Daily News Pakistan

Pope Francis has renewed calls for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and the release of all Israeli captives in a peace-focused address marking Easter Sunday, the most important day on the Christian calendar. Francis presided over mass in a packed St Peter’s Square and then delivered his “Urbi et Orbi” (to the city and the world) blessing and message from the central balcony of St Peter’s Basilica. “I appeal once again that access to humanitarian aid be ensured to Gaza, and call once more for the prompt release of the hostages seized on last October 7 and for an immediate ceasefire in the Strip,” he said. “Let us not allow the current hostilities to continue to have grave repercussions on the civil population, by now at the limit of its endurance, and above all on the children,” he said in a speech that also touched on the plight of Haitians, the Rohingya and victims of human trafficking. “How much suffering we see in the eyes of children, the children have forgotten to smile in tho...

More than a decade after joining the European Union, Romania and Bulgaria joined at least partially the rest of the bloc's members in the visa-free Schengen zone on Sunday. Travelers are now able to move between the two Eastern European countries and the rest of the EU without the need for passing through visa and passport control when traveling by sea or air. Due to a veto by Austria, however, land routes are not included due to fears that it would enable non-EU migrants to more easily enter other EU states. "This is a great success for both countries," President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen said on Saturday. "And a historic moment for the Schengen area the largest area of free movement in the world. Together, we are building a stronger, more united Europe for all our citizens." The Schengen area is comprised of the 25 other EU member states along with non-EU states Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. Romania has said that...

Neuralink owner Elon Musk, after achieving a remarkable feat by implanting a brain chip into human brain, has announced to launch an enhanced chatbot, under start-up Artificial Intelligence company xAI. In a statement xAI announced that the new version called Grok-1.5 will be available for early testing to existing Grok users and Musk's social media platform X. The startup said: "One of the most notable improvements in Grok-1.5 is its performance in coding and math-related tasks." Tesla chief executive had launched xAI last year in March to create what he said would be a "maximum truth-seeking AI". In December, Grok was launched for premium X users. Grok-1.5 features Better in solving math problems Grok had set a benchmark of 62.9% on the GSM8K, while Grok 1.5, showed significant improvement by scoring 90% on the GSM8K benchmark. It also scored 74.1% on the HumanEval benchmark which showed improved code generation and problem-solving abilities. Improve...

Top leaders of India’s opposition coalition and thousands of supporters have rallied in the capital, decrying “autocracy” in protest against the arrest of a senior colleague ahead of the general election. Arvind Kejriwal, chief minister of Delhi and a key leader in an opposition alliance formed to challenge Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was arrested and jailed earlier in March in connection with a long-running corruption probe. Kejriwal’s government is accused of receiving kickbacks while handing out liquor licences to private companies. A court on Thursday extended Kejriwal’s custody until April 1. Kejriwal, 55, denies the charges. His Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) says the liquor policy case is fabricated and politically motivated. India’s main financial investigation agency, the Enforcement Directorate (ED), which arrested Kejriwal, has launched probes into at least four other state chief ministers or their family members. Almost all the investigations involve political opponents of M...

Malaysian authorities have arrested three people suspected of supplying firearms to a 36-year-old man carrying an Israeli passport, who was detained this week at a hotel in Kuala Lumpur, police said. The man, arrested on Saturday, with a bag containing six handguns and 200 bullets, had arrived at Kuala Lumpur International Airport from the United Arab Emirates on March 12 using what authorities believed to be a fake French passport, Inspector-General of Police Razarudin Husain told a press conference late on Friday. The suspect turned over an Israeli passport upon questioning by police, Razarudin said, adding that the man, who has not been publicly identified, had ordered the weapons after arriving in Malaysia and paid for them with cryptocurrency. Police did not rule out the possibility that the man could be a member of Israeli intelligence, though the suspect told authorities he had entered Malaysia to hunt down another Israeli citizen due to a family dispute. "We do not f...

