How the US is preparing for a possible Chinese invasion of Taiwan

The United States and its allies are increasingly worried that in the coming years China could invade Taiwan.

2024 01 25T023304Z 1 LYNXMPEK0O020 RTROPTP 4 CHINA USA TAIWAN Scaled
FILE PHOTO: United States Navy Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS John Finn (DDG 113) transits the Taiwan Strait March 10, 2021 in this handout provided by the U.S. Navy. Jason Waite/U.S. Navy/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo
author profile picture

Paolo Natale

Front of mind

Article Card thumbnail

The Deepfake Dilemma: Can technology and law catch up with AI fakes?

Detection tools are flawed, regulation lags behind, and platforms evade responsibility. Dr Áine MacDermott argues only a mix of smarter tech, stronger laws and human-centred defences can counter the deepfake threat.

A familiar face on a video call. A trusted voice giving instructions. A social media post quoting a senior executive. Increasingly, these may not be real at all. Thanks to artificial intelligence, deepfakes, convincing but fabricated videos, images and audio, are spreading fast, and their consequences are serious. Dr Áine MacDermott, Senior Lecturer in Cyber Security and Digital Forensics at Liverpool John Moores University, warns that organisations and governments must act now.
READ MORE Continue reading The Deepfake Dilemma: Can technology and law catch up with AI fakes?
Article Card thumbnail

India’s political troubles explained

Rahul Gandhi calls out the ECI for “vote theft,” but the Commission demands proof or apology.

On August 7, 2025, Congress Leader Rahul Gandhi launched a scathing attack on the Election Commission of India (ECI), accusing it of enabling “vote theft” during the 2024 general elections. He pointed to alleged irregularities in voter rolls in Karnataka’s Mahadevapura constituency, citing thousands of duplicate entries, invalid addresses, bulk registrations, and faulty photographs. Gandhi labelled the claims as the result of six months of research by his team and demanded transparency, including access to digital voter lists and CCTV footage.
READ MORE Continue reading India’s political troubles explained