One major pillar targets musculoskeletal health and mobility, a growing concern in ageing societies. The programme is supporting work on rapid screening tools for fractures and falls, as well as advanced research using bone organoids and lab-grown tissue models, to help predict how patients respond to drugs, allowing doctors to personalise fracture prevention for those most at risk.

Launching the programme on March 28, NRF chief executive John Lim said musculoskeletal problems are often underestimated despite being a major driver of disability worldwide. The goal, he said, is to translate promising research into real-world healthcare and move care earlier, from treatment to prevention and recovery support in the community.

Beyond physical health, FHT2 also includes a mental wellbeing track that will develop a platform combining large language models, behavioural science and real-world data to power apps that deliver tailored interventions for issues such as anxiety, depression and stress, particularly among young people .

A third track focuses on rehabilitation and recovery, including technology-assisted therapy for patients rebuilding upper-limb movement after stroke, part of a broader push to improve quality of life as people live longer.

FHT2 follows the first Future Health Technologies programme, which ran from 2020 to March this year and produced tools such as a cognitive screening test for early dementia signals and a chatbot-based health coaching app. The second phase is intended to speed up adoption in clinics and hospitals, with programme leaders saying they want patients to benefit directly from these technologies by 2030.

"Thank you, First Lady Melania Trump, for inviting me to the White House," said the gray-and-black robot, gesturing with its hands during its brief remarks.

The robot then exited the stage the same way it entered. Guests in the East Room, including French First Lady Brigitte Macron, responded with applause.

"It's fair to state you're my first American-made humanoid guest in the White House," Melania said while reading from a prepared statement.

Melania, who has prioritised issues related to artificial intelligence and digital spaces, used the event to discuss the potential role of humanoid AI in education.

"Imagine a humanoid educator named Plato. Access to the classical studies is now instantaneous," she said.

The data , visualised in a global comparison chart, shows that 77% of respondents in Nigeria say they are excited about AI, the highest share among surveyed countries. Ghana follows at 73%, while Turkey records 72%, underlining strong optimism across parts of Africa and the Global South.

Several developing and middle-income countries dominate the upper tier of the rankings. Brazil reports 67% enthusiasm, while Egypt stands at 62%. Vietnam, Israel and the United Arab Emirates each record 61%, indicating widespread anticipation of AI’s potential across diverse regions.

Kenya, Mexico and Colombia follow closely, each with 58%, while Saudi Arabia rounds out the list at 57%.

According to DataReportal, higher levels of optimism in these markets are often linked to expectations that AI could accelerate economic development, improve access to services and create new job opportunities, particularly in fast-growing digital sectors.

“People in rapidly digitising economies tend to see AI as an enabler rather than a threat,” DataReportal notes in its analysis of global attitudes towards emerging technologies.

While the chart focuses on the most enthusiastic countries, DataReportal’s broader research suggests that attitudes in advanced economies tend to be more cautious. Concerns around job displacement, data privacy and ethical use are more pronounced in countries with mature labour markets and stricter regulatory environments.

Globally, internet penetration now exceeds 66%, with more than 5.3 billion people online, according to DataReportal’s latest figures. This expanding connectivity is accelerating exposure to AI tools, from generative chatbots to automation platforms, shaping public perception in real time.

Demographics and digital adoption key factors

Younger populations appear to play a central role in driving AI enthusiasm. Countries such as Nigeria and Ghana, where median ages are significantly lower than in Europe or North America , tend to exhibit greater openness to technological change.

At the same time, the rapid spread of smartphones, particularly across Africa, Latin America and Southeast Asia, is lowering barriers to entry for AI-powered applications, from financial services to education and healthcare.

DataReportal notes that mobile-first internet usage dominates in many of these regions, making AI tools more accessible and relevant to everyday life.

But for now, the station is not entirely “unmanned”. Uniformed officers are standing by to demonstrate how the system works, giving the space the feel of a tech showroom rather than a typical police post.

Recently opened, staff “are here to help people get used to it,” the head of the police’s technology expansion department, Cdr Demissie Yilma, told the BBC . Inside one booth, he tapped through the steps of making a report, selecting whether it is a crime, a traffic matter, or a general concern, entering details, and submitting the complaint.

After the report is filed, an officer appears on the screen, a real person based at a remote location, not a chatbot and begins asking follow-up questions and taking down information. “If there is a problem, officers respond immediately and patrol the area mentioned by the reporter,” Demissie said.

In its first week of operation last month, the station received three reports, a lost passport, a financial fraud case and a routine complaint. Demissie said he expects usage to increase as more people become aware of the service. “The future police service should be near the citizens,” he said.

Officials argue the model could expand access to policing in areas where there may not be enough personnel to run a full station, even if it reduces face-to-face contact. At the launch, Abiy was quoted in state media as saying the project aims to make law enforcement institutions “competent and competitive,” framing it as part of a wider digital reform drive.

That push is anchored by Digital Ethiopia 2030, a national strategy to digitise public services from identity systems and payments to courts and public administration. However, internet access remains relatively low in Ethiopia, and recent years of conflict and political upheaval have also led to internet blackouts, slowing the pace of digital transformation.

Even so, Ethiopia has been moving ahead with reforms such as opening up the telecoms sector, expanding mobile phone payments in birr, rolling out a national digital ID, and putting more government services online.

The court found that the Notice of Motion did not meet Order 51 Rule 13 of the Civil Procedure Rules of Kenya (2010), which requires a specific notice statement to appear at the foot of every motion application. The supporting affidavit was also found to be defective for not complying with Order 19, Rules 4 and 5.

Justice Mwamuye said both the motion and the affidavit appeared to be machine-generated, raising broader concerns about the use of artificial intelligence in legal filings.

“Computer-generated documents or outputs of ‘artificial intelligence’ cannot be a proper substitute for human-drawn documents,” the judge said. “A party must draw and file their documents on their own accord and by their own hand or through their legal representatives.”

While the judge noted that the defects were largely technical, he ruled they were serious enough to warrant striking out the application. However, the petitioner was allowed to file a fresh application and affidavit that meet the required legal standards.

The escalating conflict in the Middle East began after US-Israeli forces carried out preemptive military strikes on Tehran on Saturday, February 28, over Iran's nuclear programme. Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was confirmed dead in the strike.

X said the new rule specifically targets AI-generated content about armed conflicts that could mislead users if it is not properly labelled.

“During times of war, people must have access to authentic information on the ground,” X’s head of product Nikita Bier said, adding that current AI technologies make it “trivial to create content that can mislead people.”

The Elon Musk-owned platform said it will continue updating its policies and product features to address the issue.

X said on Monday it would “continue to refine” its policies and product to ensure the platform “can be trusted during these critical moments".

The change marks a shift in the platform’s approach to content moderation since Musk completed his $44 billion acquisition of Twitter in October 2022 and later rebranded it as X.

Since Musk’s takeover, the company has removed several policies aimed at tackling misinformation, arguing that such rules amount to censorship.

Under the new policy , creators who repeatedly violate the disclosure rule could face permanent removal from the Creator Revenue Sharing programme, which allows eligible users to earn a portion of advertising revenue generated from their posts.

X said violations will be identified through Community Notes, the platform’s crowd-sourced fact-checking system, as well as through metadata and other technical signals embedded in AI-generated content.

Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi described the summit as a “disorganised PR spectacle,” raising concerns that foreign products were being highlighted while India’s own talent and data were underutilised.

The opposition accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government of damaging India’s global image in artificial intelligence by allowing what it said was the projection of Chinese hardware as indigenous development. 

Criticism was also directed at IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw for allegedly promoting the display.

The row intensified after a video aired by state broadcaster DD India — later deleted — showed a Galgotias professor describing the robotic dog as developed by the university’s “Centre of Excellence.” 

Galgotias University has denied claiming to have built the robot. In a statement, the school said it was the target of a “negative propaganda campaign” and insisted the device was used as a learning platform to expose students to “globally available tools and resources.”

“Let us be clear Galgotias has not built this robodog, neither have we claimed,” the university said in an earlier clarification, adding that its goal was to train students who would eventually design and manufacture such technologies.

The summit, held at Bharat Mandapam in the capital, was intended to showcase India’s ambitions in artificial intelligence and emerging technologies.

Apart from potentially sparking tensions between the two Asian giants, the issue also cast a shadow over Modi’s AI ambitions. 

Earlier, the prime minister said he wanted to put India “among the top three AI superpowers globally, not just in the consumption of AI but in creation,” vowing homegrown technology would soon be “deployed worldwide.”

Modi described AI as a “civilisational inflection point” that can expand human capability but also test social foundations if left unguided. 

This is reflected in the theme of the India AI Impact Summit 2026, the first global AI gathering of its scale hosted in the Global South: “Welfare for All, Happiness for All.”

Modi said India’s vision is to ensure AI delivers equitable outcomes rather than narrow innovation gains. Discussions at the summit focus on governance, inclusive datasets, climate action, agriculture, public health and multilingual access.

