World News Update: Petro to Meet Trump Amidst Global Developments
Colombian President Gustavo Petro was scheduled to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House on Tuesday, marking their first in-person meeting after months of escalating tensions, according to BBC World. The meeting aimed to address critical issues including Venezuela, drug trafficking, oil, security, and U.S. strikes on alleged drug vessels.
The meeting came amidst other significant global developments. Israel reopened the Rafah border crossing with Egypt, a key passage for Gaza, after it had been largely closed since Israeli forces captured the Gazan side in May 2024, BBC World reported. The reopening was initially planned as part of President Trump's ceasefire plan between Israel and Hamas, which began in October, but was delayed until the return of the body of the last Israeli hostage. Only a few sick and wounded Palestinians from Gaza arrived in Egypt on Monday.
Meanwhile, Ukraine praised Elon Musk for restricting Russian use of Starlink satellites. Mykhailo Fedorov, Ukraine's defense minister, hailed Musk as "a true champion of freedom and a true friend of the Ukrainian people," according to BBC World. Fedorov stated that Musk swiftly responded to reports of Russian drones using Starlink connectivity, which were linked to deadly attacks, including one on a passenger train that killed six people. Musk confirmed the actions on X, stating, "Looks like the steps we took to stop the unauthorised use of Starlink by Russia have worked. Let us know if not."
In other news, China banned hidden car door handles on electric vehicles (EVs) due to safety concerns, becoming the first country to do so, according to BBC Technology. The new regulations, set to take effect on January 1, 2027, require cars to have a mechanical release both inside and outside the doors. This decision followed scrutiny of EVs after several deadly incidents, including two fatal crashes in China involving Xiaomi EVs where power failures were suspected of preventing doors from opening.
Social media also faced scrutiny as AI-generated content, or "AI slop," transformed online platforms, sparking a backlash, BBC Technology reported. One example cited was an AI-generated image of two emaciated South Asian children with beards, one missing limbs, holding a birthday sign in the rain, which went viral on Facebook. Théodore, quoted by BBC, said, "It boggled my mind. The absurd AI mad[ness]..."
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