Oh, the irony! Just when we thought Washington was finally ready to tackle the futuristic beast that is artificial intelligence, it seems they’ve hit the brakes. Yes, folks, it looks like the capital city has decided that regulating AI is about as appealing as a root canal. Can you imagine the scene? Politicians gathering around a table, armed with their best PowerPoint presentations, trying to figure out how to make sense of algorithms that are smarter than half of them. It’s almost like watching a group of cavemen trying to negotiate with fire. Spoiler alert: it doesn’t end well. The question on everyone’s lips is, “Did Washington really stop the laws regulating artificial intelligence?” Or are they merely taking a leisurely stroll down the path of indecision? After all, why rush into things when you can overthink and procrastinate to perfection? Maybe they’re waiting for AI to write the legislation for them—because, let’s be honest, the machines might do a better job than some of our esteemed lawmakers. And let’s not forget the delightful irony of it all! Here we are, in a technological age where algorithms can predict your shopping habits better than your mother ever could, and yet, the folks in charge can’t seem to agree on whether or not to put a leash on these digital beasts. It’s almost as if they believe that if they ignore it long enough, it will just go away—like that awkward relative you hope doesn’t show up to family gatherings. Isn’t it just charming how our leaders prefer to play a game of political hot potato with a topic as crucial as AI regulation? Meanwhile, startups are out there churning out apps that can deepfake your grandmother's voice and simulate her giving you life advice. Thanks, but no thanks, I’ll take the real Grandma over a synthetic simulation any day. As we wait for Washington to make up its mind, we can only wonder: will the future of AI be guided by thoughtful regulations or chaotic free-for-all? My bet? A little bit of both, sprinkled with a generous dose of “Oops, we didn’t see that coming!” So here’s to hoping that our leaders will eventually wake up from their bureaucratic slumber and realize that ignoring the complexities of AI won’t make them disappear. Until then, let’s just sit back, grab some popcorn, and watch the show unfold. #AIRegulation #Washington #ArtificialIntelligence #TechHumor #PoliticalIrony

The Chairperson of the AU Commission, H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, yesterday joined the US Secretary of State, H.E. Marco Rubio, H.E. M. Al-Khulaifi, Minister of State of the State of Qatar, & H.E. Robert Dussey, Foreign Minister of Togo, in witnessing the signing of a peace agreement between the foreign ministers of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of Rwanda, held in Washington D.C. He welcomed this significant milestone & commended all efforts aimed at advancing peace, stability, & reconciliation in the region. The Chairperson acknowledged that the agreement complements, & reinforces the AU's ongoing diplomatic efforts, as well as those led by the East African Community (EAC) & the Southern African Development Community (SADC). He further appreciated the constructive & supportive role played by the US & the State of Qatar in facilitating dialogue & consensus that led to this development, saying such international partnerships, anchored in African-led frameworks & priorities, are vital to achieving durable solutions

#Iran Fires First #Hypersonic Missiles At Israel. TEHRAN – Iran said on June 18 it has fired hypersonic missiles at Israel in the latest round of overnight strikes between the archfoes, hours after US President Donald Trump demanded the Islamic republic’s “unconditional surrender”. In response to Mr Trump’s ultimatum, Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said in a post on X: “The battle begins.” “We must give a strong response to the terrorist Zionist regime. We will show the Zionists no mercy,” he said. Mr Trump insists Washington has played no part in ally Israel’s bombing campaign, but also warned Iran his patience is wearing thin as the conflict enters a sixth day. Israeli warplanes targeted the Iranian capital before dawn on June 18 after the military issued a warning on social media for civilians in an area known as District 18 to evacuate. Iranian state media reported explosions ricocheting in the Piroozi, Sabalan and Sayyad areas of Tehran. Israel’s military said it struck an Iranian centrifuge production facility and multiple weapons manufacturing sites. Iranian news websites said Israel was also attacking a university linked to Iran’s Revolutionary Guards in eastern Iran and the Khojir ballistic missile facility near Tehran. In retaliation, Iran told residents of Tel Aviv to prepare for an attack, with the Revolutionary Guards claiming its hypersonic Fattah-1 missiles were “repeatedly shaking the shelters” in the commercial hub. “The 11th wave of the proud Operation Honest Promise 3 using Fattah-1 missiles” was carried out, the Guards said in a statement broadcast on state television. Hypersonic missiles travel at more than five times the speed of sound and can manoeuvre mid-flight, making them harder to track and intercept. Iran also sent a “swarm of drones” towards Israel, where the army said it intercepted two over the Dead Sea area. World powers have scrambled for an offramp, hoping to prevent the conflict from spiralling into a region-engulfing war. In separate phone calls with his Iranian counterpart and US envoy Steve Witkoff late on June 17, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty urged a diplomatic solution. Back in Washington on June 17, Mr Trump demanded the Islamic republic’s “unconditional surrender”. He also boasted that the US could easily assassinate Iran’s supreme leader. “We know exactly where the so-called ‘supreme leader’ is hiding. He is an easy target, but is safe there – We are not going to take him out (kill!), at least not for now,” he wrote on his Truth Social platform. He met with his National Security Council to discuss the conflict, ending after an hour and 20 minutes with no immediate public statement. While he has repeatedly vowed to avoid wading into the “forever wars” of the Middle East, Mr Trump ordered the USS Nimitz aircraft carrier to the region along with a number of US military aircraft. US officials stressed he has not yet made a decision about any intervention. Evacuations Despite international alarm, neither side has backed off from the long-range blitz that began on June 18, when Israel launched an unprecedented bombing campaign targeting Iranian nuclear and military facilities. Israel claims its attacks have killed senior Iranian commander Major-General Ali Shadmani, as well as his predecessor, Major-General Gholam Ali Rashid. Residential areas in both countries have suffered deadly strikes since the fighting broke out, and foreign governments have scrambled to evacuate their citizens. More than 700 foreigners living in Iran have crossed into neighboring Azerbaijan and Armenia since Israel launched its campaign, according to government figures. Among those evacuated were citizens of Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, along with others from Germany, Spain, Italy, Serbia, Romania, Portugal, the US, the United Arab Emirates, China and Vietnam, a government source said. China evacuated its first batch of Chinese citizens from Iran on June 17 via a land route into Turkmenistan. The US said it was closing its embassy in Jerusalem until June 20 amid the growing conflict, but there was no announcement about helping Americans leave the “crisis area”. The first in a wave of special flights carrying Israelis stranded abroad landed in Tel Aviv early on June 18. Israel closed its airspace to civilian flights on June 13, leaving about 150,000 travelers with no way to return. Fearing violence, many residents of Tehran have fled.