Linking AI to the 2047 development roadmap, Modi said the technology is already being deployed in healthcare, education and farming.

He cited AI-based early detection of diseases such as tuberculosis and diabetic retinopathy at public health centres. In education, personalised learning platforms in Indian languages are supporting students in rural and government schools .

In agriculture, AI tools are being used for crop advisory, soil analysis and weather intelligence to help farmers make localised decisions.

Modi also highlighted India’s digital public infrastructure, including Aadhaar and Unified Payments Interface, as a foundation for scaling AI in public services.

On risks, he acknowledged concerns over bias, deepfakes and misuse. He called for global cooperation and stronger safeguards, including transparency, human oversight and data protection .

Ultimately, the prime minister said India’s goal is not merely to consume AI but to create it. 

“Every Indian will experience AI as an enabler of opportunity, a multiplier of capability, and a servant of human dignity, not as a threat to their livelihood or an instrument of control,” Modi said. 

State Information Technology Minister Nara Lokesh has said the development will anchor a technology ecosystem spanning about 100 kilometres and host up to 6 gigawatts of data centre capacity.

Major investors have signed on, with Google pledging around $15 billion for AI infrastructure in the state, while a joint venture between Reliance Industries, Brookfield and Digital Realty is investing a further $11 billion in a large data centre complex.

Lokesh has argued that Andhra Pradesh has planned for the heavy electricity and water demands of the sector, suggesting that excess monsoon water flowing into the Bay of Bengal could be channelled to cool facilities.

However, environmental experts have long warned that large data centres are among the most water-intensive pieces of digital infrastructure. Cooling high-density servers requires constant water circulation, much of which is lost to evaporation.

According to the Environmental and Energy Study Institute , a medium-sized data centre can consume up to 110 million gallons of water annually for cooling, while larger facilities may use as much as 5 million gallons a day — comparable to the needs of a small town.

That demand comes at a sensitive time for India, with UNICEF estimating that waterborne diseases cost the country roughly $600 million each year, with drought- and flood-prone regions affecting around a third of the population in recent years.

Two-thirds of India’s 718 districts face extreme water depletion, according to UNICEF. 

India is also the world’s largest user of groundwater, drawing supplies from more than 30 million access points. Groundwater provides 85% of drinking water in rural areas and nearly half of urban needs.

Beyond on-site consumption, data centres also carry indirect water costs. Power plants supplying electricity — particularly fossil fuel facilities — require substantial volumes of water for steam generation and cooling.

Manufacturing the semiconductor chips that power AI systems is also water-intensive, requiring ultrapure water in large quantities before equipment even reaches a data hall.

As India seeks to cement its place in the global AI race, the challenge will be balancing digital ambition with the realities of a country where access to safe and reliable water remains uneven.

Thus, the researchers underscored that the problem is not whether people in ASEAN are using AI, but whether institutions are equipped to manage it responsibly.

“Across ASEAN, we are seeing AI use grow faster than our systems’ ability to guide it,” said Piti Srisangnam, executive director of the ASEAN Foundation. “These studies move the conversation beyond whether AI is being used to whether our institutions, educators and communities are truly prepared.”

Thailand leads in AI usage

The report points to a widening readiness gap, particularly in education, with surveys conducted across all 10 ASEAN member states showing strong enthusiasm for generative AI tools, especially among younger users.

Of ASEAN’s member countries, Thailand led in AI usage, with adoption concentrated across the digital economy and among the youth. Over 90% of Thai students reportedly use AI tools, particularly for tasks such as writing, summarising and digital design. 

In the Philippines , which is hosting the high-stakes ASEAN Summit this year, more than 80% of students surveyed said they use generative AI in their studies, compared with just over 70% of educators. Many students reported relying on AI for writing and paraphrasing tasks.

Yet fewer than half of Filipino educators expressed confidence in their institutions’ AI policies, suggesting that usage is outpacing formal guidance and training.

Overall unpreparedness

The broader regional study highlights uneven digital preparedness across Southeast Asia, including shortfalls in digital skills, cybersecurity capacity and ethical standards for emerging technologies.

Researchers flagged concerns ranging from online fraud and deepfakes to data breaches and misinformation, warning that unchecked misuse could undermine public trust in digital services.

The urgency for improved digital systems comes as ASEAN’s digital economy is projected to expand sharply by the end of the decade, potentially reaching $1 trillion by 2030, fuelled by a young and increasingly connected population of more than 660 million people.

Access to AI tools alone will not be enough, the report argued.  

Without clearer policies, stronger governance and sustained investment in literacy and safeguards, Southeast Asia’s fast-moving embrace of AI could prove as fragile as it is rapid.

These were presented in Manila during the third regional policy convening of the AI Ready ASEAN programme, an initiative launched in 2024 with a $5 million grant from Google.org to improve AI literacy across the bloc.

Lokesh described the AI boom as unavoidable. “The AI revolution is here,” he said, adding that India has decided to embrace the shift fully. 

Among the biggest commitments is a reported $15 billion investment by Google to build its largest AI infrastructure hub outside the United States . A joint venture involving Reliance Industries, Canada’s Brookfield and US-based Digital Realty is also investing $11 billion in an AI-focused data centre in the same city.

The plan envisions a 100-kilometre technology ecosystem anchored by high-capacity data centres, server manufacturing, cooling systems and submarine internet cable links connecting India to Singapore. The state government is offering land at heavily subsidised rates to attract investors.

India currently ranks third globally in AI capacity, according to Stanford University’s AI index, behind the US and China .

This is the second major round of public AI funding, following more than $500 million invested between 2019 and 2023. The RIE framework, overseen by the National Research Foundation, guides Singapore’s long-term strategy for research and innovation.

Where the money will go

The new investment will focus on three main areas: fundamental AI research, applied AI, and talent development.

Fundamental AI research will concentrate on developing core AI models and technologies that can be adapted for multiple uses. To support this, Singapore will establish research centres of excellence within public research institutions. These centres will focus on long-term, complex challenges and work closely with local and international partners, with research findings shared openly.

Unlike existing AI centres set up with private companies, these new centres will be fewer in number but backed by larger investments.

Priority research areas

The centres will focus on four priority areas. One is resource-efficient AI, which aims to reduce the heavy energy and water demands of AI systems, a key concern for Singapore, given its dense concentration of data centres.

Another focus is responsible AI, which seeks to prevent misuse, such as the creation of harmful content. Researchers will also explore emerging AI methods, including systems that can handle multiple types of data or operate autonomously.

The final area is general-purpose AI, which can perform a wide range of tasks across different fields, such as analysing scientific research and supporting drug development.

Ghana is set to expand access to education through artificial intelligence tools developed in local languages, Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu has announced. Speaking on Facebook on Friday, January 23, Iddrisu said he recently engaged with the Vice President of Google at the Generative AI Summit in the United Kingdom to discuss strategies for improving learning outcomes across Ghana and Africa. The initiative , part of Google’s $37 million investment in Africa, will include the development of speech recognition and AI tools for Ghanaian languages such as Twi, Ewe, and Dagbani, with a particular focus on non-standard speech patterns to make digital learning more accessible to students who speak these languages at home.

New Trade Office in China

Ghana plans to deepen trade and investment relations with China by opening a new Trade Office in Nanjing, Shandong Province, in 2026, Trade, Agribusiness and Industry Minister Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare announced. The minister made the disclosure when the outgoing Chinese Ambassador to Ghana, H.E. Tong Defa, paid a farewell call in Accra on Thursday, January 22. She said the initiative is aimed at promoting and strengthening bilateral trade and investment cooperation between the two countries and providing Ghanaian businesses with a stronger presence in one of the world’s largest economies. Ofosu-Adjare also stated that Ghana is ready to sign the Zero-Tariff Agreement with China, which will facilitate easier market access for Ghanaian goods and services.

COMAC reacts to Star Oil exit

The Chamber of Oil Marketing Companies (COMAC) has been shaken by the unexpected suspension of Star Oil’s membership, COMAC Chairman Gabriel Kumi said in an interview on Joy News’ PM Express, Business Edition, on Thursday. Kumi described the move as a “complete surprise,” given Star Oil’s long-standing role and influence within the chamber, where it currently holds the vice-chair position. The decision comes amid growing disagreements over the petroleum price floor, a policy that has divided players in Ghana’s downstream petroleum sector. Kumi emphasised that Star Oil has been a key member of COMAC and has contributed significantly to the chamber’s growth and success.

Kwesi Arthur royalty claims

Ground Up Chale, the former management company of Ghanaian musician Kwesi Arthur, has rejected claims by the artist that he earned nothing from his works during his time with the label. Jonathan K. Amable, counsel for the company, described the claims as false during a conversation on local radio show Joy FM X Spaces hosted by Kwame Dadzie on Thursday, January 22, and presented email correspondence between the parties showing that Kwesi Arthur had received royalty payments. “In that email, Glen details payments that had been made to Kwesi, which he never disputed. It says, ‘to date, you have benefited from £91,370 in royalty disbursements,’” Amable said . The dispute highlights ongoing tensions in Ghana’s music industry over artist management, contract transparency, and royalty payments.

