The U.K. has its first Black government leader as Vaughan Gething is elected first minister of Wales

LONDON — LONDON (AP) — Vaughan Gething was elected first minister of Wales on Wednesday, becoming the first Black leader of a government in the U.K. Gething was elected government leader by members of the Welsh parliament in Cardiff, four days after winning the contest to be leader of Wales’ governing Labour Party. He secured … Read more

India will fact-check online posts about government matters

In India, a government-run agency will now monitor and undertake fact-checking for government related matters on social media even as tech giants expressed grave concerns about it last year. The Ministry of Electronics and IT on Wednesday wrote in a gazette notification that it is cementing into law its proposal from last year about making … Read more

India’s electric two-wheeler startups surge to over 150 as government revs up EV push

The number of startups in India’s electric two-wheeler market has surged to over 150 from 54 in 2021, driven by government incentives to promote clean vehicles and cut oil imports, according to a new analysis. The influx has intensified competition in a segment expected to grow 15-20 times to annual sales of 15-20 million units … Read more

Justices skeptical of broad limits on how the government speaks to platforms

During oral arguments on Monday, both liberal and conservative justices on the Supreme Court appeared wary of imposing broad limits on how the government can communicate with social media companies about problematic content it thinks should be removed. The case at issue is called Murthy v. Missouri, and it asks the court to determine whether … Read more

CIA allegedly made fake social media accounts to troll the Chinese government

The CIA allegedly launched a secret operation to troll Chinese officials and turn public opinion against them through leaked intelligence and negative news on social media.  Reuters reports the operation began in 2019 and was also aimed at causing paranoia within Xi Jinping’s government. CIA agents reportedly made fake social media accounts to spread rumors, … Read more

Haitian prime minister to resign, clearing way for new government

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — Ariel Henry, Haiti’s embattled prime minister, will resign once a transitional presidential council is established and an interim leader is selected, Caribbean Community leaders said late Monday. The arrangement, announced after a lengthy meeting in Jamaica among Caribbean Community leaders and U.S. officials, paves the way “for a peaceful transition of power, … Read more

Women in AI: Sarah Kreps, professor of government at Cornell

To give AI-focused women academics and others their well-deserved — and overdue — time in the spotlight, TechCrunch is launching a series of interviews focusing on remarkable women who’ve contributed to the AI revolution. We’ll publish several pieces throughout the year as the AI boom continues, highlighting key work that often goes unrecognized. Read more profiles here. Sarah … Read more

France to pay Olympic Games bonus to government workers to avoid strike

France will offer government employees who work during this summer’s Olympic and Paralympic Games bonuses and other incentives in a bid to avoid strikes that could disrupt the global sporting event. Stanislas Guerini, the French minister for transformation and public services, made the announcement Saturday in an interview with France Info. He said eligible government … Read more

President Biden signs $460 billion spending bill to avert a partial government shutdown

U.S. President Joe Biden delivers the State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress in the House Chamber of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, U.S., March 7, 2024.  Elizabeth Frantz | Reuters President Joe Biden on Saturday signed a $460 billion spending bill into law, averting a partial government shutdown that would … Read more

The UK economic outlook is bleak, think tanks warn, with tough choices for the next government

LONDON — Leading British economic think tanks warned Thursday that whoever wins the general election expected this year will face some very tough choices on tax and spending if they want to make sure the public finances don’t deteriorate further. After number-crunching Wednesday’s budget statement from Treasury chief Jeremy Hunt, which reduced a tax paid … Read more