Australia

Vladimir Putin Confronts AI Version, Stumped by Question on Artificial Intelligence Dangers

16 Dec 2023 10:47 AM IST

Russian President Vladimir Putin encountered a surreal moment during an annual Q&A session when an artificial intelligence (AI) version of himself approached him with a question on artificial intelligence and its associated risks. The AI ‘double,’ posing as a university student from St Petersburg State University, left Putin momentarily speechless

Millions of chinese ‘blacklisted’ for debts

16 Dec 2023 10:37 AM IST

Millions of Chinese borrowers have been blacklisted for failing to pay their debts and are mostly between the ages of 18 and 59, Voice of America (VOA) reported. They are in debt due to the loans they took during the economic disruption caused by the Covid pandemic and Beijing’s strict

Mossad Chief’s Qatar trip to restart hostage talks cancelled

16 Dec 2023 10:36 AM IST

Israel cancelled a planned trip of Mossad director David Barnea to Qatar to restart talks on a possible second hostage release deal, CNN reported citing a source. Mossad director David Barnea will not travel to the Qatari capital Doha, where previous talks on the release of hostages held by Hamas

Hong Kong police puts bounties on 5 alleged activists

16 Dec 2023 10:35 AM IST

The Hong Kong police on Thursday accused five activists based overseas of breaching China-imposed national security law and issued bounties worth USD 128,000 for information leading to each of their arrests, Voice of America (VOA) reported. VOA is a US state-owned news network and international radio broadcaster. All of the

Japan’s Foreign Minister meets with Israeli hostages’ relatives

16 Dec 2023 10:35 AM IST

The members of the information delegation initiated by the Ministry of Diaspora and in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the relatives of the abductees held captive by Hamas, met in Tokyo with the Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa. A delegation of members of families of Israeli hostages held

Lahore court issues notice to Election Commission on Imran Khan’s plea

16 Dec 2023 10:34 AM IST

The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Friday issued notices to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan’s plea challenging his five-year disqualification in the Toshakhana case, Pakistan-based Dawn reported. A bench headed by Justice Shahid Bilal Hassan and comprising Justice Shams Mahmood Mirza, Justice

Japan strengthens partnerships with ASEAN nations to contain China

16 Dec 2023 10:33 AM IST

Japan has been enhancing its security ties with various Southeast Asian nations ahead of a Japan-ASEAN summit that is scheduled to be held in Tokyo from 16-18 December. According to analysts, this forum is being held to offset China’s aggressive behaviour in the region, VOA News reported. Japan will host

Massive protests erupt amid alarming disappearances, extrajudicial killings rise

16 Dec 2023 10:26 AM IST

Large-scale protests have erupted across Balochistan after an alarming rise in cases of extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances spanning different demographics in the region, the Human Rights Council of Balochistan (HRCB) stated in a report. Notably, the month of November witnessed an alarming rise in cases of human rights violations

Millions of people drop out of state health insurance

16 Dec 2023 10:25 AM IST

Millions of people in China are dropping out of state health insurance, according to a report by Voice of America (VOA). VOA is a US state-owned news network and international radio broadcaster. As per statistics released by China’s National Healthcare Security Administration, in 2022, China had 1.34 billion people enrolled

US expands Africa investments, seals .2 billion deals to counter Chinese influence

US expands Africa investments, seals $14.2 billion deals to counter Chinese influence

16 Dec 2023 10:24 AM IST

The United States has engaged in an extensive effort to bolster its ties with African nations, finalising numerous trade and investment agreements totaling $14.2 billion in the past year, Voice of America reported. This initiative aims to counteract the increasing influence of China on the continent. The 547 new agreements,

Pak minister hints poll delay following LHC ruling

16 Dec 2023 10:24 AM IST

Pakistan’s Caretaker Federal Information and Broadcasting Minister Murtaza Solangi on Thursday hinted at a possible delay in the holding of the next general elections in the country, The Express Tribune newspaper reported. The Express Tribune is a daily English-language newspaper based in Pakistan. This comes as the 54-day mandatory period

Israeli military eliminates more than ten terrorists in 60-hr Jenin raid

16 Dec 2023 10:23 AM IST

After 60 hours, the counter-terrorism operation in Jenin ended. The IDF (Israel Defense Forces) reported that its soldiers, together with Border Police units, completed what it called an “extensive operation to counter-terrorism” in the refugee camp and in the city of Jenin. More than ten terrorists were killed in the