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World Press Freedom Day: Gaza conflict deadliest for journalists

Around The Globe - Fri, 05/03/2024 - 06:57
As the war in Gaza becomes the deadliest conflict for journalists, Al Jazeera looks at press freedom in the past year.

Wall Street Journal cuts Hong Kong staff, shifts focus to Singapore

Around The Globe - Fri, 05/03/2024 - 06:44
Company-wide memo says the newspaper is shifting its 'center of gravity in the region' to Southeast Asian hub.

Orangutan seen treating wound with medicinal plant in world first

Around The Globe - Fri, 05/03/2024 - 06:19
Sumatran orangutan named Rakus was seen using a plant to treat a facial wound possibly sustained during a fight.

School stabbings prompt safety review across Wales

Education - Fri, 05/03/2024 - 06:12
Head teachers urged to check emergency procedures are up to date after two teachers were stabbed.

Biden labels Japan and India ‘xenophobic’ along with China and Russia

Around The Globe - Fri, 05/03/2024 - 06:03
Comments met with surprise since US president has sought to deepen ties with key ally Japan, as well as India.

Meat-free Mondays may be on menu for Surrey schools

Education - Fri, 05/03/2024 - 05:59
Motion before county council proposes a plant-based menu at schools once a week to improve health.

Why are Pakistan’s wheat farmers protesting against the government?

Around The Globe - Fri, 05/03/2024 - 05:47
Farmers say recent wheat import policies have caused their financial woes.

Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 799

Around The Globe - Fri, 05/03/2024 - 05:14
As the war enters its 799th day, these are the main developments.

‘Vote jihad’: As Modi raises anti-Muslim India election pitch, what’s next?

Around The Globe - Fri, 05/03/2024 - 05:07
As the campaign targeting of Muslims becomes more direct and shrill, experts fear Modi’s words could encourage violence.

KFC Malaysia temporarily closes outlets amid Gaza boycott

Around The Globe - Fri, 05/03/2024 - 04:12
Franchise operator cites 'challenging economic conditions' amid local reports linking closures to boycotts of Israel.

Israeli firms sold invasive surveillance tech to Indonesia: Report

Around The Globe - Fri, 05/03/2024 - 03:55
Investigation by Amnesty, Haaretz, Tempo and others finds links between official bodies and agencies from at least 2017.

Ukraine unveils AI-generated foreign ministry spokesperson

Technology - Fri, 05/03/2024 - 03:22
Kyiv, Ukraine — Ukraine has an AI-generated spokesperson called Victoria who will make official statements on behalf of its foreign ministry. The ministry said on Wednesday that it would "for the first time in history" use a digital spokesperson to read its statements, which will still be written by humans. Dressed in a dark suit, the spokesperson introduced herself as Victoria Shi, a "digital person," in a presentation posted on social media. The figure gesticulates with her hands and moves her head as she speaks. The foreign ministry's press service told AFP that the statements given by Shi would not be generated by AI but "written and verified by real people." "It's only the visual part that the AI helps us to generate," it said. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said the new spokesperson was a "technological leap that no diplomatic service in the world has yet made." The main reason for creating her was "saving time and resources" for diplomats, he said. Shi's creators are a team called The Game Changers who have also made virtual reality content related to the war in Ukraine. The spokesperson's name is based on the word victory and the Ukrainian for artificial intelligence: shtuchniy intelekt. Shi's appearance and voice are modeled on a real person: Rosalie Nombre, a singer and former contestant on Ukraine's version of The Bachelor reality show. Nombre was born in the now Russian-controlled city of Donetsk in eastern Ukraine. She has 54,000 followers on her Instagram account, which she uses to discuss stereotypes about mixed-race Ukrainians and those who grew up as Russian speakers. The ministry said that Nombre took part free of charge. It stressed that Shi and Nombre "are two different people" and that only the AI figure gives official statements. To avoid fakes, these will be accompanied by a QR code linking them to text versions on the ministry's website. Shi will comment on consular services, currently a controversial topic. Ukraine last week suspended such services for men of fighting age living abroad, making it necessary for them to return to their country for administrative procedures and potentially face the draft. 

Apple iPhone sales plunge, as shares rise on dividend, stock buyback news

Around The Globe - Fri, 05/03/2024 - 02:38
Sales of the iPhone fall 10 percent amid growing competition from Chinese rivals such as Huawei.

Russian troops deploy to airbase housing US military in Niger: US official

Around The Globe - Fri, 05/03/2024 - 02:13
US official says Russian and US troops do not mingle at Airbase 101 as Moscow's forces deployed to a separate hanger.

Australia’s Albanese declares ‘national crisis’ after killings of women

Around The Globe - Fri, 05/03/2024 - 00:57
Government pledges action after tens of thousands of people rally over killings of women by their partners.

Five takeaways from day 10 of Donald Trump’s New York hush money trial

Around The Globe - Fri, 05/03/2024 - 00:45
The court heard a witness testify to secret recordings of Trump, in which he appears to negotiate the Daniels payment.

Biden calls for order after police clear UCLA camp

Education - Thu, 05/02/2024 - 23:26
Officers in riot gear arrested 209 people as they dismantled their weeklong pro-Palestinian protest.

US acknowledges Syria air strike killed farmer rather than al-Qaeda leader

Around The Globe - Thu, 05/02/2024 - 23:18
Botched strike is latest incident to raise questions about lack of accountability for civilian deaths from US strikes.

Abu Ghraib: Iraqi victims’ case against US contractor ends in mistrial

Around The Globe - Thu, 05/02/2024 - 22:31
Three survivors sued the company CACI in civil court for abuses committed at the hands of US soldiers and contractors.

Gaza will need largest post-war reconstruction effort since 1945, UN says

Around The Globe - Thu, 05/02/2024 - 22:31
UN Development Programme official estimates post-war reconstruction will cost between $40-50bn.

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