Name: Chinese police save 1,000 cats from slaughter; were to be served as pork and mutton: report
Uploaded: 2023-10-26T19:58:52.000+05:30
Duration: T00M27S
Channel: Editorji News Desk
Description: According to activists, cat meat can be sold for 4.5 yuan in China, which is approximately equivalent to 600g. They also noted that a single cat can yield four to five catties.

US President Joe Biden's son Hunter Biden has been indicted on nine tax charges in California. The new charges including three felonies and six misdemeanors come in addition to federal firearms charges against him.

Joe Biden's son indicted on nine tax charges, adding to gun charges

US President Joe Biden's son Hunter Biden has been indicted on nine tax charges in California. The new charges including three felonies and six misdemeanors come in addition to federal firearms charges against him.

Hunter Biden has been indicted on nine tax charges in California as a special counsel investigation into the business dealings of the president's son intensifies against the backdrop of the looming 2024 election.
The new charges &mdash; three felonies and six misdemeanors &mdash; come in addition to federal firearms charges in Delaware alleging Hunter Biden broke a law against drug users having guns in 2018.
He had been previously expected to plead guilty to misdemeanor tax charges as part of a plea deal with prosecutors who said he failed to pay taxes on USD4 million in personal income in 2017 and 2018. Defence attorneys have signalled they plan to fight any new charges.
The agreement imploded in July after a judge raised questions about it. It had also been pilloried as a &ldquo;sweetheart deal&rdquo; by Republicans investigating nearly every aspect of Hunter Biden's business dealings as well as the Justice Department's handling of the case.
Congressional Republicans have also pursued an impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden, claiming he was engaged in an influence-peddling scheme with his son. The House is expected to vote next week on formally authorising the inquiry.
While questions have arisen about the ethics surrounding the Biden family's international business, no evidence has emerged so far to prove that Joe Biden, in his current or previous office, abused his role or accepted bribes.
The criminal investigation led by Delaware US Attorney David Weiss has been open since 2018, and was expected to wind down with the plea deal that Hunter Biden had planned to strike with prosecutors over the summer. He would have pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor tax evasion charges and would have entered a separate agreement on the gun charge. He would have served two years of probation rather than get jail time.
The agreement also contained immunity provisions, and defense attorneys have argued that they remain in force since that part of the agreement was signed by a prosecutor before the deal was scrapped.
Prosecutors disagree, pointing out the documents weren't signed by a judge and are invalid.
After the deal fell apart, prosecutors filed three federal gun charges alleging that Hunter Biden had lied about his drug use to buy a gun that he kept for 11 days in 2018. Federal law bans gun possession by &ldquo;habitual drug users,&rdquo; though the measure is seldom seen as a stand-alone charge and has been called into question by a federal appeals court.
Hunter Biden's longstanding struggle with substance abuse had worsened during that period after the death of his brother Beau Biden in 2015, prosecutors wrote in a draft plea agreement filed in court in Delaware.
He still made &ldquo;substantial income&rdquo; in 2017 and 2018, including USD2.6 million in business and consulting fees from a company he formed with the CEOs of a Chinese business conglomerate and the Ukrainian energy company Burisma, but did not pay his taxes, prosecutors said in that filing.
He did eventually file his taxes in 2020 and the back taxes were paid by a &ldquo;third party&rdquo; the following year, prosecutors said.&nbsp;

Denmark's parliament has passed a law that makes it illegal to desecrate any religious text in the country. This comes after a recent string of public desecrations of the Quran by a handful of anti-Islam activists.

Denmark passes law banning burning Quran, other religious texts

Denmark's parliament has passed a law that makes it illegal to desecrate any religious text in the country. This comes after a recent string of public desecrations of the Quran by a handful of anti-Islam activists.

