lebanon becomes first
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Lebanon becomes first Middle Eastern country to abolish death penalty

ByJustpaste.in

Lebanon’s parliament has voted to abolish capital punishment, making it the first nation in the Middle East to formally end the practice.

While Lebanon has maintained a de facto moratorium on executions since 2004, courts continued to hand down death sentences for major crimes including murder, terrorism, and espionage.

Prior to the vote, human rights group Amnesty International estimated that 85 individuals remained on death row across the country.

Under the new legislation, capital punishment will be replaced by life imprisonment with aggravated hard labour.

Lebanese Justice Minister Adel Nassar described the vote as “historic”, noting that the legal existence of the death penalty had previously hampered Beirut’s ability to secure the extradition of criminal suspects from nations where capital punishment is outlawed.

International observers and human rights organisations welcomed the landmark decision.

The European Union stated that Lebanon was setting a powerful example for the region, while French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot praised the vote as a courageous step that upholds democratic values. Human Rights Watch also lauded the law, calling it a monumental victory for human rights in the Middle East.

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    Tanweer Ahmed champions human-centred AI at UN you…

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    Tanweer Ahmed, a technology and artificial intelligence professional, has called for a human-centred approach to AI adoption, stressing that emerging technologies should support people rather than replace them. Speaking at the Youth and AI Summit at United Nations Headquarters in New York on International Youth Day, Ahmed delivered a presentation titled “Keeping Humanity in AI Adoption.” He focused particularly on how nonprofit organisations can use artificial intelligence responsibly while protecting human judgment and accountability. Ahmed said his professional background in technology consulting, data analytics and AI had given him experience in understanding the opportunities created by emerging technologies. However, he said his passion for the nonprofit sector was rooted in his earlier experiences working with communities and young people. He recalled working on a community farm and participating in cultural education activities in Cuba during 2007 and 2008. In 2010, he travelled to South Africa, where he taught mathematics to fifth-grade students. Ahmed said these experiences shaped his long-term desire to contribute to communities and help children around the world. He described his appearance at the UN event on International Youth Day as an honour and an opportunity to reconnect with those early aspirations. During his presentation, Ahmed discussed the rapid growth of artificial intelligence and its increasing use by individuals, businesses and nonprofit organisations. He explained that AI adoption should not simply mean occasionally using chatbots or other AI applications. Instead, organisations should strategically integrate AI into their daily workflows, operations and decision-making processes. Ahmed highlighted several areas where nonprofits can use AI, including internal productivity, communication, fundraising, grant writing and administrative tasks. He presented the Ugandan Water Project as an example of how AI can support a nonprofit organisation. The project works to improve access to clean water in Uganda and reduce the impact of waterborne diseases. According to Ahmed, the organisation uses AI to assist with grant applications and donor outreach. Previous grant applications and organisational information can be analysed to help prepare targeted applications for new funding opportunities. Ahmed stressed that AI-generated material is not simply submitted without human involvement. Staff review, edit and verify the content before applications are sent to funders. He said AI had also helped the organisation identify new grant opportunities and improve internal processes, including contract drafting and project-management workflows. Ahmed emphasised that the purpose of such technology should be to make employees more efficient rather than eliminate their jobs. He also discussed AI-powered voice-to-text technology used in social work and community services. Such systems can allow workers to record information while they are in the field and transfer it into required software, reducing the amount of time spent on administrative duties. Ahmed said reducing paperwork could give nonprofit workers more time to interact directly with the people and communities they serve. However, he warned that AI adoption also presents challenges. These include financial costs, limited access to technology, concerns over job losses, inaccurate information, privacy issues, bias and difficulties in understanding cultural and linguistic nuances. He also highlighted concerns about the environmental impact of the infrastructure required to operate increasingly powerful AI systems. Ahmed urged organisations to develop responsible AI policies covering privacy, security, fairness, transparency, human oversight and accountability. He encouraged nonprofit organisations to learn from one another and share successful experiences with AI, saying organisations working for social causes can benefit from cooperation rather than competing over technological approaches. A key message of his presentation was that humans must remain responsible for AI-assisted decisions. Ahmed warned organisations against blindly accepting AI-generated content and urged them to review outputs carefully, correct errors and ensure that technology does not replace human judgment. Who is Tanweer Ahmed, the Pakistani-American philanthropist? Pakistani-American businessman and philanthropist Tanweer Ahmed has attracted renewed attention in Pakistan following his reported $9 million contribution to the National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST) and his recent appearance alongside senior Pakistani officials in the United States. Ahmed, who is based in Houston, has built a diverse business portfolio in the United States while also becoming involved in philanthropy, education, healthcare and cricket. His recent contribution to NUST is aimed at supporting talented students from financially disadvantaged backgrounds. The endowment is expected to provide scholarships to deserving students each year, with a particular focus on fields such as artificial intelligence, information technology, science and other emerging technologies. Ahmed has said his objective is to ensure that talented Pakistani students are not deprived of quality education because of financial difficulties. He has also expressed plans to expand similar scholarship initiatives to other educational institutions. The businessman has also supported infrastructure and technology-related initiatives at NUST, including the development of facilities intended to strengthen research and innovation. His philanthropic activities extend beyond education. Ahmed has been associated with healthcare initiatives in Pakistan and has supported efforts aimed at providing assistance to communities affected by natural disasters. He also drew attention for his role in relief efforts following the devastating floods that struck Pakistan in 2022. He has been credited with helping mobilise substantial humanitarian assistance for flood-affected communities. Ahmed’s business journey began after he moved to the United States as a student. According to accounts of his career, he initially worked in restaurants and at gas stations while trying to establish himself. He later moved through several positions in the American fast-food industry. His career accelerated after he joined Jack in the Box as a shift manager. His performance and business approach helped him move into senior management positions, eventually leading to opportunities in the Taco Bell franchise system. 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    Ananya Raj dies at 27 after year-long health struggle