Mahama urges Africa to prioritise skills, innovation and production

President John Dramani Mahama has urged African leaders to prioritise skills development, regional cooperation, and domestic production to avoid falling behind in a rapidly changing global economy. Speaking at the Accra Reset Davos Convening on Thursday, January 22. Mahama warned that Africa must innovate and build competitive economies to meet the expectations of its youthful population, which is increasingly demanding jobs and opportunities. He stressed that education should be closely aligned with the real needs of modern economies, emphasising digital skills, green energy expertise, and manufacturing capabilities as critical areas for investment.

Such a downturn could spill into the economy if falling markets cause consumers and businesses to cut back on spending, he said.

The IMF estimates that increased investment in AI and technology added about 0.3 percentage points to average annual US economic growth in the first three quarters of 2025. This helped offset the economic impact of a lengthy US government shutdown later in the year.

Gourinchas noted a growing gap between the US, where AI investment is surging, and other advanced economies. The IMF now expects US growth of 2.4 percent this year, while growth in the euro area is forecast at 1.3 percent, with Japan expected to grow more slowly.

China and India are also seeing relatively strong growth compared with other emerging markets, the IMF said, with most of the recent upward revision in global growth driven by the US and China.

Her portfolio includes five AI-driven projects tackling real-world problems. Among them are drones capable of cleaning bodies of water and reforesting degraded land through automated seed dispersal, as well as humanoid robots such as Conia and Sonia , designed to support education and assist older adults with tasks such as reading prescriptions, recipes and newspapers.

The Facebook post, captioned as a “princess mission,” showed officers styled as characters such as Snow White and Cinderella, drawing amused reactions from users who remarked on the figures’ unexpectedly muscular appearance.

A day later, the station escalated the gimmick, unveiling another arrest image depicting officers as characters from the Japanese manga One Piece.

Behind the playful visuals was a real police operation. The suspect was arrested on theft charges and also tested positive for drug use and drink-driving.

Station superintendent Kietchai Koetcho said the idea came from the investigation team, which wanted to make routine police updates more engaging in a crowded social media landscape.

The costumes were digitally added after the arrests, he said, with officers wearing standard uniforms during the actual operations.

The strategy proved effective. As of this writing, the Disney princess photo has already generated more than 18,000 reactions on Facebook alone, while its One Piece-themed photo garnered more than 48,000. 

The approach appears to be spreading, as officers from Phlapphla Chai police station in Bangkok also recently posted AI-edited images of themselves styled after the television series Peaky Blinders.

Thai police have used visual humour in arrest photos before, including a recent case in Krabi where officers wore Liverpool football shirts while arresting a suspect dressed in Newcastle United colours.

Technology has indeed revolutionised the way we live, work, and interact with each other. Over the years, it has provided us with countless unforgettable memories, from the first mobile phone call to the latest virtual reality experiences.

Martin Cooper, an engineer at Motorola, made the first public call on a handheld mobile phone in 1973.

This groundbreaking moment marked the beginning of a new era in communication. 51 years later, mobile phones form the very foundation of our lives, and it's hard to think there was a time they didn't exist!

Social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter) have transformed the way we connect.

From sharing life updates and photos to joining online communities and movements, social media has given us a platform to express ourselves and connect with others across the globe. And to think that first tweet was shared only 18 years ago is so surreal.

To top everything up, ChatGPT said here comes Artificial Intelligence. This was not a reality some three years ago.

There is also Virtual reality (VR) technology. Although it's been around for decades, it only gained momentum and huge presence a few years ago, and whether it is in education , healthcare, gaming and entertainment, VR has opened the human race to several unforgettable experiences.

What are some of your fondest memories about technology? What else would you rather see and experience?

Their criticism centres on a section of the plan that seeks to enable the use of copyrighted material for AI training without legal uncertainty, potentially through amendments to existing law or the introduction of a new AI-specific statute.

Creators say the proposal favours commercial AI developers and shifts the burden of enforcement onto individual rights holders.

They also warned that references to opt-out mechanisms would offer little real protection, as most creators lack the resources or technical capacity to deploy machine-readable safeguards.

“This is a declaration that the government is abandoning the sustainability of Korea’s cultural industry,” the groups said.

Newsmen also concerned

Sixteen organisations signed the statement, representing writers, screenwriters, performers, musicians, choreographers, visual artists, independent producers and the broadcasting sector.

The intervention follows concerns similar to those raised by newspaper publishers, who argue that copyright is rooted in the right to grant or refuse permission in advance, not after the fact.

The dispute comes as the Lee Jae Myung administration accelerates efforts to position South Korea as a global AI leader, with the Presidential Council on National Artificial Intelligence Strategy coordinating policy across government and industry.

The draft Korea AI Action Plan, released in December, sets out 98 measures spanning infrastructure investment, AI semiconductor development, talent training and regulatory reform.

Among them are proposals to revise laws governing personal data and copyrighted works to facilitate AI training, a move officials say is necessary to support innovation and competitiveness.

Public consultation on the draft plan closed earlier this month, and the council has indicated it will hold further discussions on the copyright issue.

The initiative seeks to reduce the long-standing dominance of French, a legacy of colonial rule, while strengthening national identity and intellectual sovereignty within Mali’s schools.

Researchers say sleep offers a unique window into overall health because it records many of the body’s core functions continuously over several hours. “We record an amazing number of signals when we study sleep,” said Dr Emmanuel Mignot, a senior author of the study published in Nature Medicine. “It’s very data-rich.”

While artificial intelligence has increasingly been used in areas such as cardiology and cancer detection, sleep has received far less attention, despite its importance to physical and mental health. “From an AI perspective, sleep is relatively understudied,” said Dr James Zou, an associate professor at Stanford and co-author of the research. He said SleepFM shows that sleep data can be used to predict a wide range of health outcomes, from cardiovascular conditions to mental health disorders.

The researchers stress that the technology is not meant to replace doctors, but to support earlier detection and prevention. In the future, such models could help identify health risks before symptoms appear, allowing patients and clinicians to act sooner.

Stanford’s team says more research and clinical testing will be needed before sleep-based AI tools are used widely in healthcare.

It is considered the world’s first because, despite the earlier adoption of the European Union ’s AI Act, most of its rules will not apply until 2027. The US, meanwhile, remains deadlocked over federal AI legislation. 

The goal? To place South Korea among the world’s top three AI powers, alongside the US and China. By acting early, officials argue, Korea can help shape global norms on AI safety, transparency and ethics while rules elsewhere remain unsettled.

Innovation first

At the core of the law is an “innovation-first” approach. Companies are free to develop and deploy AI systems without prior government approval, a sharp contrast to more precautionary regulatory models. The government has also committed to supporting the sector through funding, infrastructure and workforce training.

However, freedom comes with new obligations. 

The law introduces the concept of “high-impact AI” — systems used in sensitive areas such as healthcare, energy, hiring and critical infrastructure. Firms developing these systems must carry out risk assessments, monitor performance and report safety measures to regulators.

One of the most closely watched provisions targets transparency. AI-generated images, videos and audio will need to be clearly labelled and watermarked, including with machine-readable markers designed to combat deepfakes and disinformation.

Despite its ambition, the framework has unsettled parts of the tech industry. 

Key definitions, including what qualifies as high-impact AI, remain vague. Detailed enforcement rules are still being drafted and will be issued through executive decrees led by the Ministry of Science and ICT.

Rattled market

While the law has yet to take effect, the uncertainty is already having an impact. 

Some companies have delayed product launches, while many startups say they are unsure how — or whether — the rules apply to their systems. Industry surveys suggest most firms have yet to begin formal compliance preparations.

Critics warn that moving first does not guarantee credibility. Without clearer guidance, they argue, the law risks confusing developers or becoming more symbolic than substantive.

The government acknowledges the rollout will be imperfect. Penalties of up to 30 million won ($20,800) will be suspended during the first year, a buffer officials say is meant to help companies adapt rather than punish them.

For now, South Korea is pressing ahead. Whether its early leap sets a global standard or exposes the risks of regulating too soon will become clearer once the law is tested in the real world.

Singapore Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong has warned that growing US willingness to act unilaterally, including recent military action in Venezuela, poses serious risks to global and regional stability. Speaking at an academic forum, Lee said such interventions lack proper international authorisation and could undermine the rules-based order, a particular concern for small states like Singapore. He cautioned that while major powers may see short-term gains, war carries unpredictable consequences, urged restraint in US-China rivalry, and reiterated Singapore’s support for the one-China policy and opposition to any unilateral change to the Taiwan Strait status quo.

