UK could offer celebs protection from AI clones – POLITICO

UK could offer celebs protection from AI clones – POLITICO

As a sweetener, the consultation is now expected to include the promise of a new “personality right,” according to three people briefed on the plans, granted anonymity like others in this article to speak freely. This would offer people, particularly stars who rely heavily on protecting their image, additional legal protections against the use of … Read more

TikTok influencers flee Romania amid tax probe into their election role – POLITICO

TikTok influencers flee Romania amid tax probe into their election role – POLITICO

“This investigation will also assess any causal links between those payments and a particular candidate in the Romanian presidential election,” said Toni Greblă, the head of the electoral office, about the tax probes. One key figure under investigation is Bogdan Peșchir, who allegedly funded the influencers on TikTok with €1 million. Last week, authorities raided … Read more

Europe’s AI competitiveness hinges on skills – POLITICO

Europe’s AI competitiveness hinges on skills – POLITICO

First, AI professionals in the EU lead in green skills — performing jobs in a more environmentally sustainable way — compared with their peers in the US and UK. Today, 8.1 percent of AI talent in the EU have at least one green skill, compared with 5.8 percent in the US and 7.4 percent in … Read more

Assad’s downfall — the winners and losers – POLITICO

Assad’s downfall — the winners and losers – POLITICO

Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Bashar Assad were once friends, but the Turkish leader backed the rebellion when it erupted nearly 14 years ago — mainly because Turkey’s geopolitical rival Iran supported the Syrian regime. Turkey has been the key patron of Syria’s armed Islamist opposition groups. And as the war developed and the moderate … Read more

Ten Syrian days that shook the Middle East – POLITICO

Ten Syrian days that shook the Middle East – POLITICO

As the offensive unfolded others agreed with al-Jolani, who has seemingly now dropped his nom de guerre and is using his birth name Ahmed al-Sharaa. They noted how fragile the regime appeared. “The Syrian Arab Army is a hollowed-out shell, far weaker than its ostensible numbers and weapons would indicate,” said former U.S. diplomat Alberto … Read more

Prosecutors raid properties of key Georgescu backer in Romania election probe – POLITICO

Prosecutors raid properties of key Georgescu backer in Romania election probe – POLITICO

Georgescu is an ultranationalist who has no party and was a little-known political figure until he shot into the lead in the first round of voting after what authorities said was a coordinated foreign hybrid attack attempting to sway the election.  Prosecutors raided three properties in the city of Brașov, in the mountainous Transylvania region, … Read more

What the hell is going on? – POLITICO

What the hell is going on? – POLITICO

President Iohannis received evidence from the secret intelligence services indicating that both state and non-state actors had interfered in the election, and naming Russia as responsible for a series of aggressive hybrid attacks. The U.S. endorsed the findings of Russian involvement. Acting on the intelligence, Iohannis declassified secret files that alleged Georgescu had unlawfully benefited from … Read more

Romania’s pro-Europeans fear Putin is pushing them back to dictatorship  – POLITICO

Romania’s pro-Europeans fear Putin is pushing them back to dictatorship  – POLITICO

According to the latest polling from Atlas Intel, Georgescu is on 47 percent, a lead of four points over Lasconi on 43 percent support. Georgescu’s dramatic transformation has shocked Romania’s Western allies, with analysts warning that Russian bots may have amplified his campaign on social media in a highly targeted and effective influence operation.  Speaking … Read more

European Commission orders TikTok to preserve all data on Romanian election – POLITICO

European Commission orders TikTok to preserve all data on Romanian election – POLITICO

The new step follows the release of the declassification of Romanian intelligence documents on Wednesday, which alleged that paid influencers had boosted the account of ultranationalist Călin Georgescu in the lead-up to the first round of the Romanian presidential election. The decision should help “investigators establish the facts,” said Henna Virkkunen, the European Commission’s new … Read more

US intel: Hezbollah plans to rearm despite massive losses

US intel: Hezbollah plans to rearm despite massive losses

Lebanon’s Hezbollah has been significantly degraded militarily by Israel, but the Iran-backed group will likely try to rebuild its stockpiles and forces and pose a long-term threat to the US and its regional allies, four sources briefed on updated US intelligence told Reuters. US intelligence agencies assessed in recent weeks that Hezbollah, even amid … Read more