China Daily – China’s approach to generative artificial intelligence is evolving from a focus solely on technological development to emphasizing both practical application and comprehensive regulation, according to a new report.

Over the past year, China has been refining its policies on generative AI, which refers to AI systems that can produce original content such as text, images, music and videos, advancing on two fronts: technological application and risk management. This is highlighted in a report released on Tuesday by the policy and international cooperation division of the China Internet Network Information Center.

Wang Changqing, head of the division, underscored while introducing the report the importance of balancing AI development with governance, noting that Chinese authorities have formulated around 20 regulations related to AI since June 2025, as AI use in China rapidly grows.

As of June, the number of generative AI users in China had surpassed 700 million, an increase of 98 million since December 2025. Approximately 76 percent of internet users primarily engage with AI for question-and-answer purposes, followed by tasks such as processing images, videos and text and creating meeting summaries, according to the report.

The report also indicates that China is home to 10,740 companies involved in AI large models, AI agents, robotics and related fields, with the technology being widely applied across various sectors, including agriculture, industrial manufacturing, programming, office work, embodied intelligence and scientific research.

To maximize the technological value and regulate the use of AI, Wang noted that several authorities, including the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Commerce and the National Health Commission, have developed guidelines for integrating AI into their respective sectors. For example, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has issued guidelines on merging AI with communications to bolster the infrastructure for AI development.

Additionally, the report stresses the need to uphold security standards, showing that a series of rules have been established and improved to address issues such as ethical risks of AI and enhancement of protection for minors.

Shen Juncheng, an employee of general AI technology company MiniMax, praised these measures for their positive impact on real-world application and security governance. “The policy environment encourages technological advancement while equally emphasizing development and governance,” he said.

Zheng Ning, head of the law department at Communication University of China’s School of Cultural Industries Management, said it is crucial to balance technological application with risk prevention and control. “Unlocking AI’s industrial value is about technological application, while regulatory governance ensures security. They are two sides of the same coin, not mutually exclusive,” she said.

Initially, the primary challenge was addressing technological weaknesses, so policies focused on breakthroughs, Zheng added. “As AI enters widespread application, the risk of misuse becomes more prominent. Thus, policies have shifted to focus on ‘how to use it and how to govern it’. Technological breakthroughs remain essential, but they are no longer the sole focus,” she said.

While commending the advancements in AI-related policies aimed at fostering healthy technological development, Zheng called for greater efforts in crafting regulations that enhance oversight and clarify the responsibilities of stakeholders in the AI industry — including developers, operators and users — to create a cohesive framework for AI governance.

She also advocated effective policymaking to tackle challenges posed by AI deepfakes and to protect children from harmful AI-generated content.

Source: Village Voice News

By Antonio Dey | HGP Nightly News |

GEORGETOWN, GUYANA — Marked by raw grief, indignation, and mounting frustration over unfulfilled government timelines, families of the victims of the MV Barima maritime disaster took to the picket line on Tuesday outside the Ministry of Public Utilities and Aviation in Georgetown.

Armed with placards demanding justice, institutional transparency, and immediate operational clarity, relatives of both the 73 confirmed dead and more than 30 passengers and crew members who remain missing renewed their calls for the submerged vessel to be refloated.

The demonstration marks more than ten weeks since the ferry foundered on July 18, 2026. Protesters openly rebuked the administration’s reliance on monetary payouts, condemning what they characterized as an opaque and indifferent approach to recovering the hull and delivering closure to grieving households.

‘Jokey Money’: Bereaved Father Rejects State Payouts

Among the picketers was Royston Frank, father of 33-year-old missing sailor Rawle Frank, who went down with the vessel.