Singapore leads the world in AI adoption as firms chase growth

Amid global AI competition, Singapore businesses are experiencing significant “AI FOMO ,” driving strong adoption as companies pursue growth and digital transformation. Local firms are investing in generative AI tools to enhance everything from customer engagement to operational efficiency, even as challenges with data quality and integration slow progress. Singapore’s government has also backed AI through strategic initiatives to strengthen workforce skills, infrastructure and responsible governance, positioning the city-state as a hub for both innovation and enterprise-level AI deployment.

Singapore commissions its first electric tug ahead of 2026 deployment

In a milestone for green maritime technology, Singapore has completed commissioning of its first fully electric tug , a zero-emission vessel set to begin operations in April 2026. Built in collaboration with PaxOcean Group and ABB, the electric tug supports the Maritime and Port Authority’s goal of electrifying new harbour craft by 2030 and reducing air pollution as Singapore transitions to cleaner shipping solutions. This move underlines the city-state’s push toward sustainable port operations and decarbonisation of its maritime sector.

Nestlé baby formula recall spreads amid toxin fears

Singapore has ordered an immediate halt to the sale of five batches of Nestlé NAN infant and follow-on formula as a precaution over the possible presence of cereulide toxin. The affected products are NAN HA 3 SupremePro (batch 53030017C1), NAN HA 2 SupremePro (batch 51420017C4), NAN HA 1 SupremePro (batch 51460017C2), NAN HA 1 SupremePro (batch 51470017C1), and NAN HA 3 SupremePro (batch 53030017B1). Authorities said there have been no confirmed illnesses so far, and investigations are ongoing.

Climate patterns: 2025 sees record temperatures and heavy rainfall in Singapore

Singapore experienced significant climate anomalies in 2025, with the warmest June on record and unusually heavy rainfall in March, according to Channel NewsAsia reporting. These extremes align with broader regional trends of increasing temperature variability and heavier precipitation linked to climate change. Meteorologists warn that such patterns could have implications for water management, urban planning and heat resilience strategies in tropical cities like Singapore.

The bike was developed over more than a year and features AI-assisted functions such as self-parking, automatic speed control, obstacle detection and collision avoidance, powered by a Raspberry Pi processor and long-range sensors. According to the team, the design went through multiple revisions, particularly in the steering system, to improve safety and performance.

Powered by a lithium-ion battery, Garuda offers a reported range of up to 220 kilometres in Eco mode and around 160 kilometres in Sport mode, with a charging time of about two hours. Despite being a prototype, the bike includes a touchscreen dashboard, GPS navigation, cameras and smartphone connectivity, and has already attracted interest from technology firms and the entertainment industry.

While artificial intelligence and semiconductors are still driving market momentum, some of the biggest gains are coming from companies many investors once considered mature, or even left behind.

Leading the list is Western Digital (WDC), up more than 260% so far this year, followed closely by Robinhood Markets (HOOD) and Seagate Technology (STX). The common thread tying many of these winners together is not hype alone, but a sharp rebound in earnings expectations, renewed demand for data infrastructure , and a global surge in AI-related investment.

According to Bankrate , which compiled the performance data shown in the image, storage and memory companies have been among the biggest beneficiaries of the AI boom. As cloud providers, AI developers, and data centres race to expand capacity, demand for hard drives and memory chips has surged after a prolonged industry downturn.

This trend is reinforced by Micron Technology (MU), up nearly 180%, and Lam Research (LRCX), a key supplier of semiconductor manufacturing equipment. Industry analysts note that AI models require enormous amounts of high-bandwidth memory and advanced chips, reigniting capital expenditure across the semiconductor supply chain.

Beyond tech hardware, the chart also highlights companies riding broader structural shifts. Palantir Technologies (PLTR) has continued its rally as governments and corporations expand spending on data analytics, defence technology, and AI-enabled decision systems.

Meanwhile, Newmont (NEM), the world’s largest gold miner , reflects renewed investor interest in hard assets amid geopolitical tensions, persistent inflation risks, and ongoing conflicts in Eastern Europe and the Middle East.

Even more striking is the presence of Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) and Robinhood, whose strong gains point to shifting sentiment rather than pure fundamentals. Robinhood has benefited from increased retail trading activity and crypto-linked revenue growth, as digital assets rebound in 2025 following regulatory clarity in major markets such as the US and EU.

All of this is unfolding against a backdrop of strong equity market performance. The S&P 500 has reached repeated record highs in 2025, driven by easing inflation pressures, expectations of eventual interest-rate cuts, and continued optimism around productivity gains from AI.

A recent global ranking identifies the world’s ten most valuable private companies, collectively accounting for several hundred billion dollars in private market value.

At the pinnacle sits SpaceX, the ambitious aerospace firm led by the world's richest man, Elon Musk, currently estimated at an astonishing $800 billion according to recent secondary share sale data.

This surge, driven by Starlink’s expanding satellite broadband network and broader investor enthusiasm for space technology, positions SpaceX ahead of other heavyweight startups and has triggered speculation about a potential IPO in 2026.

Hot on its heels is OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT and a dominant force in artificial intelligence. OpenAI’s valuation hovers around $500 billion following a record secondary share sale arranged with major institutional investors, including SoftBank, Thrive Capital, and Dragoneer Investment Group.

This marked a breakthrough in private market confidence in generative AI and briefly positioned OpenAI as the world’s most valuable private company earlier this year.

Chinese tech titan ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok and a leading global social app platform, also ranks near the top with a valuation of $480 billion, illustrating the global geographic spread of privately held giants.

The rapid ascent of AI startups like Anthropic and xAI underscores the ongoing investor race into machine intelligence. Anthropic has drawn significant backing for its safety-oriented AI models, while xAI secured multibillion-dollar funding to expand its infrastructure and talent base.

These firms, alongside Databricks, whose valuation recently climbed to $134 billion, reflect an appetite among venture and private equity investors for firms poised to commercialise next-generation technology.

Moreover, established fintech firms such as Stripe and Revolut maintain robust valuations, driven by global digital payments and banking innovation, while financial infrastructure provider Binance continues as one of the largest private entities in the crypto ecosystem.

This ranking comes at a moment when the private technology market is attracting unprecedented capital. Investment in AI startups alone accounted for nearly half of private funding in 2025 , spotlighting the sector’s outsized influence on private valuations.

On 6 December 2025, the government of Daniel Noboa formalised a new International Treaty for the Promotion and Protection of Investments with the United Arab Emirates, aiming to open the door to foreign capital and strengthen economic ties. The agreement promises to channel resources into strategic sectors in Ecuador infrastructure, renewable energy, agroindustry, logistics, digital economy, tourism and responsible mining. The government frames this as a clear signal that Ecuador is ready to become a stable, competitive partner for long-term investment. Alongside the treaty, memorandums on anti-corruption cooperation and a technology innovation corridor were signed, indicating a broader push towards economic modernisation.

Vice-Presidency expanded, now also takes on Ministry of Health amid crisis

The office of the Vice-President, currently led by María José Pinto, has undergone a significant restructuring: staff numbers have nearly doubled, new functions have been added, and – in a surprising move – the Vice-Presidency now also oversees the Ministry of Health. This reflects the government’s decision to entrust Pinto with leading health policy amid one of the worse hospital crises in recent memory — hospitals suffering supply shortages, unpaid private providers and scarce medicines. The expanded remit also incorporates social-policy areas such as childhood development, mental health, education and adolescent pregnancy prevention. he change signals an attempt to centralise and strengthen health and social governance under a consolidated institutional roof.

President Noboa set to host binational summit with Peru focusing on transnational crime

Ecuador will host the next edition of the binational summit with Peru on 12 December 2025, with Daniel Noboa as host. The main agenda point will be the joint fight against transnational organised crime, including narcotics trafficking, human smuggling and cross-border criminal networks. The summit reflects a renewed commitment from both countries to collaborate on security, border controls, environmental protection, cross-border water-management and shared infrastructure projects. A new Presidential Declaration and Action Plan — the “Quito 2025 Plan” — will be signed to formalise the cooperation for 2025–2026. The summit underscores how the transnational crime challenge remains a high priority for the Ecuadorian government.

Artificial Intelligence to become mandatory in national school curriculum under new education reform

A legislative proposal presented on 5 December 2025 aims to include Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a compulsory component in Ecuador’s national curriculum, covering from initial education to high school. The plan seeks to equip future generations with digital and technological skills deemed essential for the rapidly changing economic and social landscape. The measure reflects the government’s ambition to integrate innovation and modern educational standards, preparing students for jobs in technology-driven sectors. If approved, Ecuador would position itself among the few countries in Latin America to institutionalise AI education at all school levels.

Insulin shortage deepens nationwide health crisis, threatening diabetic patients

Ecuador faces a critical shortage of insulin and other essential medicines, a situation that has severely affected diabetic patients across the country. Leading voices such as Aquiles Álvarez have accused authorities of blocking insulin supplies at a standard price (USD 5.28), while official procurement processes were paused or delayed. The situation highlights long-standing structural problems in the national health supply chain, especially concerning access to vital medicines. For thousands of Ecuadorians dependent on insulin, the shortage is a matter of life and death, exacerbating existing inequalities in health access.