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    Delhi court orders removal of objectionable content about Tabu

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    PPP to challenge AJK election results over rigging…

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    Momina Iqbal, Hamza Habib’s sweet exchange wins hearts

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    UK police data breach exposes personal information of nearly 100,000 officers

    ByJustpaste.in

      The personal details of nearly 100,000 police officers in the United Kingdom have reportedly been leaked and published on the dark web, raising serious concerns about the safety and security of law enforcement personnel across the country. According to reports, the leaked information includes the names and contact details of officers, exposing many of them to potential threats. Security experts and officials fear that the breach could have severe consequences, particularly for officers who have spent years investigating and taking action against organized crime groups, violent offenders, drug traffickers, and other dangerous criminals. The exposure of their identities could make them and their families vulnerable to intimidation, harassment, retaliation, or targeted attacks. According to reports, the incident is part of a broader and more sophisticated cyber campaign targeting some of the UK’s most important government institutions. The cyberattack is believed to have affected multiple departments and agencies responsible for national security, law enforcement, and criminal justice. Among the organizations reportedly impacted are the Ministry of Defence (MoD), the Home Office, the National Crime Agency (NCA), and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). These institutions play critical roles in protecting the country’s national security, combating serious and organized crime, and prosecuting criminal cases. The compromise of sensitive data from these agencies has intensified concerns over the growing threat posed by cybercriminals and hostile actors. The leak has prompted urgent discussions within the UK government regarding cybersecurity measures and the protection of sensitive information. Authorities are expected to investigate how the breach occurred, determine the full extent of the compromised data, and identify those responsible for the attack. Officials are also likely to assess whether additional classified or operational information was accessed during the cyber campaign. Cybersecurity experts warn that publishing personal information on the dark web significantly increases the risk of identity theft, phishing attacks, social engineering, and other forms of cybercrime. For police officers, however, the consequences can be even more serious, as criminals may attempt to track their locations, identify undercover personnel, or exploit personal details to threaten ongoing investigations. The incident highlights the increasing sophistication of cyberattacks targeting government agencies worldwide. As governments continue to digitize their operations and store large volumes of sensitive data electronically, they face mounting challenges in defending against hackers and state-sponsored cyber threats. The UK authorities are expected to strengthen security protocols, improve monitoring systems, and enhance cooperation with cybersecurity specialists to prevent similar incidents in the future. Meanwhile, affected officers may receive additional security guidance and support to reduce potential risks arising from the exposure of their personal information. The reported breach serves as a stark reminder of the importance of robust cybersecurity infrastructure and the need for continuous investment in protecting sensitive government data from increasingly advanced cyber threats. Investigations into the incident are ongoing, and further details are expected to emerge as authorities continue their assessment of the attack.

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