Frank revealed that he categorically refused to accept the state’s financial assistance package or sign release documents, insisting that financial compensation cannot replace state accountability or return his son:

• Rejection of Financial Relief: Frank dismissed state relief disbursements as an attempt to quiet public scrutiny, stating he refused to append his signature to legal waivers in exchange for compensation.
• Lack of Transparency on Bidding: Frank condemned the complete silence surrounding the Expression of Interest (EOI) tender process to salvage the vessel, which expired on August 14 with no contractor announced.
• Critique of Government Sloth: The father accused the administration of showing disregard for impoverished citizens who depend on state river transport.

“I don’t want nobody give me jokey money, I am not signing no paper,” Frank stated bluntly outside the ministry. “No ten, twenty, fifteen million can’t bring back me son.”

“This is heart-rending. This is showing you clearly that the government has no love for the poor people and we are seeing it day to day,” Frank added. “There is over 10 weeks, why, Mr. President, we cannot get the boat raised? We cannot hear back nothing about the bidding.”

Families Allege Communication Breakdowns with Transport and Harbours

The demonstration brought forward personal testimonies from relatives across coastal communities, including West Coast Berbice:

• The Harcourt Household: Allison Harcourt and Ashana McKenzie—the mother and sister of 22-year-old missing crewman Antoine Harcourt of Lichfield Village, West Coast Berbice—expressed dismay over what they described as callousness from the Transport and Harbours Department (T&HD).
• Uninitiated Contact: Allison Harcourt stated that state transport officials failed to establish proactive contact with her family regarding her son’s status, forcing her to initiate inquiries.
• Claims of Prior Mechanical Defects: McKenzie revealed that when T&HD officials eventually visited their Lichfield residence, representatives claimed they were entirely unaware that the vessel had operational defects prior to departing on its ill-fated voyage.

“It is so hard for me as I stand here… time cannot heal this pain,” McKenzie said. “And the President is saying that he is having sleepless nights—well, he will continue to have sleepless nights until the boat comes up. Transport and Harbours also came to our residence and tell us that they never knew the boat had fault.”

“Transport and Harbour did not call to say anything, I had to be the one who made contact with these people about my child,” his mother, Allison Harcourt, emphasized. “The President is not doing enough to float this vessel… closure for my son.”

Emotional Toll on Hinterland Families

The demonstration captured the emotional toll on families who lost multiple relatives in the disaster.

Galeann McPherson, grandmother of three young siblings—Annalisa, Odessa, and Justin Murray—who all remain missing, broke down in tears while describing the distress within her household:

• A Father Left Alone: McPherson shared that her son is struggling to cope with the sudden loss of all three of his children, whom he has been raising as a single parent following the earlier death of his wife.
• Plea to Raise the Hull: Weeping openly on the picket line, McPherson pleaded with executive authorities to commit the engineering resources required to raise the hull without further delay.

“I would like them to float the boat, the government must do something…” McPherson wept before being comforted by fellow demonstrators.

With the three senior crew members—Captain Kevin Price, Chief Mate Rondell Roberts, and Goods Superintendent Delon Granderson—currently remanded to prison ahead of their October 12 court appearance, the families affirmed that picket lines will continue outside state ministries until marine salvage teams are visibly mobilized on the water.

Source: HGP Nightly News / HGPTV

The Law Enforcement intends to increase its efforts to get the Courts to freeze bank accounts, properties and assets that are linked to persons who may be involved in crime and criminality.

On his “Issues in the News” television programme on Tuesday, Attorney General Anil Nandlall said the Government plans to make applications to the Courts for the forfeiture of assets derived from criminal activity.

He said Magistrates and Judges would have to be cognizant of this new dimension.

“Repeated applications will now be made to the various courts across the judicial spectrum for orders such as freezing orders, freeze bank accounts, detention orders, detain properties as well as forfeiture of orders to confiscate properties that are implicated in or are considered proceeds of crime and criminality,” Mr. Nandlall said.

The Attorney General said Prosecutors are currently being trained to deal with the new reality, as additional legislation is being crafted to achieve the objectives.

