Albania appoints AI-generated minister to avoid corruption

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama said Thursday he had appointed the world’s first AI-generated government minister to oversee public tenders, promising its artificial intelligence would make it “corruption-free.” Presenting his new cabinet at a meeting of his Socialist Party following a big May election victory, Rama introduced the new “member”, named “Diella” — “sun” in […]
Greenland’s glacier retreat rate doubles over two decades

A new study documents how Greenland’s peripheral glaciers have changed from 1890 to 2022. By using satellite images and a unique archive of historical aerial photos, researchers have compiled the most complete picture of Greenland’s outlying glaciers to date. This shows how glacier retreat has accelerated dramatically in the 21st century. Greenland’s thousands of peripheral […]
French lawmakers urge social media ban for under-15s

French lawmakers urged a social media ban for under-15s and “digital curfew” for older minors Thursday, with massively popular short video platform TikTok the focus of renewed harsh government scrutiny. Imposing the ban and a 10 pm to 8 am curfew for 15- to 18-year-olds would “send a signal both to children and parents” that […]
Australia says social media ban will not age test all users

Australia will not require social media giants to verify the ages of all users under its ban on under-16s using the platforms, Canberra said Tuesday. But platforms like Facebook, Snapchat, TikTok and YouTube are expected to take “reasonable steps” to stop children from accessing the apps, it said. Australia has been a leader in global […]
Protesting Peru residents block trains to Machu Picchu

Train services to the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu, Peru’s main tourist attraction, were suspended Monday as protesting residents placed logs and rocks on the tracks, police and PeruRail said. A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983, the ancient fortified complex receives some 4,500 visitors on average each day, many of them foreigners, according to the […]