Category: World

DBS Bank, Singapore’s largest financial institution, is set to cut 4,000 temporary and contract positions over the next three years as artificial intelligence (AI) assumes more responsibilities, BBC reported. The bank confirmed that permanent employees will not be impacted, and the reductions will occur through “natural attrition” as projects conclude. Additionally, DBS plans to create around 1,000 AI-related roles, positioning itself as a leader in AI adoption within the banking industry. “Over the next three years, we envisage that AI could reduce the need to renew about 4,000 temporary/contract staff across our…

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PORT SUDAN: A Sudanese military aircraft crashed on Tuesday on the outskirts of the capital, Khartoum, resulting in the death of its crew, a military source said with a medical source saying at least five civilians on the ground were also killed. “An Antonov aircraft crashed, killing a number of officers who were on board,” the source told AFP on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak to the media. The source said a technical malfunction was behind the crash. The crash took place near Wadi Seidna…

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A growing movement in Canada is calling for the government to revoke Elon Musk’s citizenship, with over 200,000 people signing a parliamentary petition accusing the billionaire of acting against the country’s interests, Guardian reported. The petition, launched by writer Qualia Reed and supported by MP Charlie Angus, focuses on Musk’s close ties to Donald Trump. Musk, who was born in South Africa, holds Canadian citizenship through his mother, Maye Musk. Petitioners argue that his role in advising Trump, who has repeatedly threatened Canada’s sovereignty, constitutes grounds for revocation. The petition states that…

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A man in France has made an unusual proposal after discovering that his stolen credit card was used to buy a winning lottery ticket, CNN reported. Rather than pursuing legal action, Jean-David Estele has offered to split the €500,000 ($525,000) prize with the thieves. On 3 February, Estele’s car was broken into in Toulouse, and the culprits used his credit card to purchase several items at a bar, including a lottery ticket. His lawyer, Pierre Debuisson, told CNN that the ticket ended up being a jackpot winner. “It’s a miracle for both the thieves…

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WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump unveiled plans Tuesday to sell new “gold card” residency permits for a price of $5 million each — and said Russian oligarchs may be eligible. Trump said sales of the new visa, a high-price version of the traditional green card, would bring in job creators and could be used to reduce the US national deficit. “We’re going to be selling a gold card. You have a green card, this is a gold card. We’re going to be putting a price on that card of about…

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UNITED NATIONS: The United Nations Security Council on Monday adopted a US-drafted resolution on the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine that takes a neutral position on the conflict as US President Donald Trump seeks to broker peace. The short resolution reflects Trump’s upending of US policy on Ukraine after taking office last month and his more conciliatory stance towards Russia. In contrast, former president Joe Biden’s administration led efforts at the United Nations to support Ukraine throughout the war. Russia’s UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia acknowledged “constructive changes” in…

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VATICAN CITY: Pope Francis remains critically ill with double pneumonia but has shown slight signs of improvement, the Vatican said on Monday. The 88-year-old pontiff has now spent 11 nights in Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, marking his longest hospital stay in nearly 12 years as pope. “The clinical conditions of the Holy Father, in their critical nature, show a slight improvement,” the health update stated. The pope is still receiving oxygen, it added, “although with a slightly reduced flow and oxygen percentage”. It also noted that the “mild kidney insufficiency” first…

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A retired French surgeon accused of sexually abusing hundreds of young patients over decades admitted to committing “despicable” acts as his trial began on Monday in western France. Joel Le Scouarnec, 74, faces charges of aggravated rape and sexual assault against 299 victims, the majority of whom were children at the time. The case has raised serious concerns about the failures within France’s publicly run healthcare system. Dressed in a black jacket and glasses, Le Scouarnec spoke in a calm voice as he confirmed his identity in a small provincial…

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US President Donald Trump stated on Monday that Russian President Vladimir Putin is open to the idea of European peacekeepers being deployed in Ukraine as part of a ceasefire agreement, Reuters reported. French President Emmanuel Macron also confirmed that Europe is prepared to support such a plan. The announcement followed a video conference with G7 leaders marking the third anniversary of the war. Trump, speaking from the Oval Office, said he directly asked Putin about the proposal. “Yeah, he will accept that. He has no problem with it,” Trump said. Macron, the…

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The United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday cautioned that recent rollbacks in social media fact-checking and moderation could exacerbate hare speech online. He warned that this toxic environment might deter individuals from engaging freely in on social media platforms “As fast-moving technologies expand into every aspect of our lives, I am deeply concerned about human rights being undermined,” he told the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. he UN chief emphasised that while social media can foster respectful debates, it also risks devolving into arenas of conflict and “blatant…

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