The Biden administration on March 29 revised rules aimed at making it harder for China to access US artificial intelligence (AI) chips and chipmaking tools, part of an effort to hobble Beijing's chipmaking industry over national security concerns. The rules, released in October, seek to halt shipments to China of more advanced AI chips designed by Nvidia and others as Washington cracks down on Beijing over concerns its advancing tech sector could help boost China's military. The new rules, which run 166 pages in length, go into effect on Thursday. They clarify, for example, that restrictions on chip shipments to China also apply to laptops containing those chips. The Commerce Department, which oversees export controls, has said it plans to continue updating its restrictions on technology shipments to China as it seeks to bolster and fine-tune the measures.

The United States announced Friday it will impose new visa restrictions on multiple Hong Kong officials over the crackdown on rights and freedoms in the territory. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has previously stated that China has been pursuing Hong Kong's promised autonomy, democratic institutions, and rights, including with the recent enactment of a new national security law known as Article 23, Reuters reported. "In response, the Department of State is announcing that it is taking steps to impose new visa restrictions on multiple Hong Kong officials responsible for the intensifying crackdown on rights and freedoms," Blinken said. The statement did not specify which officials would be targeted. In November, Hong Kong criticised a US bill imposing sanctions on 49 officials, judges, and prosecutors involved in national security cases, accusing the lawmakers of grand-standing and intimidation. Officials named in that Hong Kong Sanctions Act included Secretary...

Israel’s aggression in Gaza entered its 176th day on Saturday, as 17 Palestinians were killed as a result of the bombardment of homeless people in Shujaya police station in Gaza City. Violent operations of the Israeli army are continuing in the West Bank, with a 13-year-old Palestinian child killed by firing in Jenin, and two other Palestinians injured in the attack. As a result of the aerial bombardment by the Israeli army in Khan Yunis, 22 Palestinians were killed. According to foreign media reports, destroyed houses were set on fire in the premises of Al-Shifa Hospital, while the United States approved the provision of war aid to Israel. The United States will provide billions of dollars worth of bombs and fighter jets to Israel. According to Israeli Defense Minister Yuvigilant, Israel will expand the scope of its military operations against Hezbollah and will defeat the group by reaching Beirut, Damascus, or any other location where it is active. Demonstrators protesting in ...

Apple's overseas suppliers have increased production of the company's new iPad models and plans to launch them in early May, according to international media reports. Apple's initial plan was to launch the new iPads by late March or early April, but it is still working to finish the software for the devices, the report added. The new iPad Pro models will have Apple's latest M3 chip and will come with redesigned versions of the Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil, the report said. This update would represent Apple's first overhaul to that lineup since 2018. The iPad Air will get a new processor, and the 12.9-screen size, according to the report. Apple did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. The iPhone maker had said on Tuesday it will hold its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) from June 10 to June 14 amid reports it was in talks for an AI partnership and could unveil significant changes to the iOS.

This April is going to be an exciting time for skywatchers. Not only is there a rare total solar eclipse to look forward to, but there’s also the chance to view the dramatically named “Devil Comet.” Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks visits the inner solar system just once every 71 years, making it a once-in-a-lifetime viewing event for most of us. It will make its closest approach to Earth in June, but it will be at its brightest and easiest to spot when it makes its closest approach to the sun on April 21. It should be visible any time from now through to early April, and your best change of viewing it is from a location with clear, dark skies. That does coincide with the date of the solar eclipse, on April 8, but it’ll be difficult to pick out the comet during the eclipse itself. Instead, you’ll be best off doing a cosmic doubleheader by enjoying the eclipse during the day, then going comet hunting that night. It’ll be tough, but not impossible to see the comet with the naked eye, so if you...

The United States is urging Afghanistan to take stricter measures against terrorism within its borders. US State Department spokesperson, Matthew Miller, emphasized the importance of Afghanistan fulfilling its commitment to prevent the use of its territory for terrorist activities. "We are determined that Afghanistan will ensure its territory is not used again for terrorism," Miller stated. He further stressed the need for the Taliban to uphold its counter-terrorism promises made to the international community. "It is unequivocal that Afghanistan bears the responsibility to prevent the establishment of safe havens for terrorist organizations," emphasized Miller. He stressed the importance of Afghanistan's stance against groups like al-Qaeda and ISIS, underlining the critical need to deny them sanctuary within Afghan borders. The US State Department spokesperson opted not to respond to inquiries regarding Atchison College's principal during the press b...