A new law was passed in Denmark's parliament on Thursday that makes it illegal to desecrate any holy text in the country, after a recent string of public desecrations of the Quran by a handful of anti-Islam activists sparked angry demonstrations in Muslim countries.
The Scandinavian nation has been viewed abroad as a place that facilitates insults and denigration of the cultures, religions and traditions of other countries. The purpose of the law was to counter &ldquo;the systematic mockery&rdquo; which, among other things, has contributed to intensifying the threat of terrorism in Denmark, the justice ministry has said.
The Folketing, or parliament, adopted the law in a 94-77 vote, with eight lawmakers absent. The new legislation will make it a crime &ldquo;to inappropriately treat, publicly or with the intention of dissemination in a wider circle, a writing with significant religious significance for a religious community or an object that appears as such&rdquo;.
Works of art where &ldquo;a minor part&rdquo; includes a desecration, but is part of a larger artistic production, isn't covered by the ban.
During the more than four-hour debate, left-leaning and far-right parties united against the centre-right government, repeatedly demanding that the three-party coalition that presented the draft on Aug 25, take part in the discussion. The government didn't say anything and were called &ldquo;cowards&rdquo; by the opposition.
&ldquo;Does Iran change its legislation because Denmark feels offended by something an Iranian could do? Does Pakistan? Does Saudi Arabia? The answer is no,&rdquo; Karina Lorentzen of the Socialist People's Party asked rhetorically.
Inger St&oslash;jberg of the anti-immigration Denmark Democrats said the new law was a capitulation to Islam and a bowing down to countries that &ldquo;do not share (our) set of values.&rdquo; &ldquo;A restriction of freedom of expression is wrong in a modern and enlightened society like the Danish one,&rdquo; St&oslash;jberg said.
This year alone, activists have staged more than 500 protests, including burnings of the Quran, in front of embassies of Muslim countries, places of worship and in immigrant neighbourhoods.
Denmark has repeatedly distanced itself from the desecrations, but has insisted that freedom of expression is one of the most important values in Danish society. The government has said there must &ldquo;be room for religious criticism&rdquo; and that there were no plans to reintroduce a blasphemy clause that was repealed in 2017.
In 2006, Denmark was at the centre of widespread anger in the Muslim world after a Danish newspaper posted 12 cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad, including one wearing a bomb as a turban. Muslims consider images of the prophet to be sacrilegious and encouraging idolatry. The images escalated into violent anti-Denmark protests by Muslims worldwide.
Those who violate the new law face fines or up to two years in prison. Before it takes effect, Denmark's figurehead monarch Queen Margrethe needs to formally sign it. That is expected to happen later this month.
Also Watch: <a href="https://www.editorji.com/india-news/dhankar-expresses-pain-after-video-shows-him-bowing-greeting-pm-modi-1701964883666">Dhankar expresses 'pain' after video shows him bowing &amp; greeting PM Modi</a>

India reacts to gunning down of wanted Lashkar terrorist in Pakistan

On the intervening night of Decemeber 2nd and 3rd, LeT terrorist Hanzla Adnan was killed by unknown gunmen in Karachi outside his home. Adnan masterminded an attack on a Border Security Force convoy in Jammu and Kashmir's Udhampur in 2015.&nbsp;

India has reacted to wanted terrorists being killed in neighbouring Pakistan. The Ministry of External Affairs reacted on Thursday to the killing of a top Lashkar-e-Toiba terrorist in Karachi by unknown men.
The foreign ministry&rsquo;s spokesperson, Arindam Bagchi, said that those who are wanted by Indian authorities should come here and "face the legal system". He said: &ldquo;We would like them to come to India and face our legal system, but I cannot comment on developments that are taking place in Pakistan.&rdquo; On the intervening night of Decemeber 2 and 3, LeT terrorist Hanzla Adnan, who masterminded the attack on a Border Security Force convoy in Jammu and Kashmir's Udhampur in 2015, was killed by unknown gunmen in Karachi outside his home.

34-year-old Indian-origin soldier among Israelis killed in Gaza

Isreali defence forces have confirmed the death of 34-year-old Indian-origin soldier. 86 Israeli soldiers have been killed since the fighting began on October 7.

