Africa
Drone maker DJI loses lawsuit to exit Pentagon's list of firms with Chinese military ties
Drone maker DJI loses lawsuit to exit Pentagon's list of firms with Chinese military ties A U.S. judge on Friday rejected a bid by China-based DJI, the world's largest drone maker, to be removed from the U.S. Defense Department's list of companies allegedly working with Beijing's military. In his ruling, U.S. District Judge Paul Friedman in Washington, D.C., said the Defense Department had substantial evidence supporting its finding that DJI, which sells more than half of all U.S. commercial drones, contributes to the Chinese defense industrial base." DJI had urged the court to order its removal from the Pentagon list designating it as a Chinese military company, saying it is neither owned nor controlled by the Chinese military. The judge rejected some of the government's other justifications for listing DJI. In a time of both misinformation and too much information, quality journalism is more crucial than ever. By subscribing, you can help us get the story right.
EU to develop 'drone wall' amid regional airspace violations
Can Ukraine restore its pre-war borders? Is Russia testing NATO with aerial incursions in Europe? EU to develop'drone wall' amid regional airspace violations European Union defence ministers have agreed to develop a "drone wall" along their borders with Russia and Ukraine to detect, track and intercept violations of their airspace, according to the bloc's defence chief. Friday's announcement comes after rogue drones entered Polish airspace on September 10, rattling eastern EU members. Although Danish authorities have not concluded their investigations, Frederiksen stressed that Russia was currently the primary threat to European security. The Kremlin has denied any involvement in the drone incidents in Poland and Denmark.
Tech Billionaires Already Captured the White House. They Still Want to Be Kings
From Montenegro to northern California, the tech elite dream of building cities where they make the rules. Is this, finally, their moment? The shirtless man in the golden mask and cape has plans to lead his own country one day. There is no location yet, but it will be a crypto-and AI-powered paradise of medical experimentation, filled with people who want to "make death optional," he says. For now, though, he's leading a sparsely attended rave on the second floor of a San Francisco office building. A DJ is spinning at one end of an open room. A handful of people sway and jump on the space cleared out as a dance floor. At a nearby table, coffee is available with many alternative milks.
Ahmed al-Sharaa's high-stakes bid to remake Syria
The Take Ahmed al-Sharaa's high-stakes bid to remake Syria For the first time in nearly 60 years, a Syrian leader speaks at the United Nations. It was a symbolic moment for a nation long-isolated from the international stage. President Ahmed al-Sharaa says he can rebuild Syria through private investment and a deal with Israel. But how much can he concede in the name of progress, without losing Syrian public support? What is the future of US dissent in the post-Charlie Kirk era? The White House Peace Vigil is dismantled - why? How is China using AI in the classroom?
The UN's AI warnings grow louder
The UN's AI warnings grow louder Welcome back to In the Loop, new twice-weekly newsletter about AI. It was a busy week for our team: Tharin Pillay was on site during the UN General Assembly in New York, while Harry Booth and Nikita Ostrovsky were at the "All In AI" event in Montreal. If you're reading this in your browser, why not subscribe to have the next one delivered straight to your inbox? The United Nations General Assembly met this week in New York. While the assembly members spent much of their time on the crises in Palestine and Sudan, they also devoted a good chunk to AI.
Why has Microsoft cut Israel off from some of its services?
What does recognising a Palestinian state mean? Why have Spain, Italy sent ships to assist the Gaza flotilla? Who are the artists speaking out against the war? Why has Microsoft cut Israel off from some of its services? Microsoft has announced that it has withdrawn some of its services from the Israeli army, following an investigation that raised concerns that Israel may be violating the company's terms of service by using its artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud services to spy on millions of Palestinians throughout Gaza and the West Bank.
Russia's law against books by 'foreign agents' signals tightening grip
Can Ukraine restore its pre-war borders? Is Russia testing NATO with aerial incursions in Europe? Boris Akunin is one of Russia's most popular authors. Erast Fandorin, his series of historical detective novels, has been adapted into feature films and TV miniseries. But he is also an enemy of the state, having been branded a "foreign agent" by the Russian authorities last year. Akunin, whose real name is Grigory Chkhartishvili, has been outspoken against President Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine.
Microsoft cuts Israeli military's access to some cloud computing, AI
Why have Spain, Italy sent ships to assist the Gaza flotilla? Israel's mass surveillance: Microsoft blocks the army from using its software United States tech giant Microsoft has cancelled some services it provides to the Israeli military over concerns it is violating its terms of service by using the firm's cloud computing software to spy on millions of Palestinians, the company's vice chair and president Brad Smith confirmed. Smith wrote in a Thursday blog post that the company had "ceased and disabled a set of services" to a unit within the Israeli Ministry of Defence in response to an August 6 joint investigation by The Guardian newspaper, +972 Magazine, and Hebrew-language outlet Local Call. Unit 8200 is the Israeli military's elite cyber warfare unit responsible for clandestine operations, including collecting signal intelligence and surveillance. The investigation by journalists revealed that following a 2021 meeting between Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and Unit 8200's leader Yossi Sariel, an agreement was reached to collaborate on moving large volumes of sensitive intelligence material into the company's Azure platform.
The surprising reason why growing up with dogs (and not cats) can be good for your health
Trump accuses Comey of nearly starting a war as it's revealed why new MAGA star prosecutor rushed indictment Tim Allen reveals Erika Kirk's speech inspired him to forgive his father's killer 60 years after tragic death Girl found dead in D4vd's Tesla was AGED 12 when they met online. Now as masked men guard his mansion, friends unravel the truth... and tell of the chilling moment her texts stopped Someone is trying to drive a wedge between Charles and William. I'm no conspiracy theorist, but even my royal sources say something'calculated' and odd is going on. This is what's really happening, reveals REBECCA ENGLISH The $2 fruit that reverses diabetes... as 100million Americans suffer from deadly condition and most don't know it What would her mother think? Johnny Carson's Malibu home lists for $110m - and it has jaw-dropping hidden feature Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco's FULL wedding plans leaked: Top secret details, surprise celeb host and a MAJOR A-list drop out... ahead of ceremony this weekend Texas man's final words as he is executed for the'exorcism' killing of his girlfriend's 13-month-old daughter Creepy New England road is so isolated it only sees a car every few DAYS.
Israel Attacks Yemeni Capital, a Day After Houthi Drone Strike
After significantly weakening other Iranian-backed groups in the region, Israel's military has turned its attention to the Houthis, carrying out a series of punishing strikes on Yemeni ports and other infrastructure. Last month an Israeli attack in Sana killed senior members of the Houthi-led government -- including the prime minister, Ahmed al-Rahawi -- but appeared to leave the group's military leadership largely unscathed. Israeli strikes in Yemen have also killed and wounded dozens of civilians in recent months, according to human rights groups. The United States has also bombed Yemen, in response to Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping. The Houthis say they have targeted ships linked to Israel, although some of the ships they struck have no clear connection to the country. Houthi attacks on Israel are typically blocked or intercepted by the Israeli military, as was the case late on Thursday when sirens sounded in parts of Israel and the military soon after said that a missile from Yemen had been thwarted.