Visa and Mastercard have reached an estimated $30bn antitrust settlement to limit credit and debit card fees for merchants in the United States, with some savings likely to be passed on to consumers through lower prices. If it receives court approval, it would resolve most claims in nationwide litigation that began in 2005. However, some opponents believe it may not go far enough. Merchants have long accused Visa and Mastercard of charging inflated swipe fees or interchange fees when shoppers use credit or debit cards and barring them, through “anti-steering” rules, from directing customers toward cheaper means of payment. According to reports, swipe fees typically include small fixed fees plus a percentage of total sale amounts and average about 1.5 percent to 3.5 percent per transaction. Under the settlement, Visa and Mastercard would reduce swipe rates by at least four basis points (0.04 percentage points) for three years and ensure an average rate that is seven basis points b...

Russia sees the US focus on Daesh being responsible for last week's terror attack on the Crocus City Hall concert venue in the Moscow region as an attempt to shift attention from something else, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has said. Speaking in an interview, Peskov said it looks strange that Washington takes the liberty to speak about the only version of what happened. "This, of course, shows that they want to shift attention from something else," he emphasised. He urged everyone to have patience and wait for the official results of the investigation, noting that so far, no one has presented official versions. "The special services are working to back up the existing versions," he said. At least 140 people were killed and more than 360 injured on March 22 when gunmen opened fire at Crocus City Hall in Krasnogorsk, Moscow Oblast. The Investigative Committee said it detained 11 people, including four perpetrators, in the border region of Bryansk, wh...

The United States on Thursday once again reiterated its support for Pakistan's energy woes saying that Washington "prioritises" helping Islamabad in addressing its energy shortage. "Helping Pakistan address its energy shortage crisis is a priority for the US," State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said while responding to a question pertaining to the country's assistance to Pakistan in meeting the energy needs in light of Washington's opposition to the Pakistan-Iran gas pipeline. The spokesperson's remarks came as Washington has time again voiced its opposition to the bilateral gas pipeline agreement between Islamabad and Tehran and has threatened to impose sanctions for the completion of project which has been facing a delay of nearly 10 years as it was originally set to be completed in 2015. However, due to the prevailing economic crises, driven by a weakening local currency and depleting foreign exchange reserves, which have resulted i...

Sri Lanka’s prime minister said on Wednesday that China has pledged to develop the island nation’s strategic deep sea port and the capital’s airport after talks with his counterpart in Beijing. Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena said China — the island’s biggest bilateral creditor — would “assist” Sri Lanka’s restructuring of external debt, a key condition to maintaining a $2.9 billion IMF bailout. Beijing’s position on debt restructuring has not been made public, but Sri Lankan officials have said China was reluctant to take a haircut on its loans but could extend the tenure and adjust interest rates. Sri Lanka in 2022 ran out of foreign exchange to finance essential imports and declared a sovereign default on its $46 billion foreign debt. Months of protests forced then-president Gotabaya Rajapaksa out of office. Gunawardena’s office said Premier Li Qiang had promised China would “assist Sri Lanka’s debt restructuring process continuously and help Sri Lanka to develop its econom...

As El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele embarks on his second term in office, an international rights group has warned that his war on gangs has created a spiralling human rights crisis. As of February 2024, Bukele’s draconian two-year campaign, which has seen the authorities detain about 78,000 people, has caused 235 deaths in state custody, said Amnesty International on Wednesday. Citing a local rights group, it also reported 327 cases of enforced disappearances. “Reducing gang violence by replacing it with state violence cannot be a success,” said Amnesty’s Americas director Ana Piquer in a statement. The Salvadoran government had adopted “disproportionate measures”, she said, denying, minimising and concealing human rights violations. Bukele launched his war on gangs in March 2022, slashing homicides to the lowest rate in three decades after imposing a state of emergency that suspended the need for arrest warrants and the right to a fair trial, among other civil liberties. Pri...