A 34-year-old Indian-origin Israeli soldier has been killed during fighting in Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip this week, according to the community members.
Master Sgt. (res.) Gil Daniels from Ashdod was killed on Tuesday in Gaza and his funeral was held at the military cemetery in his hometown on Wednesday, they said.
The Israel Defence Forces confirmed that Gil was among two more soldiers killed during fighting in the Gaza Strip.
"Israel has lost many soldiers in this vicious and cruel war, the best of its sons and daughters who stood up to fight for the honour of the entire nation of Israel. Today, we mourn the death of another IDF (Israel Defence Forces) soldier Master Sgt. (Res.) Gil Daniels (34), son of Yoel and Mazal," the Indian Jewish Heritage Centre said.
"Gil went to the reserves on October 10 soon after the war started. May his memory be blessed," it said.
Gil did his Masters at the School of Pharmacy at Hebrew University.
"He was a genius with a great personality. Just got engaged a month ago. Such a loss!" his friend Tirza Lavi said.
A Bene Israel community member, whose origin lies in the Maharashtra region of India, Gil studied at Makif Gimel High School as a member of the class of 2007.
"With immense pain, we the members of the 61st group of the class of 2007 mourn his death&hellip;his smile is remembered by all his friends," a classmate of Gil said.
Some 86 Israeli soldiers are said to have been killed in fighting since the IDF launched its ground operation in Gaza. At least four Indian-origin Israeli soldiers are known to have been killed since October 7.

India gets consular access to 8 death row prisoners in Qatar

Qatar: India gets consular access to 8 death row prisoners, 

Qatar: India gets consular access to 8 death row prisoners,

The Ministry of External Affairs said that Indian envoy to Qatar, Vipul, got consular access to all eight arrested former naval officials on Decemeber 3.&nbsp;

The eight Indians on a death row in Qatar have got consular access.&nbsp;
The Indian Ambassador to Qatar met the former Indian Navy officials who have been convicted on charges of being spies for Israel.&nbsp;
The access was granted after Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim on the side-lines of COP28 climate summit in Dubai.
At a routine press briefing, External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi told reporters, "... our Ambassador got consular access to meet all eight in prison on December 3."

The USD 300 million loan, spanning 15 years with a three-year grace period, employs ADB's Flexible Loan Product, incurring an interest rate pegged to market fluctuations

Pakistan economic crisis: Cash-strapped country secures a critical $655 million loan

The USD 300 million loan, spanning 15 years with a three-year grace period, employs ADB's Flexible Loan Product, incurring an interest rate pegged to market fluctuations

Cash-strapped Pakistan recently secured a significant financing package of USD 655 million from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), a move swiftly taken after Finance Minister Shamshad Akhtar declared the nation's public debt as "unsustainable."
The ADB's funding includes three distinct loans: USD 300 million for enhancing domestic resource mobilization, USD 275 million to rehabilitate schools damaged during the destructive August 2022 floods, and USD 80 million to bolster agricultural productivity for improved food security, as announced by the ADB.
Debt Dilemma: Contradictory Views on Pakistan's Sustainability
In tandem, the World Bank's Debt Management and Sustainability Mission held discussions with Finance Minister Akhtar to assess the country's debt management, a report by the Express Tribune stated.
Despite Akhtar's assertion of Pakistan's debt being "unsustainable," World Bank Vice President for South Asia Martin Raiser contradicted this view, labeling the debt as "sustainable." Notably, the ADB is footing the salaries of half of Pakistan's Debt Management Office staff&mdash;a responsibility ideally borne by the country's finance ministry.
However, despite concerns about unsustainable debt, Pakistan pursued one of the expensive loans offered by multilateral lenders, often known for providing financing at concessional rates.
Loan Dynamics: Balancing Expensive ADB Funding with Shorter Terms
The USD 300 million loan, spanning 15 years with a three-year grace period, employs ADB's Flexible Loan Product, incurring an interest rate pegged to market fluctuations. At current market rates, Pakistan faces an interest cost exceeding 6%, nearly three times higher than the concessional lending rates by the World Bank and the ADB.
Furthermore, the loan's 15-year term is comparatively shorter than previous ADB financing, raising questions about Pakistan's increasing debt burden for ventures that could potentially be addressed through internal initiatives rather than relying on foreign aid.
Notably, the ADB's intervention aims to strengthen Pakistan's tax system and address challenges such as a complex tax structure, a high level of informality in the economy, and weak tax administration, factors contributing to the nation's relatively weak tax revenue performance compared to regional counterparts.

