top diplomat, for two days of talks and meals on the outskirts of Beijing. The goal of Sullivan’s visit, who will stay until Thursday, is to try…

In Balochistan’s Musakhel district, at least 23 Punjabis were killed when armed men targeted passengers, blocked roads, and torched vehicles. According to government sources, gunmen shot and killed at least 22 individuals in southwest Pakistan on Monday after offloading them out of their vehicles and determining their ethnicity. The attack took place early Monday in the district of Musakhail in restive Balochistan province, where security forces are fighting sectarian, ethnic and separatist violence. “At least 22 people were killed and 5 injured when militants stopped several busses, trucks and vans on a highway connecting Punjab with Balochistan,” Najibullah Kakar, a…

Hezbollah has confirmed the initiation of “phase one” of its attack on Israel, begining by striking a wave of hundreds of Katyusha rockets and drones towards Israeli targets. Israeli fighter planes targeted thousands of Hezbollah units in southern Lebanon early Sunday morning. The Israeli military has described it as a preventative operation against weaponry that might have been used in a major attack on central and northern Israel. Meanwhile, Hezbollah claimed it had already launched more than 320 Katyusha rockets, noting that it was hitting 11 Israeli military bases and barracks, calling it “phase one” of a multi-stage attack retaliatory…