Apple (AAPL.O), opens new tab will hold its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) from June 10 to June 14, it said on Tuesday, amid reports that the iPhone-maker was in talks for AI partnership and could unveil significant changes to the iOS. The event, opens new tab, which will be available online, will highlight updates to the software powering iPhones, iPads and other Apple devices, the company said. Some developers and students will be invited in-person at Apple Park on the opening day, it added. The event is part of the tech major's ongoing commitment to helping developers elevate their apps and games. It will also provide developers with unique access to Apple experts, as well as insight into new tools, frameworks, and features. Further, the company noted that the in-person special event on June 10 will provide developers the opportunity to watch the keynote at Apple Park, meet with Apple team members, and take part in special activities. Apple will provide details on h...

Alice Springs has announced an overnight curfew for all residents under the age of 18, after violent brawls in the remote central Australian town. Northern Territory Chief Minister Eva Lawler said an emergency would apply to the city centre and 58 additional police officers would be deployed to deter crime and antisocial behaviour. The curfew will be enforced from 6pm until 6am from Wednesday night for the next two weeks. “The community have had enough and so have I,” Lawler told a news conference on Wednesday according to Australian media. “We want Alice Springs to be a safe place.” The latest unrest was reported on Tuesday following the funeral of an 18-year-old who died two weeks ago while travelling in a vehicle that had allegedly been stolen. Videos and photos shared on social media showed chaotic scenes with dozens of people gathering outside a pub called the Todd Tavern, throwing bricks and trying to break down the door as customers took cover inside. NT Police Commissio...

China on Tuesday urged the U.S. and Britain to stop politicising the issue of cybersecurity, slandering and smearing China and imposing unilateral sanctions on the country. "It is pure political manoeuvring for the United States and the United Kingdom to rehash the so-called cyberattacks carried out by China and to sanction Chinese individuals and entities," Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said at a regular press briefing. "China is strongly dissatisfied with this and firmly opposes it," he said. U.S. and British officials on Monday filed charges, imposed sanctions, and accused Beijing of a sweeping cyberespionage campaign that allegedly hit millions of people. Authorities on both sides of the Atlantic nicknamed the hacking group Advanced Persistent Threat Group 31 or "APT31", calling it an arm of China's Ministry of State Security. "Previously, China had made technical clarifications and responses to the so-called APT31 info...

One of the biggest tulip gardens in the world, Keukenhof opened for the 75th time in the Netherlands. Located in the northern city of Lisse, the garden welcomes more than a million Dutch and foreign visitors every year. As tulips have a short life span, the Keukenhof garden is open from March 21 to May 12, with the flowers at their best in April. Keukenhof 75 project leader Annemarie Gerards told media that the gardeners plant 7 million tulip bulbs by hand, from the first week of October till mid-December. “We have roundabout 600, maybe 800 tulip varieties,” she said, adding that 80% of the visitors are foreigners. Russian visitor Yulia Mikhaylova told reporters that she came to see Keukenhof during her trip to the Netherlands. “The colors bring me happiness. The spring is here,” she said. Charles Dudley, who came from London, said the vibrant colors of tulips feel like they have been “painted.” The garden of 32 hectares hosts 40 gardeners, and visitors can also enjoy a walki...

Many world leaders have welcomed a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolution that demands an immediate ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas in Gaza. While the United States abstained from the vote on Monday, the remaining 14 council members voted for the resolution. The resolution, which the US said it did not agree with in its entirety, calls for an “immediate ceasefire” for the duration of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which ends in two weeks. It calls for the ceasefire to lead to a “lasting” truce, for the release of all hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, and for respect for international law from each party when it comes to detainments. Here are some reactions from key officials around the world: Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs The ministry said that adopting the resolution is a step in the right direction to end the five-month war, to allow the entry of aid, and to begin the return of those displaced. The ministry also called on UNSC me...