A woman shared a post of meal on social media. However, it turned out into a nightmare for her as she received a $60,000 bill which is approximately ₹50 lakh

Woman receives ₹50 lakh bill after accidentally sharing restaurant's QR code on social media 

A woman shared a post of meal on social media. However, it turned out into a nightmare for her as she received a $60,000 bill which is approximately ₹50 lakh

A meal at a hotpot restaurant turned into a nightmare for a Chinese woman as she received a $60,000 bill which is approximately ₹50 lakh. She got an astronomical bill for the food that she did not order.&nbsp;
The woman shared a picture of her meal on her social media, but what turned the tables was that the QR code on the table was included in that picture. This was not some regular QR code as through this, people can scan and order their food.&nbsp;
However, as the picture went online, several social media users scanned it and placed several orders on the woman's table. Even though the woman tried to explain to the restaurant what happened, the restaurant was unable to cancel the orders and she ended up getting the hefty bill.&nbsp;
After this, the woman deleted her post but people kept making new orders at their table. The woman assumed that someone downloaded her photo and continued making orders using the code.&nbsp;
In the screenshot of the order, it was mentioned that people ordered 1,850 portions of fresh duck blood, 2,580 portions of squid, and 9,990 portions of shrimp paste, each priced at a few dozen yuan.&nbsp;
The restaurant did not make Wang pay the bill as they moved her to a new table. Management also said that they could not track down the people who ordered the food nor they could stop people from doing so.&nbsp;
Also watch: <a href="https://www.editorji.com/world-news/chinese-police-save-1-000-felines-from-slaughter-were-to-be-served-as-pork-and-mutton-report-1698330532427">Chinese police save 1,000 cats from slaughter; were to be served as pork and mutton: report</a>

The Japanese restaurant that got popular for its peculiar service has now discontinued its face-slapping service

Japanese eatery ends face slapping service for ₹170 after old videos circulate on internet

The Japanese restaurant that got popular for its peculiar service has now discontinued its face-slapping service

A Japanese restaurant named Shachihoko-ya in Nagoya garnered massive popularity in the recent past for its peculiar service. In their service, they used to offer face slaps before meals for 300 Japanese Yen which is approximately ₹170.&nbsp;
However, this peculiar service known as the 'Nagoya Lady's Slap' has now been discontinued. The restaurant shared a post in which they announced the discontinuation of their popular face-slapping service after old videos started doing rounds on the internet.&nbsp;
The restaurant even urged customers to not visit the eatery with the expectation of experiencing the slap service.&nbsp;
Also watch: <a href="https://www.editorji.com/india-news/south-indian-restaurant-run-by-2-japanese-men-in-kyoto-leaves-indian-man-astonished-thread-goes-viral-1698644688445">South Indian restaurant run by 2 Japanese men in Kyoto leaves Indian man astonished, thread goes viral&nbsp;</a>

UN chief Antonio Guterres invoked Article 99 of the UN Charter to seek a ceasefire in the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas. Israel accused the UN chief of &ldquo;a new moral low&rdquo; and &ldquo;bias against Israel.

War on Gaza: UN chief uses rare power to seek ceasefire, Israel calls it 'bias'

UN chief Antonio Guterres invoked Article 99 of the UN Charter to seek a ceasefire in the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas. Israel accused the UN chief of “a new moral low” and “bias against Israel.

