To combat the misuse of AI-generated deepfakes, the Danish government plans to grant citizens property rights over their likeness and voice. This proposed legislation would allow individuals to request the removal of deepfakes featuring their image or voice from hosting platforms. The bill, which has cross-party support and is expected to pass this fall, aims to protect artists, public figures, and ordinary people from digital identity theft, addressing concerns highlighted by instances like AI-generated music mimicking popular artists. Further legislation is planned to potentially fine companies that fail to comply with takedown requests, reflecting Denmark’s commitment to both freedom of speech and individual rights in the age of generative AI.
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As of June 28, the General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces reported that Russia has suffered approximately 1,017,720 casualties since the start of its full-scale invasion on February 24, 2022, with 1,000 casualties occurring in the last day alone. Along with the significant loss of life, Russia has also lost vast amounts of military equipment, including thousands of tanks, armored fighting vehicles, artillery systems, and various other vehicles and vessels. The report details a comprehensive list of destroyed Russian military assets, including aircraft, drones, and submarines, highlighting the extensive damage sustained throughout the conflict.
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Germany and Italy are facing calls to repatriate a combined $245 billion in gold stored in the Federal Reserve due to concerns over the safety of their reserves. Politicians and advocacy groups are worried about the potential impact of US political interference, particularly given former President Trump’s criticism of the Federal Reserve. Germany and Italy hold the second and third largest gold reserves globally, with significant portions stored in the US, prompting calls for increased financial sovereignty. These concerns are amplified by worries about the Federal Reserve’s independence and the perceived risks associated with storing gold abroad under the current political climate.
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The Supreme Court issued a controversial ruling that significantly impacts the legal landscape surrounding birthright citizenship. The decision, written by Justice Amy Coney Barrett, effectively allows a Trump executive order denying citizenship to children born in the U.S. to undocumented parents to take effect. While the court avoided directly addressing the constitutional questions about birthright citizenship, the ruling also bars lower courts from issuing nationwide injunctions, which has been criticized for its implications on immigration enforcement. Justice Sotomayor, in her dissent, accused the Court of “gamesmanship,” and Justice Jackson called the decision “an existential threat to the rule of law.”
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Ukraine is preparing to request EU sanctions against Bangladeshi entities for importing wheat stolen from Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories, according to comments from Ukraine’s ambassador to India. Despite Ukrainian diplomatic efforts to halt the trade, Bangladesh has not responded, prompting Kyiv to escalate the issue. The Ukrainian Embassy has requested Bangladesh reject over 150,000 tonnes of allegedly stolen grain shipped from a Russian port, but Bangladesh denies these imports. This action follows ongoing grain theft since 2014 and contributes to the estimated $80 billion in losses suffered by Ukraine’s agricultural sector due to the war.
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A federal law enforcement operation in Huntington Park, captured on security camera footage, involved an explosion as agents entered a home early Friday morning. The blast, which blew the door off and shattered a window, startled a woman and her two young children who were inside the residence. The agents were searching for the woman’s boyfriend, who was not present at the time of the raid. Authorities later stated that the boyfriend, Jorge Sierra-Hernandez, was arrested for ramming his car into a CBP vehicle and assaulting agents.
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Following allegations of intentional IDF fire on Palestinian civilians at aid distribution sites, Israel’s Military Advocate General initiated an investigation into potential war crimes. This investigation was spurred by claims of deliberate attacks against civilians seeking humanitarian assistance in Gaza. Both the IDF and Prime Minister Netanyahu have rejected the accusations. The probe is expected to examine the circumstances surrounding these incidents.
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Weather forecasts are at risk as the U.S. Department of Defense will cut off crucial data from its weather satellites, impacting the ability to accurately predict hurricane paths and intensity. This data, collected by satellites jointly run with NOAA, provides essential three-dimensional details of storms, especially at night, which conventional satellites miss. Experts warn that this data loss will hinder detection of rapid intensification and accurate storm plotting, potentially affecting millions along hurricane-prone coastlines. This move, coupled with previous cuts in NOAA’s resources during the Trump administration, raises concerns about the quality of future weather forecasts.
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The Army is implementing a new policy that could lead to the discharge of soldiers with chronic skin conditions like pseudofolliculitis barbae, disproportionately affecting Black men. This policy will require formal treatment plans and may mandate laser treatments, with soldiers potentially facing separation if they need shaving exemptions for over a year. This move follows the Marine Corps’ similar program and aligns with concerns regarding racial discrimination. The policy is being implemented amid a recruiting slump, particularly among white recruits, and a broader review of grooming standards ordered by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
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Jon Hallford, the owner of the Return to Nature Funeral Home, has been sentenced to the maximum 20 years in prison for wire fraud, after stashing nearly 190 dead bodies in a dilapidated building and providing families with fake ashes. Hallford pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud in federal court and 191 counts of corpse abuse in state court, with his state sentencing scheduled for August. The judge stated the emotional damage to families and the scale of the crime warranted the long sentence, as Hallford defrauded families and the federal government of nearly $900,000 in COVID-19 aid. Hallford and his wife are accused of storing the bodies between 2019 and 2023, while families received fraudulent ashes and experienced immense emotional distress.
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John Q. Hosedrinker