As per an online report by WABetaInfo, WhatsApp will start permitting users to share videos worth a minute in status updates. As of now, Android beta testers can utilise this feature in the application’s iteration labelled 2.24.7.6. From what it’s understood, this development is presently available for only a chosen set of beta testers, who can make use of the feature by sharing videos in their status updates which exceed the 30-second mark. The report has highlighted the importance for users to be aware of the need to update WhatsApp, for watching extended videos shared via status updates. “Over time, users have consistently requested the ability to share longer videos as their status updates. With the previous 30-second limit, users often found themselves constrained when trying to convey a comprehensive story or share longer snippets of their lives. Now, with the one-minute duration, users have the freedom to share more extensive video content without the need for cumbersome e...

Israel could face “consequences” if it launches a ground assault on the city of Rafah in southern Gaza, the Vice President of the United States of America (USA) Kamala Harris has warned. Kamala Harris said in an interview that aired on Sunday that it would be a “huge mistake” for the Israeli military to move on the city. The comments appear to underscore the continued strain in relations between Washington and Tel Aviv as the latter’s war in Gaza continues. The United States and other Israeli allies continue to warn against an assault on Rafah, where over 1 million Palestinian civilians are sheltering. “We have been clear in multiple conversations and in every way that any major military operation in Rafah would be a huge mistake,” Harris said in an interview. “I have studied the maps – there’s nowhere for those folks to go. And we’re looking at about a million and a half people in Rafah who are there because they were told to go there,” Harris added. “I am ruling out nothing,” ...

Israeli forces besieged two more Gaza hospitals on Sunday, pinning down medical teams under heavy gunfire, the Palestinian Red Crescent said, and Israel said it had captured 480 militants in continued clashes at Gaza's main Al Shifa hospital. Israel says hospitals in the Palestinian enclave, where war has been raging for over five months, are used by Hamas militants as bases. It has released videos and pictures supporting the claim.Hamas and medical staff deny the accusations. The Palestinian Red Crescent said one of its staff was killed when Israeli tanks suddenly pushed back into areas around Al-Amal and Nasser hospitals in the southern city of Khan Younis, amid heavy bombardment and gunfire. Israeli forces began operating around Al-Amal, the military said, following "precise intelligence ... which indicated that terrorists are using civilian infrastructure for terror activities in the area of Al-Amal." Israeli armoured forces sealed off Al-Amal Hospital and carri...

Russia has lowered flags to half-mast for a day of mourning after scores of people were gunned down with automatic weapons at a rock concert outside Moscow in the deadliest attack inside Russia for two decades. President Vladimir Putin declared a national day of mourning for Sunday after pledging to track down and punish all those behind the attack, in which at least 137 people were killed, including three children, and more than 150 injured. “I express my deep, sincere condolences to all those who lost their loved ones,” Putin said in an address to the nation on Saturday, his first public comments on the attack. “The whole country and our entire people are grieving with you.” The ISIL (ISIS) armed group claimed responsibility for Friday’s attack, but Putin has not publicly mentioned the group in connection with the attackers, whom he said had been trying to escape to Ukraine. He asserted that some on “the Ukrainian side” had prepared to spirit them across the border. Ukraine has...

Meta-owned WhatsApp is constantly updated to ensure that users get the best experience possible as millions of people rely on the platform for their daily communication. AI-related updates — including stickers and chatbot — have been rolled out in beta versions of the app, but they aren’t available to everyone. In September, as per Android Police, AI-powered image editing tools were also added to the beta versions. In the latest beta release for Android (v2.24.7.13), WhatsApp has rolled out Backdrop, Restyle, and Expand options within the photo editor window. Android Police reported that the new features will appear when a user is posting a status update or sharing an image with someone. A sparkle icon has been added on the top row — where other options of basic editing were already available. Once a user taps on the icon, it will display three options — Backdrop, Restyle, and Expand. Via Backdrop, a user can enter a text for changing the background of the photo. Restyle allows ...

