Author: DW

Sam Altman caused more than a stir in early February when he called for a $5 to 7 trillion (€4.65 to 6.5 trillion) global investment to produce more powerful chips for the next generation of artificial intelligence (AI) platforms. Many industry analysts were left open-mouthed at the figure cited by the Open AI chief executive, which is equivalent to almost a quarter of the US federal budget.  Altman wants to solve some of the major issues faced by the AI sector, which includes a major shortage of chips and semiconductors needed to power large language models like his firm’s ChatGPT, the Wall Street Journal reported earlier this month.…

Russian authorities in the Ural mountain city of Yekaterinburg have arrested a US-Russian dual national on treason charges, the state-owned TASS media outlet said Tuesday. What do we know so far? “The Federal Security Service (FSB) in Yekaterinburg suppressed the illegal activities of a 33-year-old resident of Los Angeles, who has dual citizenship of Russia and the United States,” TASS reported.  The news agency did not provide information regarding the name of the woman, but said she was “involved in providing financial assistance to a foreign state.” The crime of treason carries a hefty punishment of up to 20 years in jail in…

Traffic cameras appear to have captured a Russian convoy transporting Alexei Navalny’s body from prison to a morgue.Russian media outlet Mediazona released the camera footage filmed overnight on the 16-17 February – the same day as Navalny’s death. Both cameras show the same convoy crossing the Ob River south of Labytnangi, which is the only road between the Kharp prison and the Salekhard morgue, where it’s reported the politician’s body is being held.Russia-Ukraine latest: Follow live updatesMr Navalny’s mother, Lyudmila Navalnaya, and his lawyers had been denied entry to the morgue. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video…

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned Monday Ukrainian troops on the front line face “extremely difficult” conditions due to delays in receiving promised Western military aid. Days after Russian forces seized the town of Avdiivka in eastern Ukraine, further tightening their grip on the region, Zelenskyy made a surprise visit to Ukrainian troops, as Russia’s war of aggression nears its second anniversary. Zelenskyy, military officials point to front-line difficulties “The situation is extremely difficult in several parts of the front line, where Russian troops have concentrated maximum reserves,” Zelenskyy said after visiting soldiers in the northeastern Kharkiv region. He said that Russian forces…

The US has drafted a new UN Security Council resolution that calls for a temporary ceasefire in Gaza – and opposes Israel’s plans to launch a major ground offensive in Rafah.According to Reuters, Washington also plans to veto a rival, Algeria-drafted resolution that demands an immediate humanitarian ceasefire – amid concerns it could jeopardise talks between the US, Egypt, Israel and Qatar. Until now, American officials have been averse to use the word “ceasefire” at the UN, but the new text reflects the language used by President Joe Biden in talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Image: David Cameron…

An infamous cybercrime gang that holds victims’ data to ransom has been disrupted by the National Crime Agency (NCA) and a coalition of international police agencies. A post on Lockbit’s extortion website on Monday said: “This site is now under the control of the National Crime Agency of the UK, working in close cooperation with the FBI and the international law enforcement task force, ‘Operation Cronos’.” Europol and other international police organisations from France, Japan, Switzerland, Canada, Australia, Sweden, the Netherlands, Finland and Germany all aided in the rare law enforcement operation.An NCA spokesperson confirmed that the agency had disrupted the…

A Russian pilot who defected to Ukraine last year has reportedly been found dead in an underground car park in Spain. Maxim Kuzminov’s body was found with gunshot wounds on 13 February in the town of Villajoyosa, near Alicante in southern Spain. Spanish media reported that investigators were searching for two suspects who had fled in a vehicle that was later found burnt out in a nearby town.Russia-Ukraine latest: Follow live updatesDuring a flight between two Russian air bases last August, Mr Kuzminov instead landed in Kharkiv, Ukraine with his Mi-8 helicopter as part of a secret operation. Ukraine’s GUR military…

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned Monday Ukrainian troops on the frontline face “extremely difficult” conditions due to delays in receiving promised Western military aid. Days after Russian forces seized the town of Avdiivka in eastern Ukraine, further tightening their grip on the region, Zelenskyy made a surprise visit to Ukrainian troops, as Russia’s war of aggression nears its third anniversary. Zelenskyy, military officials point to frontline difficulties. “The situation is extremely difficult in several parts of the front line, where Russian troops have concentrated maximum reserves,” Zelenskyy said after visiting soldiers in the northeastern Kharkiv region. He said that Russian forces were “taking…

The Prince of Wales has been so horrified by the human suffering unfolding in the Middle East he’s set to carry out a series of engagements to highlight the plight of all those affected by the ongoing conflict.In the coming days, Prince William will meet with charities in the UK that are providing humanitarian support in the region and will hear about the conditions faced by those working on the ground. He will also join a conversation at a synagogue with young people from a wide range of communities to acknowledge the rise in antisemitism around the world.In October last…

A US man has admitted the rape and murder of a woman who was pushed down a ravine near a famous German landmark, used as the inspiration for the famous Disney Castle.The 31-year-old made the admission at the start of his trial in Kempten, southern Germany. He allegedly met two American women, aged 21 and 22, near Neuschwanstein Castle, one of Germany’s best-known attractions, in June last year.Prosecutors say the trio were close to the Marienbruecke, a bridge over a gorge that offers views of the castle.After luring them away from the trail, he is said to have forced the…