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Friday

Senior leaders of the ruling BJP party hold an election campaign rally at a playground outside Itanagar, the capital of Arunachal Pradesh, in the second week of April. Voting took place in the remote northeastern Indian state on April 19.

Senior leaders of the ruling BJP party hold an election campaign rally at a playground outside Itanagar, the capital of Arunachal Pradesh, in the second week of April. Voting took place in the remote northeastern Indian state on April 19. Omkar Khandekar/NPR hide caption

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Omkar Khandekar/NPR

In a remote Indian state, trading cash and gifts for votes is an open secret

India's election commission says bribery is one of the biggest challenges to free and fair elections. In tiny Arunachal Pradesh, some voters receive the equivalent of up to a year's average earnings.

Former President Donald Trump and his attorney Todd Blanche exit the courthouse and speak to media after Trump was found guilty following his hush money trial at Manhattan Criminal Court on May 30, 2024 in New York City. The former president was found guilty on all 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in the first of his criminal cases to go to trial. Trump has now become the first former U.S. president to be convicted of felony crimes.

Former President Donald Trump and his attorney Todd Blanche exit the courthouse and speak to reporters after Trump was found guilty following his hush money trial at Manhattan Criminal Court on May 30 in New York City. The former president was found guilty on all 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in the first of his criminal cases to go to trial. Trump has now become the first former U.S. president to be convicted of felony crimes. Mark Peterson/Pool/Getty Images hide caption

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Mark Peterson/Pool/Getty Images

Global reaction to Trump felony conviction is muted so far

Many officials and leaders so far have been unwilling to comment on another country's judicial process.

The CeBit technology fair in Hanover, Germany, March 24, 1990, shows a portable fax machine that weighs 3 kilos (6.6 pounds) and can be connected to any telephone via acoustic couplers.

The CeBit technology fair in Hanover, Germany, March 24, 1990, shows a portable fax machine that weighs 3 kilos (6.6 pounds) and can be connected to any telephone via acoustic couplers. Holger Hollemann/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

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Holger Hollemann/AFP/Getty Images

Fax machines permeate Germany's business culture. But parliament is ditching them

Four out of five companies in Europe's largest economy continue to use fax machines. But Germany's parliament has until the end of June to stop relying on the antiquated communication technology.

OpenAI, the company behind generative artificial intelligence tools such as ChatGPT, announced Thursday that it had taken down influence operations tied to Russia, China and Iran.

OpenAI, the company behind generative artificial intelligence tools such as ChatGPT, announced Thursday that it had taken down influence operations tied to Russia, China and Iran. Stefani Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Stefani Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images

Untangling Disinformation

In a first, OpenAI removes influence operations tied to Russia, China and Israel

AI tools have helped the people behind influence operations produce more content, but OpenAI says the operations it disrupted didn’t gain traction with real people or reach large audiences.

In a first, OpenAI removes influence operations tied to Russia, China and Israel

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U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, center, walks out after a bilateral meeting with China's Defense Minister Dong Jun on the sidelines of the 21st Shangri-La Dialogue summit at the Shangri-La Hotel in Singapore on Friday.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, center, walks out after a bilateral meeting with China's Defense Minister Dong Jun on the sidelines of the 21st Shangri-La Dialogue summit at the Shangri-La Hotel in Singapore on Friday. Vincent Thian/AP hide caption

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Vincent Thian/AP

Asia

U.S. and Chinese defense chiefs hold first official meeting in Singapore

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and his Chinese counterpart met for the first time in Singapore on Friday, as Washington and Beijing seek to head off potential conflict in the region.

Voters cast ballots in Georgia's primary election at a polling location on May 21, 2024 in Atlanta. Many officials and researchers worry that audio deepfakes of politicians could be used to sway elections this year.

Voters cast ballots in Georgia's primary election at a polling location on May 21, 2024 in Atlanta. Many officials and researchers worry that audio deepfakes of politicians could be used to sway elections this year. Elijah Nouvelage/Getty Images hide caption

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Elijah Nouvelage/Getty Images

Untangling Disinformation

It’s quick and easy to clone famous politicians’ voices, despite safeguards

Most of the tools tested by researchers at the nonprofit Center for Countering Digital Hate could be used to successfully clone a wide range of voices belonging to European and American politicians.