More than 130 students abducted by gunmen from a school in Nigeria earlier this month have been released “unharmed” days before a ransom deadline, say officials. Government spokesman Abdulaziz Abdulaziz told media on Sunday it “took a lot of backchannel engagement” to release the students abducted on March 7 in Kuriga, a dusty town in Kaduna state – the first mass kidnapping in Nigeria since 2021. “[All] of them were released and all of them were fine,” he said, giving the official number of freed students at 137 – much lower than the figure of 286 students and one staff member in most media reports. He claimed the media reports were wrong but did not give further details. Earlier on Sunday, Uba Sani, governor of the northwestern state of Kaduna, said in a statement the hostages were freed after “security operations” coordinated by the country’s national security adviser. “We thank all Nigerians who prayed fervently for the safe return of the school children. This is indeed a day...

Russia said on Saturday it had arrested all four gunmen suspected of carrying out a shooting massacre in a concert hall near Moscow, and President Vladimir Putin pledged to track down and punish those behind the attack. According to international media reports, militant group Daesh claimed responsibility for Friday's attack, the deadliest in Russia for 20 years. But there were indications that Russia was pursuing a Ukrainian link, despite a statement from Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak that Kyiv had nothing to do with it. Militant Islamist group Islamic State claimed responsibility for Friday's rampage but there were indications that Russia was pursuing a Ukrainian link, despite emphatic denials from Ukrainian officials that Kyiv had anything to do with it. A statement issued by Kremlin, on Saturday, stated that President Vladimir Putin was apprised by FSB security service chief Alexander Bortnikov that the suspects, among the detained, included "fou...

WhatsApp has made it easier for users to pin important messages in chats, with quick access to information. According to Meta Chief Mark Zuckerberg, users can pin up to three messages from within a conversation, from the previous pinned message feature. WhatsApp will not only let users pin messages, but even media or polls, that can stay at the top of the chat for 24 hours, 7 days, or even a whole month. If one message is pinned, it will show up as the chat banner, but if there are more than one, then the banner will display how many messages have been pinned, with the most recent appearing at the top. To pin messages, users will simply have to press the message and select 'pin' from the drop-down options displayed, along with selecting the duration the message needs to be pinned for. Messages can be unpinned the same way.

Manila has accused China’s coastguard of firing water cannon at one of its supply boats, in the latest incident between the two countries in the disputed South China Sea. The Philippine military said the Saturday morning confrontation lasted for nearly an hour and took place as it sought to resupply a small garrison of sailors on board the sunken Sierra Madre off Second Thomas Shoal. The shoal, known as Ayungin in the Philippines, has been the site of multiple similar stand-offs in recent months. It lies about 200 kilometres (124 miles) from the western Philippine island of Palawan, and more than 1,000 kilometres (621 miles) from China’s southern Hainan island. The military released a video clip showing a white ship marked China Coast Guard crossing the bow of a grey vessel it identified as the Philippine supply boat Unaizah May 4, and unleashing its water cannon. “The UM4 supply boat sustained heavy damages at around 08:52 (00:52 GMT) due to the continued blasting of water canno...

Camouflage-clad gunmen opened fire with automatic weapons at concertgoers near Moscow on Friday, killing at least 60 people and injuring 145 in an attack claimed by Islamic State militants. In the deadliest attack in Russia since the 2004 Beslan school siege, gunmen sprayed civilians with bullets just before Soviet-era rock group "Picnic" was to perform to a full house at the 6,200-seat the Crocus City Hall just west of the capital. Verified video showed people taking their seats in the hall, then rushing for the exits as repeated gunfire echoed above screams. Other video showed men shooting at groups of people. Some victims lay motionless in pools of blood. "Suddenly there were bangs behind us - shots. A burst of firing - I do not know what," one witness, who asked not to be identified by name, told Reuters. "A stampede began. Everyone ran to the escalator," the witness said. "Everyone was screaming; everyone was running." Advertisement ·...

A top Indian opposition politician appeared in court on Friday to fight his arrest in a case supporters say is aimed at sidelining challengers to Prime Minister Narendra Modi before next month’s election. Arvind Kejriwal, chief minister of the capital Delhi and a key leader in an opposition alliance formed to compete against Modi in the polls, was detained on Thursday in connection with a long-running corruption probe. He is among several leaders of the bloc under criminal investigation and one of his colleagues described his arrest as a “political conspiracy” orchestrated by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Kejriwal was escorted into a courtroom in the capital by officers from the Enforcement Directorate, India’s main financial crimes agency, to petition for bail while the case proceeds. His legal team had originally sought to challenge the legality of his detention in the Supreme Court but Shadan Farasat, a lawyer for Kejriwal, told AFP they would instead contest his re...