UN chief Antonio Guterres invoked Article 99 of the UN Charter to seek a ceasefire in the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas. Israel accused the UN chief of &ldquo;a new moral low&rdquo; and &ldquo;bias against Israel.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has used a rarely exercised power to warn the Security Council of an impending &ldquo;humanitarian catastrophe&rdquo; in Gaza and urged its members to demand an immediate humanitarian cease-fire.
His letter to the council's 15 members on Wednesday said Gaza's humanitarian system was at risk of collapse after two months of war that has created &ldquo;appalling human suffering, physical destruction and collective trauma,&rdquo; and he demanded civilians be spared greater harm.
Guterres invoked Article 99 of the UN Charter, which says the secretary-general may inform the council of matters he believes threaten international peace and security. &ldquo;The international community has a responsibility to use all its influence to prevent further escalation and end this crisis," he said.
UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said he expects the secretary-general to address the Security Council on Gaza this week and to press for a humanitarian cease-fire.
A short draft resolution circulated to council members late Wednesday by the United Arab Emirates, the Arab representative on the council, would act on Guterres' letter under Article 99. It demands &ldquo;an immediate humanitarian cease-fire&rdquo; and expresses &ldquo;grave concern over the catastrophic situation in the Gaza Strip and the suffering of the Palestinian civilian population.&rdquo; Earlier Wednesday, the 22-nation Arab Group at the UN strongly backed a cease-fire.
Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian UN ambassador, said it is essential that the UN's most powerful body demand a halt to the conflict.
But the United States, Israel's closest ally, has veto power in the Security Council and has not supported a cease-fire.
On Tuesday, US deputy ambassador Robert Wood told reporters that the role of the Security Council in the Israeli-Gaza war &ldquo;is not to get in the way of this important diplomacy going on on the ground &hellip; because we have seen some results, although not as great results as we want to see.&rdquo; A Security Council resolution at this time, he said, &ldquo;would not be useful.&rdquo; Mansour said a ministerial delegation from Arab nations and the 57-member Organization of Islamic Cooperation will be in Washington on Thursday to meet U.S. officials and press for an immediate cease-fire.
Israel's UN Ambassador Gilad Erdan said the secretary-general invoked Article 99 to pressure Israel, accusing the UN chief of &ldquo;a new moral low&rdquo; and &ldquo;bias against Israel.&rdquo; &ldquo;The secretary-general's call for a ceasefire is actually a call to keep Hamas' reign of terror in Gaza,&rdquo; Erdan said in a statement. &ldquo;Instead of the secretary-general explicitly pointing to Hamas' responsibility for the situation and calling on the terrorist leaders to turn themselves in and return the hostages, thus ending the war, the secretary-general chooses to continue playing into Hamas' hands.&rdquo; In his letter, Guterres denounced &ldquo;the abhorrent acts of terror&rdquo; and brutal killing of more than 1,200 people in Israel by Hamas militants on October 7 and the abduction of some 250 people in the attack that started the war. He urged the immediate release of more than 130 still held captive.
But Guterres noted the worsening state of Gaza under Israel's ongoing military action, which it says is aimed at obliterating Hamas. More than 16,200 people have been killed, and some 80 per cent of Gaza's 2.3 million people have been forcibly displaced into increasingly smaller areas.
&ldquo;Amid constant bombardment by the Israel Defense Forces, and without shelter or the essentials to survive, I expect public order to completely break down soon due to the desperate conditions, rendering even limited humanitarian assistance impossible,&rdquo; Guterres warned.
A total collapse of the humanitarian system in Gaza, he said, would have &ldquo;potentially irreversible implications for Palestinians as a whole and for peace and security in the region.&rdquo; Dujarric, the U.N. spokesman, told reporters earlier that invoking Article 99 was &ldquo;a very dramatic constitutional move by the secretary-general". The only previous mention of Article 99 was in a December 1971 report by then Secretary-General U Thant to the council expressing his conviction that the situation in East Pakistan, now Bangladesh, and the Indian subcontinent threatened international peace and security, Dujarric said.
&ldquo;One doesn't invoke this article lightly,&rdquo; Dujarric said. &ldquo;I think given the situation on the ground and the risk of complete collapse, not only of our humanitarian operations but of civil order, it's something that he felt needed to be done now.&rdquo;

In a major setback to China, Italy has formally withdrawn from the Belt and Road Initiative or BRI. Italy was the first G7 country to sign on to the initiative in 2019. Meloni, who was in opposition at the time, was against the deal from the start.

