Australia and Singapore boost energy security ties as Middle East tensions strain fuel supplies
Australia and Singapore have agreed to deepen cooperation on energy security as global fuel markets come under strain from disruption linked to the...
Kazakhstan has unveiled Central Asia’s top supercomputer to power AI and e-services.
Kazakhstan has joined the global race to harness cutting-edge computing power by launching Central Asia’s most powerful supercomputer. The system, with a speed of 2 exaflops, was inaugurated by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev at the Alem.cloud centre in Astana.
The supercomputer is designed to serve two main goals. First, to enhance the country’s e-government platform, which now handles 92 percent of all public services. Second, to support the development of artificial intelligence engines and models, a priority long championed by the president.
Tokayev, who introduced a national AI development strategy through 2029, called the project a major step in the digitalisation of Kazakhstan’s economy and science. Officials say it will help modernise public services and make data more accessible and secure.
“This is an image-boosting project. Kazakhstan presents itself in the international arena as a country which has access to modern technologies and knows how to use them,” said Boris Potapchuk, a senior expert at Nazarbayev University.
Experts also expect the new AI cluster to streamline fragmented state databases and improve budget efficiency.
However, data security remains a concern. A recent breach reportedly exposed personal data of up to 16 million citizens. An investigation is underway, with early findings suggesting private databases were the source.
Despite challenges, Kazakhstan ranks 24th in the world in e-government services according to the 2024 UN E-Government Development Index. A new AI law was passed in 2024, and a national AI committee has been formed to steer the sector’s growth.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he has given an instruction for Israel to begin peace talks with Lebanon that would also include the disarming of Hezbollah.
Afghanistan and Pakistan have agreed to continue dialogue and avoid steps that could worsen tensions after China-hosted talks in Urumqi, with Kabul and Beijing saying the meetings focused on easing differences and improving relations.
Amid fragile calm, António Guterres urged constructive U.S.- Iran talks, while Pope Leo XIV warned violence is spreading. Lebanon's President said an Israeli strike killed 13 security personnel in Nabatieh.
Memorial events were held in Tehran’s main squares on Wednesday (8 April) to mark the 40th day since the killing of former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who died during U.S.-Israeli attacks on 28 February.
Dubai has restricted foreign airlines to one daily flight to its airports until 31 May due to the Iran crisis, raising fears of significant revenue losses for Indian carriers, industry letters show.
NASA’s Artemis II crew has returned safely to Earth after completing a landmark journey around the Moon, marking the first crewed lunar mission in more than half a century.
The crew of NASA’s Artemis II mission are preparing to return to Earth after completing a groundbreaking journey around the Moon, with a Pacific Ocean splashdown expected off the coast of San Diego at around 01:00 BST (12:00 GMT).
Astronauts aboard Artemis II have described the emotional toll of their historic journey as they prepare for a high-risk “fireball” re-entry. The crew is set to splash down off California on Friday (10 April) after travelling farther than any humans in history.
Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney spoke to astronauts on the Artemis II mission on Wednesday, celebrating the first Canadian to fly around the moon and marking a lighter moment in U.S.-Canadian relations that have been strained under U.S. President Donald Trump.
The four astronauts aboard Artemis II briefly lost contact with Earth while flying behind the Moon, then regained it during a dramatic lunar far-side flyby.
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