The United Nations General Assembly on Thursday unanimously adopted the first global resolution on artificial intelligence that encourages countries to safeguard human rights, protect personal data, and monitor AI for risks. The nonbinding resolution, proposed by the United States and co-sponsored by China and over 120 other nations, also advocates the strengthening of privacy policies. "Today, all 193 members of the United Nations General Assembly have spoken in one voice, and together, chosen to govern artificial intelligence rather than let it govern us," US Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield said. The resolution is the latest in a series of initiatives - few of which carry teeth - by governments around the world to shape AI's development, amid fears it could be used to disrupt democratic processes, turbocharge fraud or lead to dramatic job losses, among other harms. "The improper or malicious design, development, deployment and use of ...

Germany has eased visa rules for talented and skilled young workers from around the world to earn money while studying. The government has provided new rules this month that will make it easier for young people from countries outside the European Union to acquire student and apprenticeship visas to work easily for Germany. Students will be able to stay for 9 months in Germany to prepare for university admission and to work up to 20 hours per week to bear their expenses. The relaxation is aimed to give career opportunities for young people, stabilizing the German economy. International students will be able to participate easily in economic activities besides educational prospects and will be permitted to work for 20 hours, as per the report. This will give financial independence to students to make lives easier. There is a severe shortage of skilled youth worldwide in the post-pandemic situation and many countries are providing remote work opportunities. The German government i...

Astronomers anticipate the appearance of a nova in the night sky, possibly occurring anytime until September. NASA describes it as a rare event, offering a unique spectacle. The nova will emerge in the Corona Borealis constellation, situated between Boötes and Hercules in the Milky Way. Unlike a supernova, which marks the demise of a massive star, a nova stems from the sudden eruption of a collapsed white dwarf star. T Coronae Borealis, dubbed the "Blaze Star," is a binary system within Corona Borealis. It comprises a dead white dwarf and an aging red giant star. Red giants form as stars deplete their hydrogen fuel, swelling in size as they approach the end of their lifecycle. Approximately every 79 years, T Coronae Borealis undergoes an explosive event due to the close interaction between its constituent stars. The red giant sheds its outer layers onto the white dwarf, leading to a gradual heating of the latter's atmosphere. Eventually, this triggers a runaway therm...

Sudan is suffering one of the worst humanitarian crises in recent history after nearly a year of war, the United Nations has warned. Fighting between the army, headed by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, since last April has killed tens of thousands of people, as the threat of famine looms amid international inaction. “By all measures – the sheer scale of humanitarian needs, the numbers of people displaced and facing hunger – Sudan is one of the worst humanitarian disasters in recent memory,” Edem Wosornu, director of operations at the UN Office for the Coordination for Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), said on Wednesday. “A humanitarian travesty is playing out in Sudan under a veil of international inattention and inaction,” Wosornu told the UN Security Council on behalf of OCHA head Martin Griffiths. “Simply put, we are failing the people of Sudan,” she added, describing the population’s “desperation.” Acc...

A photo of an Ohio newspaper from 1970 predicting the upcoming total solar eclipse is raking in likes on X. The newspaper headline says, “Millions See Eclipse, Next Showing in 2024.” Even though the exact date of the newspaper is hard to tell, but it appears that the paper was first referring to the total solar eclipse that occurred on March 7, 1970. It was visible across North America and Central America. The upcoming total solar eclipse will occur on April 8. It will be visible over North America, Mexico and Canada. The total solar eclipse is estimated to last up to 4 minutes and 28 seconds in the path of total darkness. A total solar eclipse occurs when the Moon comes in between the Sun and Earth and completely blocks the face of the Sun. This darkens the sky and the day appears like dusk for some time. Total solar eclipses are rare compared to partial or annular solar eclipses. According to Space.com, the next total solar eclipse will be on August 12, 2026. It will be visible f...