“And therefore, those who are charged with the responsibility of interpreting and applying that legislation must necessarily become part of this machinery. This successful combating of crime requires the participation of many organs and agencies,” Mr. Nandlall noted.

The Attorney General also explained that the Guyana Police Force, the Customs Anti Narcotics Unit, the Financial Intelligence Unit and other investigative agencies will have to build their capacities to step up to the challenge.

“So, all of the important players have to be in sync if we are to succeed against a very evolving and sophisticated criminal world because the criminals are investing heavily in technology, in equipment and they are exploiting every new innovation available and unless on the other side of the law, these multiple agencies respond with commensurate sophistication and efficiency, then the criminals will continue to win the battle,” the AG stated.

He said the recently concluded INTERPOL conference in Guyana was timely and presented the right messaging which has propelled a unified approach to crime fighting.

Source: News Source Guyana

Concerns over some media reports on evidence being presented in the trial into the March 2020 General and Regional Elections prompted a renewed discussion in court on Wednesday.

Coming out of that, presiding Magistrate Faith McGusty directed that reporting by media should be based only on what is said during proceedings.

Minutes after the trial resume on Wednesday morning, defence attorney Dexter Todd raised concerns about what he described as attempts by the media to draw conclusions from evidence being presented in the trial.

Todd said that while the hearing is being conducted in public, any deliberate attempt to sway the matter in a particular direction was unfair.

His concerns followed Tuesday’s proceedings, during which significant attention was placed on a passport application and signatures appearing on election-related documents. The signatures discussed in court were mainly associated with former Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield. Handwriting expert Ameer Mohamed also referred to a document believed to bear the signature of Carol Smith-Joseph on the March 13, 2020 declaration.

Todd’s concerns also came amid reports that prosecutor Latchmie Rahamat had been conducting interviews with the media after the conclusion of recent days of proceedings.

Rahamat, when she rose in court, said it appeared that statements made by the prosecution were sometimes being reported differently from what had actually been said.

Magistrate McGusty noted that the issue of media reporting had now been raised before the court on three occasions.

She reminded the parties that the court had previously taken a decision to allow the media full access to the proceedings. She noted that arrangements had even been made to facilitate journalists who were unable to attend physically by allowing them access through Zoom.

However, the Magistrate questioned whether those arrangements were achieving their intended purpose, describing the situation as appearing to be an “act in futility.”

McGusty said she was reconsidering the issue of media access and invited the defence and the wider public to provide their views on whether the existing arrangements should continue.

The Magistrate also acknowledged what she described as the defence’s restraint in engaging with the media during the trial.

She reiterated that journalists who are permitted to attend the hearing are entitled to report on what they observe and hear in court.

Following the discussion, the court directed that media reports should be based on what is said during the proceedings, rather than on post-hearing accounts of what transpired in court.

The Magistrate also cautioned the prosecution against engaging the media after proceedings, noting that the defence had refrained from doing so.

The trial is continuing, with several witnesses expected to complete their testimony and face cross-examination. Additional witnesses are also expected to appear before the court to give evidence.

Source: NEW ROOMS SITE

Recover Guyana in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and ExxonMobil Guyana officially launched the Skeldon Line Path Secondary School EcoHub Project. The project, valued at GY$1,000,000 is a direct result of the 2026 edition of SHOUT, Guyana’s national youth environmental speech competition. The project, envisioned by winner, Randy Mangal, a fifth former, has transformed a section of his school into a cleaner, more sustainable space through the installation of a solar-powered charging hub, outdoor furniture built from recycled materials, and a hanging garden combining decorative and edible plants.

The speech competition, now in its fourth year, dubbed SHOUT4Change, challenged secondary school students across the country to design practical, STEM-based solutions to environmental issues at their schools by answering a single question: “What sustainable changes would you make to your school’s environment should you be given one million dollars to do so?” More than 70 submissions were received, from which 20 national finalists were selected to advance.

