Operation

• US 參議員與領先的 Chinese 科學家舉行座談會，並警告除非對新技術進行監管，否則將對社會構成風險 • US 參議員 Bernie Sanders 週三在 Capitol Hill 與兩位領先的 Chinese 科學家一同舉行的座談會上，闡述了在監管 AI 方面進行國際合作的重要性。 • 隨著新創公司和科技巨頭（最顯著的在 Silicon Valley 和 Beijing）競相推進和擴大其 artificial intelligence 規模，Sanders 一直是倡導保障措施的 AI 懷疑論者之一。

Claudia Sheinbaum says Mexico was not aware of US participation until four officials were killed in car crashClaudia Sheinbaum, Mexico’s president, said on Monday that her government told the United States, in a diplomatic note, that the unauthorized presence of US officials at an anti-narcotics operation in the northern state of Chihuahua should not be repeated.The incident came to light after two US officials, along with two Mexican officials, were killed in a car crash on 19 April after the operation. Sheinbaum has said the federal government was not aware of the participation of the US officials, who were widely reported to be CIA officers. Continue reading...

• The White House is ramping up pressure on Cuba for political change following Operation Absolute Resolve, which successfully extracted Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. • US military presence is expanding across Latin America and the Caribbean, with a focus on combating drug-trafficking by transnational criminal organizations like Mexican Cartels, MS-13, Tren de Aragua, and Haitian gangs, topping the 2026 Annual Threat Assessment. • Ecuador’s President Daniel Noboa seeks stronger US military ties after a failed 2025 referendum on foreign bases, while Paraguay ratified a State of Forces Agreement allowing temporary US troop deployments for training.

Nearly 40% of cancellations could be avoided, researchers sayAbout one in 10 operations in England are cancelled with less than 24 hours’ notice or postponed, according to research..A study of elective surgery at 91 English NHS trusts found that 10% of operations were cancelled the day before the planned surgery date; while 9% were postponed when patients had their pre-op appointment. Continue reading...

• Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum demanded an explanation from the U.S. after American officials died during an operation in Chihuahua state. • The incident involves cross-border security efforts, straining bilateral relations. • Details remain limited, but it highlights risks in joint anti-cartel actions and potential policy shifts.

• Russian forces launched coordinated attacks across multiple fronts in Donetsk and Luhansk regions on April 17-18, capturing several villages and pushing Ukrainian defenses back by up to 3 kilometers in key sectors. • Ukraine's military command reports increased use of glide bombs and artillery strikes, with casualty figures on both sides rising significantly; Ukrainian officials estimate Russian forces have committed 50,000 additional troops to the spring campaign. • Military analysts warn the offensive marks Russia's most sustained push since winter 2023, potentially threatening critical Ukrainian supply lines and regional logistics hubs.