World

Two progressive lawmakers in the United States are advocating for a moratorium on new AI data centers, warning that the rapidly advancing technology could threaten the "future of humanity." The legislation introduced by Senator Bernie Sanders and House Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on Wednesday would halt the construction of data centers until national safeguards are implemented to protect workers' livelihoods, civil liberties, and the environment. This move comes as part of a broader effort to address the unchecked expansion of AI infrastructure, which critics argue is outpacing regulatory frameworks.

The Australian government has announced a temporary ban on visitor visas for Iranian nationals, effective from March 26, citing increased immigration risks due to the war in the Middle East. The ban will last for six months and applies to holders of certain visitor visas linked to Iranian passports, as the authorities claim the conflict has heightened the likelihood of visa overstays.

The United Nations General Assembly has passed a resolution recognizing the trafficking of enslaved Africans as the "gravest crime against humanity." Championed by Ghana and backed by the African Union, the resolution was supported by 123 countries. It acknowledges the historical severity of slavery and its persisting consequences, including racial disparities in contemporary societies.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf issued a stark warning on Wednesday, citing intelligence reports that "Iran's enemies" are planning to occupy an Iranian island with support from an unnamed regional country. In two separate social media posts, Ghalibaf stated that any such attempt would be met with targeted attacks on the "vital infrastructure" of the assisting country, emphasizing that Iranian forces are monitoring enemy movements and will respond with "continuous and relentless attacks" if provoked.

An estimated 500 migrants and asylum seekers have initiated a march in southern Mexico to express frustration with the local immigration system. The group departed from Tapachula, a town near Mexico's border with Guatemala, on Tuesday night and continued walking into Wednesday. Their route followed the path commonly used by migrants entering Mexico, with Tapachula having been a site for similar protests in the past, highlighting ongoing tensions in the region.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has confirmed that her country will continue receiving Cuban medical workers as part of a longstanding programme aimed at building goodwill between the island nation and other Latin American countries. Her remarks on Wednesday come amid pressure from the United States regime, which is urging Latin American nations to sever ties with Cuba's medical programme.

The United States Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) announced its 47th military strike on a vessel allegedly involved in drug trafficking in the Caribbean Sea, resulting in the deaths of four individuals. This latest attack brings the total number of people killed in the ongoing Operation Southern Spear to approximately 163. The US military command described the action as “applying total systemic friction on the cartels,” but provided no details to identify the so-called “terrorist organization” operating the vessel or the identities of those on board.

US investors are making a significant move into Indian cricket, with two separate billion-dollar deals struck on the same day for teams in the country's most popular sports league. The Rajasthan Royals team was acquired by a consortium backed by US businessmen Kal Somani and Rob Walton, the former Walmart chairman, in a deal valued at $1.63 billion by Indian media. That record lasted only hours, as an even larger deal was announced the same day for reigning champion Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), bought for $1.78 billion by another consortium that includes US billionaire David Blitzer's Bolt Ventures and US asset manager Blackstone.

UEFA (Union of European Football Associations) has fined Benfica 40,000 euros ($46,000) for racist abuse by fans during a Champions League match against Real Madrid. The fine was imposed for "illicit chants and gestures by two supporters" at the February 17 game in Lisbon, UEFA announced on Wednesday.

US Representative Jamie Raskin, the ranking Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, has sent a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi expressing concerns over newly disclosed records related to classified documents that former President Donald Trump retained after leaving office. Raskin argued that the revelations suggest Trump may have stolen documents so sensitive that only six people in the entire US government had access to them. He added that other disclosures indicate Trump could have kept classified documents pertinent to his business interests and potentially showed a classified map to passengers on a private plane, raising alarms about national security risks.

A jury in Los Angeles, California, has found Alphabet's Google and Meta liable for the addictive design of their social media platforms, ordering them to pay $3 million in damages. The verdict was delivered on Wednesday after over 40 hours of deliberation across nine days, following a trial that began more than a month ago with opening statements.

Leading European populist and far-right figures gathered in Budapest for a "Patriots' Grand Assembly" to support Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's re-election campaign. Despite the presence of prominent leaders such as Geert Wilders of the Netherlands, Marine Le Pen of France, and Santiago Abascal of Spain, the event drew only around 2,000 attendees, predominantly elderly supporters of Orban's Fidesz party. Speakers lavished praise on Orban, calling him a "lion" and a "true hero," but this failed to mask the mounting challenges he faces ahead of the April 12 parliamentary election.