In the initial phase Mangal proposed a project to addresses waste management and environmental neglect at his school through beautification and maintenance, and using upcycling and sustainable materials. At its centre, he proposed a sitting and relaxation space furnished with outdoor seating made from recycled tyres and other repurposed materials, shaded by decorative plants and a hanging garden of both decorative and edible species. The solar-powered charging hub was later added to the design to give students and staff a sustainable source of power on campus. After emerging victorious from the subsequent three phases of the competition, he was able to see his project to fruition.

Dr. Omesh Balmacoon, First Vice President and Co-Founder of Recover Guyana, in his remarks noted that the launch reflected the organization’s commitment to turning students’ environmental ideas into lasting, tangible change. “SHOUT was never just about a speech or a competition day, it was about giving our youth the resources and the platform to actually fix what they see wrong in their own school environment,” Dr. Balmacoon said. “Randy identified real problems at Skeldon Line Path, waste, neglect, a lack of green and functional spaces, and saw practical, sustainable solutions to them. We are proud to now be putting that vision into the ground.”

Lasawhna Prescott, Community Relations Advisor noted that ExxonMobil Guyana places a strong emphasis on STEM education because it is fundamentally about problem solving. She said, “This is why we are proud to support initiatives that empower young people to think creatively and take action in their communities.” “It is also why ExxonMobil Guyana continued our partnership with Recover Guyana and is proud to sponsor the SHOUT Competition for the third consecutive year,” she went on. 

Delivering remarks at the launch was Regional Executive Officer of Region 6, Mr. Ronald Harsawack. He added “This project is more than just a project, it’s a vision and an urge to do more about a growing issue. That’s why we’re here today, to see that more is possible, at sustainable costs, with the right vision and drive.” 

SHOUT was first held in 2023, when Vasanna Persaud of Queen’s College was named national winner and went on to launch a water purification project at her school to combat plastic bottle waste. Subsequent winners Gabriella Arjun and Anushka Singh, both of Queen’s College, launched a hydroponics kitchen garden and a cycle-smart initiative, respectively. Mangal’s solar and upcycling project at Skeldon Line Path Secondary School becomes the latest in this growing line of youth-led environmental initiatives to take root in Guyanese schools.

This year’s competition was also supported by One Communications, Scotiabank Guyana Inc., Flawless Dental GY, Ramada Georgetown Princess Hotel, GuyOil, Massy Stores Guyana, Pixel Perfect Productions, SEVA Marketing Inc., ELEVATE, and Anthony Indar Photography.

SHOUT 2027 is set to launch in February 2027, marking the final edition of Guyana’s National Youth Environmental Speech Competition.

Source: Village Voice News

The Alliance For Change calls for Deputy Commissioner of Police Fizal Karimbaksh to be relieved of duties immediately and for a full, independent and impartial investigation into reports of criminal misconduct made against him.

A female inspector of police has reportedly accused Karimbaksh of rape, assault and threatening her life. These are serious allegations of criminal behaviour and it is not the first time that the head of the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) has found himself accused of being on the wrong side of the law.

The Party calls for an independent team of regional and international investigators to be comprised to dig into these allegations. Like the rest of Guyana, we have no confidence that any investigation by the police into one of its own would be impartial.

Although it is unlikely, a decisive statement from the Minister of Home Affairs supporting the call for an independent investigation would be an indication that the minister has a zero tolerance policy on rape and sexual assault. 

Similarly, though unlikely, Sonia Parag, Dr. Vindya Persaud, Susanne Rodrigues, Priya Manickchand and other women leaders of the PPP should raise their voices demanding an impartial investigation. Their silence can be interpreted either as complicity or that they have been issued a Gag Order. 

The AFC urges independent NGOs, women’s ogranisations and all right thinking Guyanese to join the call for Karimbaksh to removed from duties and for an impartial investigation into the allegations made against him

Source: Village Voice News

The Government intends to increase its efforts to get the Courts to freeze bank accounts, properties and assets that are linked to persons who may be involved in crime and criminality.