Setback to China as Italy pulls out of Belt and Road Initiative

In a major setback to China, Italy has formally withdrawn from the Belt and Road Initiative or BRI. Italy was the first G7 country to sign on to the initiative in 2019. Meloni, who was in opposition at the time, was against the deal from the start.

Italy has formally withdrawn from China's global Belt and Road initiative that seeks to deepen relations with foreign countries through infrastructure investments, Italian media reported on Wednesday.
Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni had previously signalled Italy's intention to withdraw from the agreement, which was up for renewal. The Milan newspaper Corriere della Sera reported that a letter with the formal notice had been delivered to Beijing in recent days. Meloni's office declined to comment on the report.
Italy became the first G7 country to sign on to the initiative in 2019, when the populist, anti-establishment Five Star Movement party-led government promoted it as a way of increasing trade with China while getting investments in major infrastructure projects.
Neither appeared. In the intervening years, Italy's trade deficit with China has ballooned from 20 billion euros to 48 billion euros ($21.5 billion to $51.8 billion.) And investments in Italian ports that were trumpeted in newspaper headlines were never achieved.
Meloni, in opposition at the time, was against the deal from the start. Her foreign minister, Antonio Tajani, said this summer that Italy had not &ldquo;obtained great results&rdquo; from the pact.
Analysts said Italy had little incentive to continue in the pact, and that China can fall back on the face-saving narrative that Italy dropped out under US pressure.
The initiative involves Chinese companies building transportation, energy and other infrastructure overseas funded by Chinese development bank loans. It has built power plants, roads, railroads and ports around the world and deepened China's relations with Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Mideast. It is a major part of Chinese President Xi Jinping's push for China to play a larger role in global affairs. More than 150 countries have signed Belt and Road agreements with China.

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Cyclone Michaung

According to activists, cat meat can be sold for 4.5 yuan in China, which is approximately equivalent to 600g. They also noted that a single cat can yield four to five catties.

Chinese police save 1,000 felines from slaughter; were to be served as pork and mutton: report

According to activists, cat meat can be sold for 4.5 yuan in China, which is approximately equivalent to 600g. They also noted that a single cat can yield four to five catties.

Chinese police uncovered a massive illicit trade of cat meat and rescued over 1,000 cats that were being transported to slaughter-house.
The criminals had planned to sell the meat as pork or mutton, a BBC report said, citing state-affiliated media.&nbsp;
The police action came after a tip from animal welfare activists following which a truck full of cats was intercepted in the eastern city of Zhangjiagang.
The rescued cats were moved to a shelter, the outlet reported.
According to activists, cat meat can be sold for 4.5 yuan in China, which is approximately equivalent to 600g. They also noted that a single cat can yield four to five catties.
&nbsp;

The USA on Friday vetoed the United Nations' Security Council's cease-fire resolution in Gaza. The US ambassador said that stopping military action will help Hamas continue its operations and will create the possibility of another war.

Israel-Gaza war: US vetoes immediate humanitarian cease-fire resolution at UNSC

The USA on Friday vetoed the United Nations' Security Council's cease-fire resolution in Gaza. The US ambassador said that stopping military action will help Hamas continue its operations and will create the possibility of another war.

The United States vetoed a United Nations resolution Friday backed by the vast majority of Security Council members and many other nations demanding an immediate humanitarian cease-fire in Gaza.
The vote in the 15-member council was 13-1 with the United Kingdom abstaining.
US deputy ambassador Robert Wood criticized the council after the vote for its failure to condemn Hamas' attacks in Israel and to acknowledge Israel's right to defend itself. He declared that halting military action would allow Hamas to continue to rule and "only plant the seeds for the next war."
Also watch: <a href="https://www.editorji.com/world-news/34-year-old-indian-origin-soldier-among-israelis-killed-in-gaza-1701954198944">34-year-old Indian-origin soldier among Israelis killed in Gaza</a>

What does the international law say about anti-India elements like Gurpatwant Singh Pannun operating from foreign soil? Vikram Chandra speaks with top lawyer and former Attorney General of India, Mukul Rohatgi. 

