Browsing Category

International

1924 posts

Can you trust your ears? AI voice scams rattle US

AI voice cloning tools are being used by fraudsters in a new type of scam, posing as family members and demanding ransom. The technology is becoming indistinguishable from human speech, enabling cybercriminals to exploit victims more effectively. The rise of AI voice cloning raises concerns about the blurring of reality and fiction and the need for new technologies to verify identities.

Trump lawyer: Docs were de-classified or ‘mementos’

Donald Trump’s lawyer argued that his federal charges for mishandling secret documents are politically motivated. Trump faces 37 charges, including violations of the Espionage Act, but his lawyer claims he did nothing wrong and won’t admit guilt. Former Attorney General Bill Barr stated that if even half the indictment is true, Trump is in serious trouble. The charges carry up to 20 years in prison, and Trump’s defiance and support among Republicans highlight the country’s political polarization.

Emirati COP28 chief recognises reduction of fossil fuel use ‘inevitable’

Sultan al-Jaber, the head of the upcoming COP28 climate summit and CEO of UAE’s national oil company, acknowledged the inevitability of reducing fossil fuel use. He stated that the speed of this transition depends on the rapid adoption of zero-carbon alternatives. While his comments were seen as a step forward, activists and experts emphasized the need to phase out fossil fuels completely, as they are the main driver of global warming. Some called for energy firms to be excluded from climate negotiations.

Havana denies report of plans for Chinese spy base in Cuba

The Cuban government has denied reports of a secret deal with China to establish a spying base in Cuba. The reports, published by The Wall Street Journal and CNN, claimed that China and Cuba had reached an agreement for an electronic eavesdropping facility that could monitor communications in the southeastern United States. Cuban officials called the reports “mendacious and unfounded,” while the White House dismissed them as inaccurate. However, Senators Mark Warner and Marco Rubio expressed concern over the potential establishment of a Chinese intelligence facility near the US.

Trump says has been indicted in classified documents probe

Former US President Donald Trump announced on his platform Truth Social that he has been indicted over his handling of classified documents after leaving office. This marks a significant legal threat as criminal investigations jeopardize his potential second term bid. The Justice Department has not confirmed Trump’s assertion, but some media outlets have reported the indictment. Trump is scheduled to appear in federal court on Tuesday in Miami. This follows previous charges for hush money payments to a porn star and ongoing investigations into the Capitol riot and election overturn attempts.

Former VP Pence announces US presidential run

Mike Pence announces his candidacy for the 2024 US presidential election, joining an already crowded field that includes Donald Trump. Pence, known for his loyalty to Trump, faces competition from Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. Trump remains the early front runner in polls, despite facing legal challenges.

Australia’s security pacts with Pacific Nations face sovereignty concerns amid China’s growing influence

Australia’s bid for security pacts with Pacific neighbors faces obstacles as leaders in Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu express concerns over sovereignty. The agreements, aimed at countering China’s influence, are being questioned due to perceived imbalances of power and encroachments on sovereign rights. Australia seeks to strengthen ties amidst competition in the region.

Beijing denies operating secret police stations in UK

China denied the existence of secret police stations in the United Kingdom, following an order by the UK government to close them down. The Chinese embassy dismissed the allegations as “false accusations,” urging the UK to respect the facts and stop creating obstacles to bilateral relations. The UK had instructed the Chinese embassy to shut down the stations based on a report by Safeguard Defenders detailing their activities.

INTERPOL issues orange notice on alarming global human trafficking trend

INTERPOL has issued an Orange Notice alerting its 195 member countries of a rapidly escalating crime trend involving large-scale human trafficking tied to fraudulent online job ads. Victims, deceived by fake job promises, are coerced into committing cyber-enabled financial crimes, marking a disturbing fusion of human exploitation and cyber fraud. Initial traces of this activity were identified in Southeast Asia, with Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar acting as primary trafficking hubs. However, the criminal model has since taken root and expanded into Western Africa, an area already grappling with cyber-enabled financial crime. “Trafficking hubs have now been discovered in at least four additional Asian countries,” reported Jürgen Stock, INTERPOL Secretary General. “This ominous trend, once a regional threat, has evolved into a global human trafficking crisis.” The demographic profile of the victims has expanded as dramatically as the geographical reach of the crime.

EU approves first vaccine against common respiratory virus

The European Commission has approved the world’s first vaccine for Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) in adults aged 60 and over. GSK, the maker of the vaccine called Arexvy, stated that this authorization allows eligible adults to be vaccinated against RSV for the first time. RSV can cause severe illness in vulnerable populations and has led to approximately 20,000 in-hospital deaths each year in Europe among adults aged 60 and over. The market for RSV vaccines is projected to exceed $10 billion in the coming decade.