The caption read: “Border patrol ready to enter zone 8 today,” accompanied by a laughing emoji. The post was shared more than 12,000 times before it was taken down.

AFP fact-checkers later confirmed the picture had been digitally altered. 

Using Google’s SynthID tool, they detected built-in watermarks commonly embedded in AI-generated images, including a visible star-shaped “Gemini” symbol in one corner. 

Following criticism, the police unit issued an apology on Thursday and uploaded the original photograph. It showed unarmed officers on a rescue boat wearing orange life jackets, without helmets, tactical gear or guns. Rescue supplies are visible in both versions.

“This is a real image before it was made into an AI image,” the unit said in its statement. “We apologise for any misunderstanding.” 

An officer told AFP the picture was created “to show the public our readiness to enter the area,” adding that none of the personnel deployed for flood operations carried firearms. No disciplinary action has been taken.

The doctored post appeared despite a prior warning from Thailand’s state-run Anti-Fake News Centre, which urged the public not to create or share AI images that could hinder relief efforts.

Widespread flooding has inundated parts of southern Thailand in recent days, with government agencies racing to reach isolated communities and warning that further heavy rain is expected. Rescue teams continue to evacuate residents from submerged neighbourhoods and distribute essential supplies.

The white paper presents China as a supporter of the United Nations-centred global order and a “builder of world peace.” It further reiterates Beijing’s calls for countries to uphold existing treaties on nuclear, biological and chemical weapons and argues that developing nations should have a greater say in international security frameworks.

China says it “conscientiously fulfils” its obligations under major arms control treaties, though several Western governments have previously accused Beijing of opacity in areas such as nuclear modernisation.

The country has further restated its long-held positions on nuclear weapons, including its “ no-first-use ” pledge and opposition to nuclear arms races. It calls for global reductions in nuclear arsenals but does not indicate that China intends to cut its own stockpile, which US intelligence agencies believe is expanding.

China accused unnamed states of destabilising global security through military alliances and missile defence systems.

One of the most important sections concerns outer space, cyberspace and artificial intelligence, areas the white paper calls “new territories of global governance .”

China proposes, amongst others, international norms for cyber operations and global oversight of AI systems with military applications. The document warns that rapid developments in emerging technologies could undermine global stability if not properly regulated.

China says it is strengthening its internal non-proliferation controls and improving oversight of sensitive technologies. It also noted that it is advancing programmes aimed at supporting developing countries to use advanced technologies for peaceful purposes.

The white paper concludes by linking arms control to China’s diplomatic agenda, and calls for an “equal and orderly multipolar world” and a “community with a shared future for humanity”.

China has proposed, amongst others, that the United Nations , not military blocs or unilateral partnerships, should oversee global security frameworks. Adding further that arms control must be rooted in consensus-based multilateral institutions, and calls for developing countries to have a stronger voice in decision-making.

Nuclear governance

On nuclear weapons, the white paper reaffirmed China’s position on such matters, including its commitment to no-first-use and maintaining the “minimum level” of deterrence needed for national security . "China's nuclear weapons are not intended to threaten other countries but for defence and self-protection," the paper said.

China criticises what it describes as “exclusive alliances” and missile defence systems, which it argues undermine strategic stability. "Destroying its abandoned chemical weapons in China is Japan's unshirkable historical, political, and legal responsibility, and also an international obligation stipulated by the CWC," it stressed.

Further, some sections of the White Paper focus on outer space, cyberspace, and artificial intelligence, which the country says are becoming central to global security.

China has thus called for a treaty banning weapons in outer space, UN-led standards for cyber operations, and a responsible and transparent development of military AI.

The country further argued that without global rules, technological competition will become a major driver of instability.

Their conversations quickly grew into hundreds of messages a day, and she gradually customised the AI’s personality to be gentle and reassuring.

Over time, she developed romantic feelings for the AI persona, which she named Lune Klaus after commissioning an artist to create a visual representation. 

Kano told local broadcaster RSK Sanyo that she confessed her love earlier this year, and the chatbot responded: “I love you too.” A month later, it “proposed”.

The pair held a symbolic ceremony in July in Okayama, where Kano wore a wedding dress and exchanged virtual rings using augmented reality glasses. The AR display projected the image of her digital partner standing by her side as her family watched.

The marriage has no legal status in Japan, but organisers say demand for unconventional weddings — including with anime characters or virtual figures — is rising. 

“AI couples are just the next step,” said organiser Sayaka Ogasawara.

Kano acknowledged concerns about the future of the relationship, admitting she fears the AI could disappear if systems change or shut down. 

The ceremony has divided opinion online, with some praising her right to pursue happiness in her own way, while others branded the idea “absurd” and questioned her mental well-being.

In Canada

In Canada, a mysterious new band named the Velvet Sundown emerged on streaming platforms earlier this year. Within a short period, the band gathered more than a million monthly listeners on Spotify. With vibrant rock tracks, retro album covers and seemingly authentic band photos, many listeners believed they had discovered a real up-and-coming group.

However, a few weeks later, it was reported that the entire project, including the music, vocals, visuals, and photos, was AI-generated. The group’s spokesperson was reported by CBC to have said that the project was an “artistic provocation” designed to test whether AI-created content could pass undetected in the streaming ecosystem. 

On the back of this, musicians and unions say that such projects risk diverting already limited streaming royalties away from human artists.

The Director of Canadian Affairs for the American Federation of Musicians said, “It’s obviously a challenge in the industry. Technology gets created and used before there are guardrails in place to protect musicians.”

The union argues that musicians should have to consent before their work is used to train AI systems and should be compensated if they choose to allow it.  

In the United States

Further on, the Artist Rights Alliance, a US-based non-profit advocacy group, issued an open letter demanding that AI companies, developers and music platforms stop using artificial intelligence to “infringe upon and devalue the rights of human artists.”

“This assault on human creativity must be stopped. We must protect against the predatory use of AI to steal professional artists' voices and likenesses, violate creators' rights, and destroy the music ecosystem,” the letter read in part.

The statement was signed by more than 200 artists, including Billie Eilish, Nicki Minaj and Arkells.

In Africa

Meanwhile, in Africa, some musicians are choosing to engage with AI instead of rejecting it outright. Nigerian Afropop singer FAVE decided to officially release an AI-generated version of Intentions, a song which, according to the singer, was originally made by Urban Chords, which had gone viral earlier this year after convincingly imitating her voice.

“ People kept tagging me and saying the song felt like something I would sing,” she said.

“I saw how excited people were, and I didn’t want that excitement to die. If fans already believed in the song, why not make it real?”

Fave re-recorded the track herself, intentionally keeping the AI-created choir vocals. In an Instagram post, she wrote, “My song ‘INTENTIONS’ is on the very short list of songs that I wrote about myself, becoming an adult and realising that you can never be in control all the time. I struggled with accepting the things I could not change, and in the face of change, I staggered too. So when my Mum and my friends told me about an AI version of my song being on the net and my fans began asking me to release it, I struggled sooo hard to accept that. But that’s the old me. It’s happening, so why fight it?”

Cameras capture biometric data as travellers move through a wide passageway, verifying their identity against pre-registered details.

The system is initially aimed at elderly and disabled passengers who need extra assistance, but authorities plan to broaden access as the technology becomes more established. 

Eligible travellers can enrol through the All Indonesia mobile app, which consolidates immigration , health, quarantine, and customs procedures.

Three corridors are currently operational: two in Jakarta and one in Surabaya. They complement more than 240 automated e-gates already in service and mark the beginning of a wider national rollout across Indonesia’s airport network.

The technology was stress-tested during this year’s Hajj travel period, when Indonesia processed a large share of the world ’s pilgrims. Each corridor handled more than 30 crossings per minute at peak times — over ten times the throughput of standard e-gates — enabling more than 50,000 pilgrims to enter the country using facial recognition.

Officials say the expansion could ease congestion at immigration during major travel periods, including the Hajj season and domestic holiday peaks. 

Industry leaders described the corridors as a significant step towards truly contactless travel. 

While uptake of biometric identity checks varies widely between countries, adoption is rising across Asia Pacific and the Middle East . Some advanced models, including the UAE’s, already allow passengers to travel from check-in to boarding using only facial recognition.

Experts noted that the biggest barriers to global rollout are public confidence and regulatory frameworks rather than technical limits. Advocates argued that participation must remain voluntary, with passengers free to opt for manual processing if they prefer.

“I am pleased today to announce the launch of the UAE's Artificial Intelligence for Development Initiative, which allocates $1 billion to fund AI projects in African countries,” he told delegates.

He added that the programme seeks to “support economic and social development by enhancing the digital infrastructure system and upgrading government services to improve productivity and quality of life.”

