Foreign
Google introduces new open-source AI models named Gemma
February 22, 2024, 1:42 pm
ISTANBUL – Google introduced its new generation of open-source artificial intelligence (AI) models on Wednesday, named Gemma, to help developers and researchers build AI responsibly. "Gemma is a family of lightweight, state-of-the-art open models built from the same research and technology used… Read More
Wikileaks founder Assange's extradition hearing ends, decision soon
February 22, 2024, 12:26 pm
LONDON – The last attempt by WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to avoid extradition to the US ended its second day of hearings on Wednesday at the UK High Court in London. The verdict is expected to be delivered at a later time as justices will have to communicate with involved parties for… Read More
Gang behind ‘world’s biggest’ ransomware taken down: Europol
February 21, 2024, 2:30 pm
ROME – After a month-long operation, authorities from 10 countries disrupted the “world’s biggest” ransomware criminal operation behind LockBit, causing damages worth billions of dollars, Europol said Tuesday. In a statement, Europol said authorities took down LockBit’s 34 servers in the… Read More
Japan issues warning as Fukushima leak raises safety concerns
February 21, 2024, 2:06 pm
ISTANBUL – The Japanese government issued a stern warning Tuesday to the Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO) after a leak of contaminated water from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, according to media reports. Economy, Trade, and Industry Minister Ken Saito stressed the… Read More
Haley vows to stay in Republican primary race as Trump takes lead
February 21, 2024, 1:42 pm
WASHINGTON – Former UN envoy Nikki Haley vowed Tuesday to remain in the US race for the Republican presidential nomination despite former President Donald Trump's commanding lead. Speculation had mounted that Haley would announce her exit from the White House during a news conference Tuesday,… Read More
57 dead in Papua New Guinea tribal fight
February 19, 2024, 6:26 pm
ISTANBUL – At least 57 people were killed in what appears to be a tribal fight in Papua New Guinea, police said on Monday. The deaths occurred after one of the tribes was ambushed by arms-wielding members of another group in the northernmost Enga province on the island nation’s highlands.… Read More
BTA opens Press Club at Bulgarian Antarctic base on Livingston Island
February 19, 2024, 2:49 pm
LIVINGSTON ISLAND – The Bulgarian News Agency (BTA) opened a national press club at the Bulgarian Antarctic base on Livingston Island on Feb. 9. Attending the event were BTA Director General Kiril Valchev, Bulgarian Ambassador to Argentina Stoyan Mihaylov, the leader of the 32nd Bulgarian… Read More
UAE offers condolences to PH over landslide deaths
February 18, 2024, 12:37 pm
ABU DHABI – The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has expressed its sincere condolences and solidarity with the Republic of the Philippines over victims of the landslide that took place in the south of the country, in the Province of Davao de Oro, resulting in dozens of deaths and injuries, as well as… Read More
Shed full light on Navalny death, says Meloni
February 18, 2024, 11:36 am
ROME – Premier Giorgia Meloni on Friday called on Russia to shed full light on the death in prison of Putin's opposition leader Alexei Navalny. "The death of Alexei Navalny, during his detention, is another sad page that warns the international community," she said. "We express our heartfelt… Read More
G7 urges suspension of hostilities in Gaza for hostages, aid
February 18, 2024, 11:25 am
ROME – The G7 is calling for a suspension of fighting in Gaza to ensure both the release of Israeli hostages taken by Hamas and the provision of aid to Palestinian civilians, Foreign Minister and Deputy Premier Antonio Tajani said on Saturday. In the Middle East, the G7 "aims to guarantee the… Read More
Florence mourns dead in building site collapse
February 18, 2024, 11:11 am
ROME – Florence paused on Saturday to mourn the victims of Friday's structural collapse at a supermarket building site that has left four construction workers confirmed dead and a fifth still missing feared dead and three more people injured. Mayor Dario Nardella led a minute's silence at 3 p.m.… Read More
Nike to cut 2% of global workforce amid restructuring
February 17, 2024, 4:47 pm
ISTANBUL – American athletic footwear and apparel corporation Nike will cut two percent of its global workforce amid a corporate restructuring plan. "We are not currently performing at our best, and I ultimately hold myself and my leadership team accountable," CEO John Donahoe said Thursday in a… Read More
Google unveils next-gen AI model called Gemini 1.5
February 17, 2024, 2:04 pm
ISTANBUL – Google introduced its new artificial intelligence (AI) model called Gemini 1.5, almost two months after its initial release. "The model delivers dramatically enhanced performance, with a breakthrough in long-context understanding across modalities," the company said in a blog post on… Read More
YouTube counts 2.7B active users as it turns 19
February 16, 2024, 2:41 pm
ISTANBUL – YouTube, the world’s biggest video-sharing platform with over two billion active users, turned 19 this month. Founded on Feb. 14, 2005 by three entrepreneurs, it was acquired by the technology giant Google for USD1.65 billion slightly over a year and a half after its inception.… Read More
Andrei Stenin international press photo contest now accepting entries
February 16, 2024, 3:10 am
MOSCOW – The 10th annual Andrei Stenin International Press Photo Contest, an annual competition in honor of Rossiya Segodnya international media group photojournalist Andrei Stenin, who was killed on duty in Donbas, Ukraine in 2014, is already open for entries. The contest is an annual… Read More
1 dead, 22 hurt in shooting at Super Bowl parade in Kansas City
February 15, 2024, 2:40 pm
WASHINGTON – The Super Bowl victory parade for the Kansas City Chiefs was marred with a shooting spree on Wednesday, killing one person and wounding 22 others. "This is still an active investigation," Kansas City Police Chief Stacey Graves said during a press briefing. Graves said police have… Read More
4 people in Cambodia infected with HIV every day – AIDS authority
February 14, 2024, 3:54 pm
PHNOM PENH – About four people in Cambodia become infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) every day, the National AIDS Authority said in a statement on Wednesday. HIV is the virus that causes AIDS or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. "Approximately 1,400 people become newly infected… Read More
WAM organizes roundtable on future of business media
February 13, 2024, 6:30 pm
DUBAI – The Emirates News Agency (WAM) organized a roundtable entitled "Shaping Economic Narratives: The Role of News Agencies" as part of Day 1 of the World Governments Summit (WGS) 2024, which kicked off on Monday. The event was attended by a number of officials and directors of news agencies… Read More
Bulgaria 1st in Europe in young people's desire to start own business
February 13, 2024, 1:35 pm
SOFIA, Bulgaria – Bulgaria ranks first in Europe in terms of young people's desire to start their own business, according to the latest Eurobarometer survey, Minister of Innovation and Growth Milena Stoycheva said. The main topic of the Innovation Nexus event at Sofia Tech Park, organized on… Read More
Biden joins TikTok ahead of 2024 elections
February 12, 2024, 7:13 pm
ISTANBUL – US President Joe Biden made a significant leap into the realm of social media on Sunday, officially joining the short-form video app TikTok as part of his administration's outreach efforts. The first video shared by his campaign carried the caption "lol hey guys" and a bio that… Read More