The India Story | Can India approach international courts against Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Pannun?

What does the international law say about anti-India elements like Gurpatwant Singh Pannun operating from foreign soil? Vikram Chandra speaks with top lawyer and former Attorney General of India, Mukul Rohatgi.&nbsp;

&nbsp;
FBI director Christopher Wray will visit India next week at a time when the US government is investigating an alleged plot to assassinate Sikh radical Gurpatwant Singh Pannun on American soil. India too has formed a high-level committee to probe the allegations. During Wray&rsquo;s visit, India will reportedly present all evidence against Pannun to the US authorities. Will the U.S. take action against Pannun who is a designated terrorist in India and is using US soil to threaten India and its citizens? and what legal action can India take against him?

"Historic! With the political deal on the AI Act sealed today, the EU becomes the first continent to set clear rules for the use of AI," said the EU's internal market commissioner, Thierry Breton.

EU strikes deal on landmark AI law

"Historic! With the political deal on the AI Act sealed today, the EU becomes the first continent to set clear rules for the use of AI," said the EU's internal market commissioner, Thierry Breton.

EU member states and lawmakers clinched a deal on Friday on how to draft "historic" rules regulating artificial intelligence models such as ChatGPT -- after 36 hours of negotiations.
Meeting in Brussels, negotiators nailed down curbs on how AI can be used in Europe, which they said would not hurt innovation in the sector nor the prospects for future European AI champions.
"Historic! With the political deal on the AI Act sealed today, the EU becomes the first continent to set clear rules for the use of AI," declared the EU's internal market commissioner, Thierry Breton.
"The AI Act is much more than a rulebook -- it's a launchpad for EU startups and researchers to lead the global race for trustworthy AI," he added.
The "AI Act" has been rushed through the European Union's legislative process this year after the chatbot ChatGPT, a mass-market gateway to generative AI, exploded onto the scene late 2022.
Although ChatGPT's ability to create articulate essays and poems was a dizzying display of AI's rapid advances, critics worry about how the technology can be misused.
Generative AI software, which also includes Google's chatbot Bard, can quickly produce text, images and audio from simple commands in everyday language.
Other examples of generative AI include Dall-E, Midjourney and Stable Diffusion, which can create images in nearly any style on demand.
Negotiators initially failed to agree after marathon talks that began on Wednesday lasted 22 hours and ended with only a deal to resume talks the next day.
Exhausted negotiators then restarted talks at 0800 GMT on Friday.
There had been no real deadline but senior EU figures were desperate to secure a deal before the end of the year.
The European Commission, the EU's executive arm, first proposed the law in 2021 to regulate AI systems based on risk assessments of the software models.
The higher the risk to individuals' rights or health, for example, the greater the systems' obligations.
The law will still need to be formally approved by member states and the parliament, but Friday's political agreement was seen as the last serious hurdle.
"The AI Act is a global first. A unique legal framework for the development of AI you can trust," EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said in a social media post, welcoming the deal.
"And for the safety and fundamental rights of people and businesses. A commitment we took in our political guidelines - and we delivered. I welcome today's political agreement."
The EU is not alone in its worries over AI.
US President Joe Biden issued an executive order on AI safety standards in October and, while Europe is on track for the first broad law covering the sector, Chinese legislation specifically regulating generative AI came into force in August this year.
One of the main stumbling blocks during negotiations was how to regulate general-purpose AI systems such as ChatGPT.
Some member states feared too much regulation would hurt the growth of European champions like Germany's Aleph Alpha or France's Mistral AI.
French digital minister Jean-Noel Barrot said France would "carefully analyse the compromise" agreed and ensure that it "preserves Europe's capacity to develop its own artificial intelligence technologies".
The agreement includes a two-tier approach, with transparency requirements for all general-purpose AI models and tougher requirements for the more powerful models.
Another sticking point had been over remote biometric surveillance -- basically, facial identification through camera data in public places. Governments wanted exceptions for law enforcement and national security purposes.
While the agreement has a ban on real-time facial recognition, there will be a limited number of exemptions.
But not everyone was happy with the agreement.
"Regrettably speed seems to have prevailed over quality, with potentially disastrous consequences for the European economy," said Daniel Friedlaender, Europe chief at CCIA, one of the main tech lobbying groups.
"It might even end up chasing away the European champions that the EU so desperately wants to empower," said CCIA Europe's policy manager, Boniface de Champris.
The EU will be able to monitor and sanction those who violate the law through a new body called the EU AI office that will be attached to the commission.
The office will have the power to slap a fine worth seven percent of a company's turnover or 35 million euros, whichever is larger.