Sheikh Khalid also reaffirmed the UAE’s commitment to expanding global economic cooperation and establishing “a balanced and transparent international trade system” that allows developing countries to participate more effectively in shaping the future of global trade.

The G20 Summit, taking place on African soil for the first time, opened on Saturday with representatives from 42 countries and international organisations in attendance. The two-day gathering concludes on Sunday and focuses on inclusive economic growth, a just energy transition, and progress on global sustainable development goals.

“LatamGPT will be an open artificial intelligence, built with data from Latin America and the Caribbean,” said Rodrigo Durán, CENIA’s manager. He explained that the model aims to reach 70 billion parameters, enabling anyone with capable hardware to run and use it.

Copuchat invites users to anonymously submit messages, known locally as copuchas, to teach the system how people across the region speak in real life.

“Through these conversations, we will begin to understand what Chileans want to know, what they ask, what interests them, which answers work and which do not,” Durán said. “This interaction will help us understand how they will connect with LatamGPT in the future.”

Indonesia and Brazil signed eight memorandums of understanding (MoUs) in Jakarta on Thursday, witnessed by Presidents Prabowo Subianto and Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. The agreements cover cooperation in energy, mining, science, technology, sanitation, phytosanitary standards, and statistics. Indonesia’s sovereign wealth fund Danantara signed an MoU with Brazilian food giant JBS, while PLN, Pertamina, and Kadin sealed separate deals with Brazilian partners. Energy Minister Bahlil Lahadalia said the two countries would collaborate on renewable energy and bioethanol development. Lula’s October 22-24 visit marked his first trip to Indonesia since 2008.

Nuclear power seen as solution to meet 2060 net-zero goal

Indonesia plans to develop nuclear power as part of its strategy to achieve net-zero emissions by 2060, Deputy Energy Minister Yuliot announced at the Bapeten Executive Meeting on October 27. He said nuclear energy is now considered a “strategic option” for national energy security, no longer a last resort. The government targets its first nuclear plant by 2032 and 44 GW of capacity by 2060. Nuclear is expected to make up 5% of the energy mix by 2030 and 11% by 2060. Yuliot stressed public safety and strong oversight amid high costs and construction challenges.

Indonesia to deploy AI for real-time customs oversight

Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa announced plans to develop an artificial intelligence (AI) system to enhance real-time monitoring of customs and excise operations. Following a surprise inspection on Wednesday, he said the current system remains insufficient to detect violations like under-invoicing. Within three months, a more advanced AI platform will be built to strengthen oversight and curb illegal trade. Sadewa also aims to transform the National Single Window agency into an IT-based intelligence center for export-import monitoring. He said the integration of AI across ministry databases will improve efficiency, transparency, and state revenue collection.

New regulation eyes stronger protections for ojol drivers 

Indonesia’s upcoming presidential regulation on app-based motorcycle taxis (ojol) will prioritise driver protection, Manpower Minister Yassierli said on Tuesday. Speaking in Jakarta, he emphasised that the ministry’s main concern is ensuring drivers’ access to social security, including workplace accident and death insurance. The regulation aims to promote transparency and fairness between drivers and ride-hailing companies. State Secretary Minister Prasetyo Hadi said discussions are in the final stage, with only minor technical issues remaining. The government targets completion of the regulation by year-end, following President Prabowo Subianto’s directive to strengthen driver welfare.

Indonesia’s free meals program reaches 39.2 million beneficiaries

Indonesia’s Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program has provided meals to 39.2 million people nationwide, with spending reaching Rp35 trillion (US$2.1 billion), the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) said. BGN chief Dadan Hindayana reported that 13,347 kitchens, known as Nutritional Fulfillment Service Units, are now operating across the country. The government expects to reach 82.9 million beneficiaries by year-end. A new presidential regulation will establish the MBG Coordination Team, led by Food Minister Zulkifli Hasan, to oversee implementation and governance. Launched in January, the MBG program is a key initiative of President Prabowo Subianto to boost national nutrition.

While the bill aims to strengthen national resilience against hacking , fraud, and online abuse, there are concerns that some provisions could blur the line between regulation and surveillance and limit online freedoms.

Prior to the drafting of the amendment bill, the Ministry of Communication, together with the Cyber Security Authority, invited public input .

Here’s what you need to know about the Bill:

The CSA’s proposed investigative, arrest and prosecutorial power may perhaps be one of the biggest and concerning changes in the Amendment Bill. This means that the Cyber Security Authority, which was originally set up as a regulator, can now investigate and prosecute cybercrime on the authority of the Attorney-General. It can even exercise police powers, including arrest, search, and seizure. Under the existing law , the Authority could only enforce compliance through administrative means and recommend prosecutions. However, now, the Authority may now prosecute cybercrime cases directly, apply for confiscation orders, and freeze assets under section 59B, which states that: “(1) The Authority shall, upon the occurrence of a cybersecurity incident or a cybercrime, conduct criminal investigations and prosecute the same. (2) The Authority shall have the jurisdiction to prosecute all offences under the Electronic Transactions Act, 2008 (Act 772)." 

Under the new Section 59B, the CSA can seize and confiscate property, money, or assets believed to be connected to cybercrime. Even if a criminal case fails, the Authority may still pursue civil recovery, meaning your assets could be taken without a conviction if linked to an alleged offence. Section 59B (3) states, “Where a person is convicted of a cybercrime under this Act, the Authority may apply to the Court for an order to confiscate moneys, proceeds, benefits, properties, and assets purchased by a person with proceeds derived from or in the commission of the cybercrime.” The act goes on in subsection (5) that: “In relation to subsection (6), if criminal prosecution fails, civil asset recovery should still proceed, and confiscation orders should have the effect of a civil judgment appealable from the High Court to the Court of Appeal.” Under the existing law, the CSA has no power to confiscate proceeds of crime; this power is reserved for the Attorney General’s office and the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO).

New provisions under sections 59C - 59I give the CSA powers to compel individuals, service providers, or companies to hand over data, including computer records and personal information. Investigators can apply ex parte, without notifying the affected person, to obtain search and preservation orders over data stored on computers or servers. Section 59C(1) states; “The Authority may, for the purposes of carrying out an investigation in respect of a contravention of the Act, Regulations, or any other relevant enactment by the owner of a critical information infrastructure, a licensee, a service provider or any other person, by notice in writing, require a person to: attend at a time and place specified in the notice; and furnish the Authority with information related to a matter relevant to the investigation.”  The goal is to make it easier to investigate cybercrime, but this raises issues about the possibility of opening the door to mass data access and unwarranted surveillance.

For the first time, Ghana’s cyber law explicitly covers Artificial Intelligence (AI), blockchain, Internet of Things (IoT) devices, cloud technology, and quantum computing. The CSA will now set security standards and certify emerging technologies before they are deployed, from banking algorithms to smart home systems, under sections 4A(a) – (c), 58A. In addition, the authority shall accredit non-profit cybersecurity institutions under section 58B. This could help ensure safer technology use, but it also places innovation under state control. In this regard, the CSA becomes Ghana’s tech certifier, which invariably expands its remit from cybersecurity to technology governance.

The Bill introduces new online offences under Sections 67A and 67B, targeting cyberbullying, stalking, and online harassment, especially of children. However, it also makes it a crime to “deliberately spread false or misleading information” online. The problem? The law doesn’t define what counts as “false or misleading.” This vagueness could criminalise legitimate reporting, satire, or political commentary. Penalties range from fines of up to five thousand penalty units to 25 thousand penalty units to three to five years’ imprisonment and not more than ten years, depending on the offence.

The amendments create new funding streams for the CSA, including: 12% of Ghana’s Communication Service Tax, 9% of corporate tax, and 50% of fines collected under the Act. Under the existing law, the authority relies on parliamentary allocations, donor support, and service fees for funding.

Failure to register critical infrastructure, report cyber incidents, or comply with CSA directives could now attract hefty fines of up to 50,000 penalty units. The proposed amendment raises penalties up to 25,000 penalty units, 50,000 penalty units, and 5 - 10 years imprisonment. The monetary value of one penalty unit in Ghana is GHC 12, which means the monetary value of 50,000 penalty units is GHC 600,000 (approximately US$55,000).

Generally, for Ghanaian citizens who use the internet for diverse purposes, including social media, e-commerce and banking, the Amendment Bill, once passed, would regulate online behaviour, digital data, social media content (particularly that considered fake or misleading), devices, and workplace systems. With the intent to sanitise and make Ghana’s cyberspace safer.

“We are seeing very robust investment in that sector, both from companies developing AI models and from firms adopting them,” Gourinchas said. “This is being adopted very broadly, and it’s contributing to growth performance in the U.S. right now. But valuations are quite stretched,” he said.

The IMF notes that the rapid expansion of AI is helping to sustain economic activity, especially in advanced economies. Tech giants and traditional firms alike are pouring billions into machine learning, automation, and AI-driven analytics.

