Author: Web Desk

New Delhi: India has raised fears over the construction of a new China mega dam in Tibet, warning that the project could cut water flows on a key river by up to 85 percent during the dry season. The Chinese project, located near the border just before the Yarlung Zangbo enters India, has been announced as the world’s largest hydropower dam. The river originates in Tibet’s Angsi Glacier and becomes the Siang and Brahmaputra in India, serving as a lifeline for more than 100 million people in China, India and Bangladesh. Delhi has long considered building its own large dam…

Vietnam: Vietnam has ordered the evacuation of more than 586,000 residents as Typhoon Kajiki approaches with increasing force. The typhoon has already carried winds of 166km/h (103mph) and is forecast to strengthen further before making landfall early Monday, according to weather officials. Authorities have confirmed that people in the central provinces of Thanh Hoa, Quang Tri, Hue and Da Nang have been instructed to leave their homes. Vietnam Airlines has cancelled at least 22 flights to and from central cities, while vessels have been directed to remain in port. The storm is currently passing near Hainan, China, where forecasters have…

London: A potential ChatGPT Plus UK deal has been discussed between OpenAI’s chief executive Sam Altman and UK technology secretary Peter Kyle during meetings in San Francisco. The discussions have included the possibility of giving all UK residents premium access to ChatGPT Plus, although no proposal has been pursued further. According to two people familiar with the matter, the talks have taken place as part of wider discussions on collaboration between the company and the UK government. The idea of nationwide access has been considered too expensive, with costs estimated at up to $2.54 billion. OpenAI currently offers both free…

Colombo: The former Sri Lankan president, Ranil Wickremesinghe, has been admitted to hospital following his arrest on charges of misusing public funds, intensifying the government’s ongoing crackdown on corruption. Ranil Wickremesinghe has been treated for acute dehydration at Colombo National Hospital, where doctors said that his condition is stable. Wickremesinghe was remanded in custody on August 22 after being accused of using taxpayer money to cover expenses for a two-day trip to the United Kingdom in September 2023. The visit included a ceremony at the University of Wolverhampton, where Wickremesinghe’s  wife received an honorary professorship. Wickremesinghe has denied the charges,…

Menlo Park: Meta has entered into a partnership with generative AI startup Midjourney, aiming to strengthen its artificial intelligence capabilities and expand creative tools across its platforms. The Meta Midjourney partnership has been designed to license the startup’s ‘aesthetic technology’ while bringing the companies’ research teams together, according to Alexandr Wang, the social media giant’s chief AI officer. The move has marked a significant step in Meta’s efforts to differentiate its AI products based on visual quality. With competition intensifying against rivals such as OpenAI and Google, the collaboration is expected to support Meta’s push to revitalise its AI roadmap…

United Nations: The Gaza famine has been confirmed by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), which has reported that 514,000 Palestinians – almost one quarter of Gaza’s population – have been facing famine conditions. The figure is projected to increase to 641,000 by the end of September. According to the IPC, about 280,000 people in Gaza governorate, covering Gaza City, are already in famine following nearly two years of war between Israel and Hamas. The organisation has warned that famine conditions will likely spread to Deir al-Balah and Khan Younis governorates next month. The IPC has stated that lack…

Bangkok: Thailand’s Shinawatra dynasty has been confronting a critical political test, with courts preparing to deliver three major rulings that could reshape the future of its leadership. The family, which has been central to Thai politics for two decades, has faced the risk of losing its influence through legal outcomes that could unseat Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and send Thaksin Shinawatra back to prison. One of the rulings, expected this week, will decide whether Thaksin insulted the monarchy in a 2015 media interview, a charge that carries penalties of up to 50 years in prison. Another court decision, due within…

New York: Google has launched the Pixel 10 lineup, including the Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro and Pixel 10 Pro Fold, each powered by the new Tensor G5 chip. The highlight is Gemini’s Magic Cue feature, which allows the chatbot to anticipate what information a user may need and surface it at the right moment. Magic Cue works by scanning through personal data stored on apps such as Gmail, Calendar and Maps to deliver contextual assistance. For instance, when a user dials an airline, their booking details appear in the phone app automatically. Similarly, if a friend messages about Sunday…

Israel: Israel Australia tensions have escalated as diplomatic tensions and visa restrictions have fuelled friction between the two governments. Strains have grown after Australia announced that it would recognise a Palestinian state, aligning with the UK, France and Canada, a move strongly opposed by Israel. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has accused Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of betraying Israel and abandoning Australia’s Jewish community. The remarks came shortly after Canberra barred far-right Israeli politician Simcha Rothman from entering the country. Australian officials said that Rothman’s presence could spread division, with Immigration Minister Tony Burke stating that individuals promoting hate were…

San Francisco: OpenAI valuation has been set to climb significantly as the artificial intelligence firm considers a major share sale. Reports have indicated that the company is in discussions to sell $6 billion (£4.7 billion) in stock from current and former employees, which would push its overall value to $500 billion (£392 billion). This rise would place OpenAI above SpaceX, currently valued at $350 billion (£274 billion), making it the most valuable private company globally. The company has already seen rapid growth over the past year. OpenAI attracted investments from firms such as Microsoft and SoftBank, with total funding surpassing…