On his “Issues in the News” television programme on Tuesday, Attorney General Anil Nandlall said the Government plans to make applications to the Courts for the forfeiture of assets derived from criminal activity.

He said Magistrates and Judges would have to be cognizant of this new dimension.

“Repeated applications will now be made to the various courts across the judicial spectrum for orders such as freezing orders, freeze bank accounts, detention orders, detain properties as well as forfeiture of orders to confiscate properties that are implicated in or are considered proceeds of crime and criminality,” Mr. Nandlall said.

The Attorney General said Prosecutors are currently being trained to deal with the new reality, as additional legislation is being crafted to achieve the objectives.

“And therefore, those who are charged with the responsibility of interpreting and applying that legislation must necessarily become part of this machinery. This successful combating of crime requires the participation of many organs and agencies,” Mr. Nandlall noted.

The Attorney General also explained that the Guyana Police Force, the Customs Anti Narcotics Unit, the Financial Intelligence Unit and other investigative agencies will have to build their capacities to step up to the challenge.

“So, all of the important players have to be in sync if we are to succeed against a very evolving and sophisticated criminal world because the criminals are investing heavily in technology, in equipment and they are exploiting every new innovation available and unless on the other side of the law, these multiple agencies respond with commensurate sophistication and efficiency, then the criminals will continue to win the battle,” the AG stated.

He said the recently concluded INTERPOL conference in Guyana was timely and presented the right messaging which has propelled a unified approach to crime fighting.

Source: News Source Guyana

International umpire Zahid Bassarath will join the officiating panel for the National Finals of the Lotto/Let’sBet One Guyana T10 Tapeball Blast on Sunday, October 11 at the Anna Regina National Stadium.

The 43-year-old Trinidadian, who has stood in two ODIs, 28 T20Is, and 138 T20 matches, along with extensive regional experience, has donated his services for the showpiece event.

He will be supported by seasoned Guyanese umpires Chandraban Rajnarine and Javed Persaud, along with Yogeshwar Lall.

Organised by FL Sport, the final phase will feature TV reviews for line decisions, including run-outs and stumpings.

Tournament Director John Ramsingh welcomed Bassarath’s involvement, highlighting the competition’s growing regional stature in its fifth year.

“Having an umpire of Zahid’s quality adds tremendous value to the tournament as we conclude our fourth year,” Ramsingh said. “He and many mainstream cricket aficionados have been following the tournament’s growing popularity across the region and wanted to come on board to support its development.”

Bassarath expressed his enthusiasm for contributing to the grassroots game in the region. “I am delighted to support grassroots cricket development in Guyana and contribute to a tournament that is doing so much to give a spotlight to talent,” Bassarath said.

On Monday, October 12, Bassarath will hold an interactive session with active and aspiring umpires in Essequibo, aligning with the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport’s foundational push to revive the national school cricket programme.

The blockbuster Oct. 11 finals day in Essequibo begins at 14:30h local time with the first semi-final between GrillMaster Sip N Play All-Stars and Mahdia (Movements Family), followed by the second semi-final at 16:30h featuring Lusignan Bulls DTP II against the Georgetown/East Coast Demerara zone champion, who will be crowned on Oct. 4.

Following an exhibition match, the grand finale will bowl off at 19:30h.

At stake is a top prize of GYD $2 million for the national champions, while the runners-up will pocket GYD $1 million and the losing semi-finalists take home GYD $500,000 each, adding to the GYD $500,000 already collected by the zone winners.

Individual accolades sponsored by Regal Super Centre include a brand-new motorbike and GYD $150,000 for the Most Valuable Player, GYD $100,000 plus a television each for the top run-scorer and leading wicket-taker, GYD $75,000 for the Player of the Final, and GYD $50,000 each for the tournament’s Super Strike Rate and Best Economy Rate awards.

Source: NEW ROOMS SITE