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Singapore to host Prince William’s Earthshot Prize

Singapore has been chosen as the host for the upcoming Earthshot Prize awards ceremony, organized by Prince William. The event aims to recognize innovative efforts in tackling climate change, with winners in each category receiving £1 million. The ceremony will feature performances by renowned musicians and artists, and this year’s finalists will be announced later in the year. The Earthshot Prize was inspired by President Kennedy’s “Moonshot” project and was established by Prince William in 2020.

China jails US citizen for life on espionage charges

China has sentenced a 78-year-old US citizen to life in prison for espionage, further straining relations with Washington. The heavy sentence is rare for foreign citizens in China, and the court statement provided no details on the charges. The jailing comes after China broadened its anti-espionage law, and it follows several other cases of foreigners being detained in recent years.

ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, accused of “Culture of Lawlessness” in a lawsuit filed by former employee

In a lawsuit, former ByteDance engineering head, Yu Yintao, accuses the TikTok parent company of a “culture of lawlessness,” including content theft and manipulation. Yu alleges ByteDance served as a propaganda tool for the Chinese Communist Party and manipulated user data, amid rising global concerns over TikTok’s ties to China and potential threats to data privacy and national security. ByteDance denies the allegations, calling them “baseless.”

‘Hostile’ US policies on China risk dividing world: Stiglitz

Nobel-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz expressed concern that “hostile” US policies towards China could lead to a split in the world into two blocs. Stiglitz urged the West, particularly the US, to offer investment instead of lectures to developing countries. He warned that the competition between Democrats and Republicans to appear tough on China could undermine global cooperation on issues like climate change. Stiglitz also criticized the limited investment by the West in developing economies compared to China’s efforts through initiatives like the Belt and Road Initiative.

YouTuber who staged plane crash faces up to 20 years jail: US officials

A YouTuber pilot, Trevor Jacob, could face up to 20 years in jail for intentionally crashing his plane after ejecting midair in order to increase views on his channel. Jacob admitted to obstructing federal authorities by disposing of the wreckage and creating the video for financial gain. He is expected to plead guilty to the charges and be sentenced at a later date. Aviation experts criticized Jacob’s actions, stating that he could have taken steps to restart the engine or safely land the plane.

Disinformation adds dark note to pivotal Turkish election

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has presented a manipulated video montage as proof that his rival in the upcoming election, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, is in alliance with Kurdish militants. Kilicdaroglu alleges that “foreign hackers” recruited by Erdogan’s team are preparing deepfakes to discredit rivals before the election. Disinformation, including manipulated videos, has become a weapon in the political battle, causing a polarized atmosphere in Turkey.

Elon Musk says new Twitter chief has been hired

Elon Musk has announced that he has hired a new CEO to replace him at Twitter and its parent company, X Corporation. Musk’s running of Twitter has faced criticism, and he plans to transition to the role of executive chair and chief technology officer. The move comes after an unscientific Twitter poll in which the majority voted for Musk to step down as CEO.

European Parliament votes on curbs for ChatGPT and other AI

EU lawmakers are set to vote on Thursday on restrictions for the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the European Union. The vote follows efforts to create a law that regulates AI usage while promoting innovation and preventing abuses. The EU aims to become a global leader in AI regulation and has been spurred to action by the emergence of AI applications like ChatGPT and Midjourney. The legislation would define “high-risk” AI activities, ensure human control, and establish supervising authorities in each member state. Prohibitions on certain AI applications, such as emotion recognition and mass surveillance, are also being considered.

More than 71 mn people internally displaced worldwide in 2022

A record-breaking number of internally displaced people (IDPs) reached 71.1 million in 2022 due to a convergence of crises, including Russia’s war in Ukraine and devastating floods in Pakistan. The total number of new internal displacements rose to 60.9 million, marking a significant increase compared to the previous year. Conflict and natural disasters were the primary drivers of internal displacement, with conflict-related displacements nearly doubling and natural disasters accounting for the majority of new displacements. The situation is expected to worsen in 2023, with ongoing conflicts and new crises emerging globally.

UBS merger with Credit Suisse raises job fears at home

The merger between UBS and Credit Suisse has raised concerns about job security and competition in Switzerland’s banking sector. The fate of Credit Suisse’s domestic retail banking division remains uncertain, with options including integration into UBS, a sale, or a share offering. Some investors favor a spin-off to protect jobs and avoid concentration of risks in a single bank. Analysts suggest that carving out the front office of Credit Suisse Switzerland could create value and alleviate concerns about the size of the merged entity.