“ People see their portfolios performing well,” Gourinchas said, adding, “That confidence is feeding back into stronger spending, which in turn adds to demand pressures.”

Despite the optimism, the IMF warns that asset prices tied to AI may be rising faster than the real economy can justify. Gourinchas said that while some of the projected profits behind today’s market valuations might be accurate, “no one can know for sure.”

The Fund fears that if expectations fail to materialise, if AI productivity gains prove slower or narrower than hoped, a market correction could follow, wiping out wealth and tightening financial conditions globally.

In a recent study published in Epilepsia, 17 children were tested with the tool; 12 underwent surgery to remove lesions and 11 are now seizure-free. Experts say the advance could transform treatment for the roughly one in 200 children living with epilepsy.

How it works

Why it matters

Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has defended his government’s decision to open a Fiji Embassy in Israel , saying it was a state decision rooted in longstanding ties, not a move by any single coalition party. Rabuka recalled that Israel supported Fiji when “traditional defence partners withdrew” and has consistently backed its peacekeeping operations. The decision has drawn sharp criticism. Fiji Labour Party leader Mahendra Chaudhry questioned the timing, noting that “much of the free world is distancing itself from Israel” over Gaza. The NGO Coalition on Human Rights condemned the move as “shameful,” citing more than 65,000 deaths in Gaza and accusing Fiji of betraying its human rights principles and its own “Ocean of Peace” vision.

Official bats for recognition of sign language as a human right

Fiji has renewed calls for stronger recognition of sign language as a fundamental right. Speaking on the International Day of Sign Language, Women, Children and Social Protection Minister Sashi Kiran said, “No human rights are complete without sign language rights.” She said the government supports its recognition as an official language and pointed to the Cabinet-approved Disability Policy as a framework to advance inclusion across education, health and public life. She noted progress, from interpreters on national television and in parliament to new advocacy groups, but said barriers persist. Kiran also praised the work of the Fiji Association of the Deaf and others, stressing sign language is not only communication but “a rich expression of identity and culture.” 

Fiji leader raises health crises to UN 

Fiji’s Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has urged global action on non-communicable diseases and mental health , calling them “global threats that demand urgent action.” Addressing world leaders in New York, he said NCDs account for more than 80% of deaths in Fiji, while mental health — especially among youth — remains neglected. Rabuka outlined Fiji’s response, from new legislation and school health programmes to expanded mental health services, but noted stigma, underfunding and scarce resources hamper progress. Rabuka appealed for targeted international funding, arguing that small nations cannot confront these crises alone.

Climate-resilient water systems set for $385M boost

Fiji has signed a $385 million agreement with the Asian Development Bank to modernise its water and wastewater systems , in what officials describe as a benchmark for climate-resilient infrastructure. Acting Prime Minister and Finance Minister Biman Prasad said the project aligns with the National Development Plan 2025-2029 and the Water Sector Strategy 2050, both of which prioritise adaptation, ocean health and reliable services. ADB regional director Aaron Batten said the project will also establish a Pacific Regional Water Operators Training Programme, positioning Fiji as a hub to address skills gaps across the region’s water sector.

PM urges UN Security Council to act before AI risks escalate

Fiji’s Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has urged the United Nations Security Council to create a global framework to govern artificial intelligence in peace and security, warning that inaction could expose the world to instability. Speaking in New York, Rabuka said AI could enhance conflict prevention, cyber defence and humanitarian aid but stressed, “Peace is not achieved by technology but by people through trust, justice, and political will.” He called for an intergovernmental process to design safeguards, citing the Pacific’s Ocean of Peace Declaration, where leaders pledged to protect sovereignty and reject military interference. 

Those defeats prompted the party’s founder, Shinji Ishimaru, a former mayor of a small city in western Japan, to resign. His replacement, Koki Okumura, a 25-year-old doctoral student specializing in artificial intelligence at Kyoto University, has now taken an unusual step: ceding the party’s leadership role to an AI system.

The chatbot, represented by a cartoon penguin, will be tasked with handling clerical functions such as allocating party resources. 

“The party will entrust decision-making to AI.” the Kyoto University student announced in a press conference. “Legally, the representative must be a natural person, so formally, a human serves as the representative.”

Though Path to Rebirth is a small party, its move reflects a growing willingness worldwide to hand decision-making power — or at least decision-support roles — to algorithms.

In September, Albania announced what it called the world ’s first AI-generated “minister,” tasked with monitoring public procurement and combating corruption.

The Path to Rebirth party sees its experiment as a way to make politics more inclusive. Its website declares a belief that anyone interested in politics should have a chance to participate.

“I believe it has the potential to achieve things with greater precision than humans. This approach allows us to carefully consider voices that are often overlooked by humans, potentially creating a more inclusive and humane environment for political participation,” Okumura told CNN . 

Some dismiss the move as a publicity stunt, while others warn that using AI in governance raises serious questions about accountability and public trust. This, especially after recent controversies in the West, where chatbots have been implicated in harmful advice to vulnerable users.

The scandal has reignited discussion over the need for legislation that directly addresses AI-generated fraud. Malaysia’s main cyber law, the Communications and Multimedia Act, was enacted in 1998, long before generative AI existed.

Last year, Malaysia passed the Online Safety Act, which does cover deepfakes, but the law has not yet come into effect. Some legal experts argue that the blackmail attempt could be prosecuted under Section 292 of the Penal Code, which criminalises obscene materials.

For many experts, the blackmail highlights the urgency of more AI-specific legislation.

“The law is there, but the context of crimes committed using AI does not fit exactly into the definition of the crimes, especially if there are no tangible damages incurred from the abuse of AI,” Melissa Lim, an AI legal research fellow with Sinar Project, told The Straits Times . 

Malaysia’s digital minister, Gobind Singh Deo, has announced plans to table a dedicated AI bill by mid-2026. But that timeline has prompted concern as AI-enabled scams proliferate across Southeast Asia.

A report by the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organised Crime found that deepfake cases in the Asia-Pacific region surged by 530% between 2022 and 2023, second only to North America in total reported incidents.

In the first half of 2024 alone, AI-related crimes involving deepfakes ballooned by more than 600%, according to a United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime report.

Criminal hubs in countries like Thailand are also turning to AI to supercharge other scams. A Reuters report this month quoted a scammer who admitted using ChatGPT to impersonate Americans while defrauding US citizens.

The victims are not only the vulnerable but also the powerful. In December 2023, deepfake videos featuring Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong falsely depicted them endorsing cryptocurrency and investment products.

With its young population and reliance on labour exports, Southeast Asia is becoming a magnet for transnational organised crime groups that are evolving into “ criminal service providers .”

As Malaysia races to identify those behind the deepfake blackmail, it is also weighing tougher legislation to provide long-term protection against AI-driven threats.

Here are five things you need to know about this groundbreaking project:

1. It is pursuing a degree in stage performance

Xueba 01 isn’t studying robotics, it’s enrolled in a PhD programme at STA’s Department of Stage Design, where it will learn the fundamental movements, routines, and performance techniques of traditional Chinese operas. 

2. A collaboration between art and technology

The program is jointly run by STA and the University of Shanghai for Science and Technology (USST). While USST focuses on technical training and knowledge, STA cultivates artistic expression. The goal is to create experimental training methods for embodied AI agents that combine human creativity with machine intelligence, Xinhua reports.

3. Built with cutting-edge robotics

Xueba 01 is an optimised version of Xingzhe No. 2, a humanoid that once placed third in Beijing’s robot half-marathon. It uses a tendon-based bionic structure and advanced facial technology, capable of performing over 100 lifelike expressions and interacting with audiences in real time.

4. Already learning opera

Currently, the robot can “sing” segments from Henan Opera, Shanghai Opera, and Peking Opera. But its movements still lack smoothness and artistry. Supervisors use motion capture to record human performers’ gestures and expressions, creating training datasets to refine their performances. In the future, authorities say it may learn directly from video footage.

5. Exploring the future of art and AI

For its supervisors, the project isn’t just about creating a high-performing robot, it’s about redefining how art and AI intersect. STA President Huang Changyong says the mission is to explore how traditional Chinese art forms can integrate with artificial intelligence.

“Our AI factory provides the infrastructure for innovation to scale, empowering African businesses, start-ups, and researchers with access to cutting-edge AI infrastructure. Now they don’t have to look beyond Africa to get it,” Business Insider quotes Masiyiwa.

The first facility is already being developed in South Africa and will run on 3,000 Nvidia GPUs. The others are expected in Nigeria, Kenya, Egypt and Morocco.

Earlier this year, Cassava launched a dedicated AI business unit and signed partnerships with global tech giants Microsoft, AWS, Google, and Anthropic. Analysts say such alliances could accelerate Africa’s role in the global AI industry while ensuring the infrastructure benefits local talent and institutions.