In this undated photo provided by the Etat Major des Armees on Thursday, May 30, 2024, a view of the Laax, a Greek-owned, Marshall Islands-flagged bulk carrier that came under attack by Yemen's Houthi rebels earlier this week, carrying cargo of grain bound for Iran, the group's main benefactor, authorities said Thursday. (Etat Major des Armees via AP)

In this undated photo provided by the Etat Major des Armees on May 30, 2024, a view of the Laax, a Greek-owned, Marshall Islands-flagged bulk carrier that came under attack by Yemen's Houthi rebels earlier this week, carrying cargo of grain bound for Iran, the group's main benefactor, authorities said Thursday. Etat Major des Armees/AP hide caption

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Etat Major des Armees/AP

U.S. and Britain strike Houthi rebel targets in Yemen after surge in shipping attacks

American and British fighter jets and U.S. ships hit a wide range of Houthi targets in Yemen in response to a recent surge in attacks on ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, U.S. officials said.

Thursday

An Ukrainian soldier takes part in a military training with French servicemen at a military training compound at an undisclosed location in Poland, on April 4, 2024. For the last time before going into battle against the Russian army, a group of Ukrainian soldiers rush into a muddy trench in Poland, under the serious gaze of the French instructors who have been following them for several weeks.

An Ukrainian soldier takes part in a military training with French servicemen at a military training compound at an undisclosed location in Poland, on April 4. Wojtek Radwanski/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Wojtek Radwanski/AFP via Getty Images

Ukraine invasion — explained

U.S. gives Ukraine permission to use U.S. weapons to strike inside Russia, with caveats

U.S. officials say Ukraine can now use some U.S. weapons defensively inside of the Kharkiv region, a change in policy for the Biden administration.

The Kansai International Airport boasts a remarkable record since it opened 30 years ago.

The Kansai International Airport boasts a remarkable record since it opened 30 years ago. Tomohiro Ohsumi/Getty Images hide caption

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Tomohiro Ohsumi/Getty Images

This airport has never lost a bag. For one chief handler, it's all about respect

As the summer travel season begins, thousands of bags will likely go missing. But not at one particular airport in Japan that makes a stunning claim: it has never lost a piece of luggage.

This Japanese airport hasn't lost luggage in three decades

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Trump supporters and their opponents spar outside of the criminal court where the former president is on trial on Wednesday in New York City.

Trump supporters and their opponents spar outside of the criminal court where the former president is on trial on Wednesday in New York City.
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Stephanie Keith
//Getty Images

Up First Newsletter

NPR poll: Trump’s hush money trial is unlikely to sway most people’s votes; Giant pandas are heading to Washington

Trump’s hush money trial is unlikely to sway most people’s votes. D.C. is officially getting new pandas back by the end of the year.

Supporters of presidential candidate Xóchitl Gálvez shout her name at her campaign rally in Los Reyes la Paz just outside of Mexico City, on Wednesday, May 29, 2024. Mexico's general election is set for June 2.

Supporters of presidential candidate Xóchitl Gálvez shout her name at her campaign rally in Los Reyes la Paz just outside of Mexico City, on Wednesday, May 29, 2024. Mexico's general election is set for June 2. Fernando Llano/AP hide caption

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Fernando Llano/AP

The Americas

Violence clouds the last day of campaigning before Sunday's elections in Mexico

Some 27 candidates, mostly running for mayor or town councils, have been killed so far this year. But criminals have taken to mass shootings rather than targeted attacks as they have in the past.

The Rules of War
Bas Czerwinski/AFP via Getty Images

Throughline

The Rules of War

International courts investigating alleged war crimes have made headlines often in recent months. An arrest warrant has been issued for Russian President Vladimir Putin; arrest warrants have also been requested for senior Hamas and Israeli officials, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh.

The Rules of War

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Wednesday

Former President Donald Trump leaves Manhattan Criminal Court at the end of the day's proceedings during his criminal trial for allegedly covering up hush money payments in New York City on Tuesday.

Former President Donald Trump leaves Manhattan Criminal Court at the end of the day's proceedings during his criminal trial for allegedly covering up hush money payments in New York City on Tuesday.
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Charly Triballeau//AFP via Getty Images

Up First Newsletter

Final words in Trump's hush money trial; South Africans vote in a crucial election

The jury in Trump’s New York trial begins deliberations. South Africans head to the polls in an election that could bring the biggest shift since the end of apartheid.

Up FIRST 29/05