Jailed Imran Khan's message on deportation of Afghans: treat them with dignity

Jailed Imran Khan's message on deportation of Afghans: treat them with dignity

Pakistan's jailed former prime minister Imran Khan has said the treatment being meted out to Afghan refugees in the country is contrary to the core values of Islam and its social values.
In a message from jail which his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party issued here on Friday said 71-year-old Khan has made it clear that the treatment being given to Afghan refugees was contrary to the teachings of Islam, the Holy Quran, the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet and our social and moral traditions.
Pakistan has started deporting illegal Afghan nationals since early last month citing the rise of terrorism because of them. The government has listed some 1.7 million Afghan nationals as illegal.
Khan said that Afghan nationals should be treated with dignity and respect because both countries had a centuries-long relationship based on brotherhood and mutual respect.
"Talking of the maltreatment of Afghan refugees, Khan reminded that hijra had a special place in Islam as Hazrat Musa, Hazrat Ibrahim, and Prophet Muhammad as also other Prophets had experienced this in their lives. He stressed that it is obligatory upon us as a nation to take special care of the refugees seeking asylum in our country who had been deprived of their homes and lands as a result of wars and disasters and treat them with kindness and respect," the PTI statement said.
It said Khan emphasised that Afghanistan is our brotherly neighbouring Islamic country and people of both countries are bound together in relations of brotherhood spread over centuries.
Khan further said that nations can't change their neighbours and they need each other&rsquo;s support from time to time.
He underlined that trust-based relations with neighbours will guarantee the future security of Pakistan.
Khan pointed out that Pakistan served Afghan refugees for 40 years and the positive impact of decades-long warm hospitality was being nullified by pursuing poor strategy.
"Some 1.5 million refugees are not an unbearable burden on a nation of 250 million people. A sizable majority of refugees who came to Pakistan seeking asylum belonged to the poorest segments of the society," Khan said, warning that negative sentiments would instil in the entire Afghan nation due to the failure to handle the refugee issue with civility, courtesy, and wisdom.
He warned that the ill feelings and bitterness caused by the poor strategy would become a part of their psyche, which would remain a permanent huddle in building durable bilateral relations between the two countries.
Khan said the current approach of herding Afghan refugees like sheep should be abandoned instantly. He advised them to deliberate on the whole issue wisely and adopt a dignified way by safeguarding the self-respect of the refugees.
Khan has been in jail since this August in different cases.&nbsp;

Video: thousands of dead fish wash up on Japanese shore

According to Takashi Fujioka, a researcher at Hakodate Fisheries Research Institute the timing of the mass deaths coincides with the season of sardines migration southward from Hokkaido.&nbsp;

Thousands of dead fish washed up in northern Japan across a stretch of more than a kilometre-long beach, according to local media.
Tons of mostly sardines and some mackerel washed up Thursday morning on a shore of Hakodate in Japan's Hokkaido prefecture.
The cause behind the wash-up is still uncertain.
The timing of the incident, however, coincides with the season of sardines migration southward from Hokkaido, according to Takashi Fujioka, a researcher at Hakodate Fisheries Research Institute.
&ldquo;One possibility is that the school of fish was chased by a larger fish, became exhausted, and was washed up by the waves,&rdquo; says Fujioka.
&ldquo;Or they entered a mass of cold water.&rdquo;
The day after the wash-up, city officials were still seen inspecting the site and are trying to collect the fish.
Fujioka said he doesn't recommend eating them.
"We don&rsquo;t know for sure under what circumstances these fish were washed-up," he said.

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