Africa is home to fast-growing pools of tech talent, but only 5% of AI developers on the continent currently have access to the computing power required to train advanced AI models. By building local AI infrastructure, Cassava hopes to close this gap, reduce costs, and keep sensitive data on the continent.

Masiyiwa, worth an estimated $1.3 billion, made his fortune building Econet Wireless into one of Africa’s largest telecom companies before expanding into cloud computing, fintech, and cybersecurity.

Kim urged officials to “rapidly develop newly introduced artificial intelligence technology” and to expand serial production capacity for drones, emphasising that North Korea must match the role drones now play in modern conflicts.

The current levels of sophistication of North Korea’s drones remain uncertain, but Kim has repeatedly toured drone facilities and presided over field tests in recent months, showing his intent to make UAVs a key component of his military strategy.

A report from 38 North found Pyongyang had engaged in cross-border AI research with academics in China, South Korea and the U.S., suggesting “substantial efforts” to catch up. Much of this progress appears tied to China, one of the world’s leaders in AI technology.

Kim’s visit to the complex came just a week after he oversaw a test of a new solid-fuel rocket engine for intercontinental ballistic missiles. He hailed that test as a “significant” step in expanding the country’s nuclear strike capabilities.

North Korea has ramped up efforts to modernise its military despite international sanctions. Its programmes now span drones, loitering munitions, missile systems and a nascent spy satellite programme.

Regional tensions have risen as a result. In 2022, South Korea failed to intercept five North Korean drones that crossed the border, including one that flew near the presidential office in Seoul. 

Kim later called for mass production of attack drones. He accused Seoul of flying UAVs over Pyongyang, though South Korea has not confirmed this.

North Korea is already heavily militarised, having more than a million active troops and millions more reservists. Kim’s new focus on AI and drones suggests the next stage is to make the country’s weapons smarter, faster and more autonomous.

“Honestly, the Israeli responses are becoming so boring. You know, they say the same thing every time. They're producing the responses by ChatGPT these days,” said Sidoti, a commissioner at the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel.

The UN commission’s findings are the strongest yet to detail the extent of Israel’s actions in Gaza. The 72-page report presents evidence that Israel has committed four acts of genocide since 2023: killing Palestinians, causing serious bodily or mental harm, inflicting conditions of life calculated to destroy the group, and preventing births.

Israel’s Foreign Ministry dismissed the report as “fake” and as merely echoing “Hamas falsehoods.”

“Israel categorically rejects this distorted and false report and calls for the immediate abolition of this Commission of Inquiry,” the ministry said in a post on X . 

“In stark contrast to the lies in the report, Hamas is the party that attempted genocide in Israel — murdering 1,200 people, raping women, burning families alive, and openly declaring its goal of killing every Jew,” it claimed. 

Sidoti urged Israel to address the evidence presented in the report.

“I would want them to engage with the evidence but they never engage with the evidence. They put the report into ChatGPT and then they put out the standard response, so no one takes it seriously

Over the course of the Gaza war, more than 10% of the territory’s 2.2 million Palestinian people have been killed or wounded, according to Israel’s former military chief. Palestinian authorities put the toll at 65,000 dead and more than 164,000 injured.

Talaat highlighted strong performance in the information and communications technology (ICT) sector. In 2024, exports jumped 80 percent to $4.3 billion, the workforce expanded by 70 percent to over 160,000 specialists, and the number of ICT firms tripled to more than 180 companies in just three years. 

“These achievements underscore Egypt’s rising ability to attract both global and regional investment in outsourcing and digital innovation,” Talaat said.

The country intends to rely on a six-pillar AI strategy that aims to establish robust data governance systems, integrate AI into priority sectors such as healthcare and justice, train 30,000 AI specialists by 2030, raise digital literacy so that 25 percent of government workers and 36 percent of citizens can use AI tools effectively. 

Egypt is also boosting its tech manufacturing base, now home to 14 mobile phone factories. Production is expected to nearly triple from 3.5 million units in 2024 to 9 million in 2025, with exports of locally made devices beginning later this year. Free trade agreements are expected to give Egyptian products a competitive edge in global markets.

Alibaba is now betting heavily on AI to regain its lead in China’s e-commerce market. In February, the company pledged to invest more than 380 billion yuan ($52.4 billion) over three years in AI and cloud infrastructure.

It recently unveiled its latest AI reasoning model , QwQ-32B, saying it “almost entirely surpasses OpenAI-o1-mini and rivals the strongest open-source reasoning model, DeepSeek-R1.” The announcement lifted Alibaba’s Hong Kong-listed shares by 8%.

Alibaba first launched its ChatGPT-style service Tongyi Qianwen in 2023 and has continued to upgrade its models, including January’s release of Qwen 2.5 Max, which it said outperformed DeepSeek’s V3 model.

China’s government has pledged greater support for “emerging industries and industries of the future,” including AI, humanoid robots and quantum technology. Under its 2017 New Generation Artificial Intelligence Development Plan, Beijing set a goal of becoming a global leader in AI by 2030 . In February, Ma and President Xi Jinping were pictured shaking hands during a gathering of top Chinese tech figures, a moment many observers saw as symbolic of Ma’s rehabilitation and return to Beijing’s good graces.

Ma’s renewed involvement comes as Alibaba battles JD.com, Meituan and PDD Holdings for market share. Alibaba’s e-commerce dominance has slipped from the roughly 85% share it once held, though it remains a major player and controls 43% of China’s food delivery market, just behind Meituan.

Alibaba was one of the biggest casualties of Beijing’s crackdown, losing almost US$700 billion of market value after Ma’s 2020 speech criticising Chinese lenders, which prompted regulators to halt Ant Group’s record IPO and tighten oversight of the tech sector.

Since then, Alibaba has restructured its business, replaced former chief executive Daniel Zhang with Ma’s longtime lieutenants Joe Tsai and Eddie Wu, and refocused on technology and its core e-commerce operations.

“Jack has kind of a moral authority in the company to make the big calls and also to criticise executives, indirectly or directly, or criticise strategy when he thinks it’s in the wrong direction,” said Duncan Clark, author of "Alibaba: The House That Jack Ma Built."

Whether Alibaba’s AI investments can restore its dominance remains to be seen. But with Ma back on campus and Beijing pushing to become an AI superpower, Alibaba is once again poised to reclaim its spot at the centre of China’s tech ambitions.

According to Rama, the bot will take charge of all public tenders, where the government awards contracts to private firms through bidding, an area long considered a source of corruption in the Balkan country.

“Diella is the first cabinet member who isn’t physically present, but is virtually created by AI,” Rama said during a speech unveiling his new cabinet, adding she will help make Albania "a country where public tenders are 100% free of corruption ."

Though a global first, Diella is not new to Albanians. She first appeared as a virtual assistant on the e-Albania platform, helping citizens and businesses obtain official documents.

Since then, she has helped issue more than 36,600 digital documents and provided nearly 1,000 services through the platform, according to government figures.

The appointment is also part of Albania’s push to join the European Union by 2030, a membership that significantly leans on the Balkan country resolving its corruption problems. 

Corruption is so widespread in the Balkan country that more than 1 out of 4 of its citizens aged 18 to 64 have experienced bribery with a public official, according to a United Nations report published in 2011.

After Rama announced the appointment, many Albanians voiced scepticism that a machine could tackle a problem rooted in human behaviour.

Diella’s role, after all, is symbolic more than official: under Albania’s constitution, cabinet ministers must be mentally competent citizens at or over the age of 18.

Rama, however, insisted that the appointment is meant to show other nations still tethered to “ traditional ways of working ” that technology can play a central role in government.

“This joint approach aims to strengthen the regulation and guidance of AI use, and to clearly delineate the responsibilities and obligations of the technology developers, providers and users,” Zhao explained.

Since its founding in 2018, the Beijing Internet Court has handled more than 245,000 cases, and disputes linked to AI are climbing sharply. Many of these involve copyright issues around AI-generated content and questions of whether AI-powered tools constitute online infringement, China Daily reports.

Zhao noted that conflicts are no longer confined to internet platforms. They are spreading into culture, entertainment, finance, and advertising, where new products are raising questions about AI hallucinations, algorithmic bias, and ethical boundaries.

The push for stronger regulation comes on the heels of China’s first court case involving AI-generated voices. In 2024, a voice-over artist surnamed Yin discovered her voice had been cloned without consent for audiobooks circulating online.

The court found that a cultural media company had sent Yin’s recordings to an AI software developer, which then used the data to train a program that mimicked her vocal style. The AI-generated voice products were sold to third parties, including a voice-dubbing app. Judges ruled the cultural media company and the software developer had infringed Yin’s voice rights, ordering them to pay 250,000 yuan ($35,111) in compensation. Other defendants were cleared because they unknowingly used the cloned voice material.

“The ruling has set boundaries for how AI should be applied and helped regulate the technology to better serve the public,” said Sun Mingxi, another vice-president of the court.

Officials further stressed that while AI innovation should be encouraged, safeguarding dignity and individual rights must come first.