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Prague exhibition documents Slovak National Gallery decline

17Feb

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Prague exhibition documents Slovak National Gallery decline

When Robert Fico returned to power and formed his fourth administration in late 2023, Alexandra Kusa knew her 14-year tenure as the head of the Slovak National Gallery was likely coming to an end. The Ministry of Culture had gone to the far-right Slovak National Party. A former TV presenter named Martina Simkovicova — who made her name spreading COVID disinformation on YouTube — was awarded the ministerial role. "There had been signs for quite some time, because other directors were being dismissed as well," Alexandra Kusa told DW from Bratislava. "They were also signaling publicly what they didn't like," she said. Major shift in Slovak culture policy Minister Simkovicova said she wanted official Slovak culture to better represent what she called traditional Slovak values, rather than...

Australia rules out repatriating citizens from Syrian camp

17Feb

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Australia rules out repatriating citizens from Syrian camp

Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said his ‌government wouldn't ⁠repatriate Australian citizens held for years in a Syrian camp. Roj detention camp in northeastern Syria holds families of militants suspected of having links to the so-called "‌Islamic State" group (IS). "We have a very ‌firm view that ‌we won't be providing assistance or repatriation," Albanese told national broadcaster ABC on Tuesday. "We have no sympathy, frankly, for people who travelled overseas in order to participate in what was an attempt to establish a caliphate to undermine and destroy our way of life," he said. "It is unfortunate that children are impacted by this as well, but we are not providing any support." Australians released from Roj camp forced to turn back Albanese's remarks come a day aft...

Ireland launches data protection probe into Grok’s deepfakes

17Feb

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Ireland launches data protection probe into Grok’s deepfakes

Ireland's data protection watchdog launched an investigation into Elon Musk's artificial intelligence chatbot, Grok, on Tuesday, in the latest step the European Union has taken in response to sexualized deepfake images. The "large-scale inquiry" is on behalf of the European Union and will probe whether the AI tool breached the bloc's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), Ireland's Data Protection Commission (DPC) said in a statement. The EU is also running its own investigation into Grok and the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, under the powers of the Digital Services Act (DSA), which sets out rights and protections for EU citizens. Why is Ireland investigating Elon Musk's X? Ireland is taking the lead on the investigation since X's European operations are headq...

17Feb

By Europe WorldNo Comments

News, World

Ireland launches data protection probe into Grok’s deepfakes

Ireland's data protection watchdog launched an investigation into Elon Musk's artificial intelligence chatbot, Grok, on Tuesday, in the latest step the European Union has taken in response to sexualized deepfake images. The "large-scale inquiry" is on behalf of the European Union and will probe whether the AI tool breached the bloc's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), Ireland's Data Protection Commission (DPC) said in a statement. The EU is also running its own investigation into Grok and the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, under the powers of the Digital Services Act (DSA), which sets out rights and protections for EU citizens. Why is Ireland investigating Elon Musk's X? Ireland is taking the lead on the investigation since X's European operations are headq...

US judge orders reinstatement of Washington slavery exhibit

17Feb

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US judge orders reinstatement of Washington slavery exhibit

A federal judge has ruled that an exhibit about people enslaved by George Washington, the first president of the United States, must be temporarily restored at Washington's former home in Philadelphia. In her decision on Monday, US District Judge Cynthia Rufe said that all materials must be restored in their original condition while a lawsuit challenging the legality of the removal is underway. The city of Philadelphia had sued after the National Park Service removed explanatory panels and a video installation from Independence National Historical Park in January. The exhibit, which opened in 2010, paid tribute to the nine people enslaved by the Washingtons at the home. In her ruling made Presidents Day, the federal holiday honoring Washington's legacy, the judge also prohibited the Tru...

NATO begins ‘Arctic Sentry’ mission to secure region

12Feb

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NATO begins ‘Arctic Sentry’ mission to secure region

NATO announced on Wednesday the launch of a mission, called "Arctic Sentry," to bolster its presence in the Arctic, a move intended to appease US President Donald Trump following his retraction of claims on Greenland. The new mission "will leverage NATO's strength to protect our territory and ensure the Arctic and High North remains secure," according to a statement from US General Alexus Grynkewich, NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Europe. "Arctic Sentry underscores the alliance's commitment to safeguard its members and maintain stability in one of the world's most strategically significant and environmentally challenging areas," the statement said. According to NATO, the mission would initially oversee ongoing operations by alliance members in the region, such as upcoming exercises by ...

12Feb

By Europe WorldNo Comments

News, World

NATO begins ‘Arctic Sentry’ mission to secure region

NATO announced on Wednesday the launch of a mission, called "Arctic Sentry," to bolster its presence in the Arctic, a move intended to appease US President Donald Trump following his retraction of claims on Greenland. The new mission "will leverage NATO's strength to protect our territory and ensure the Arctic and High North remains secure," according to a statement from US General Alexus Grynkewich, NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Europe. "Arctic Sentry underscores the alliance's commitment to safeguard its members and maintain stability in one of the world's most strategically significant and environmentally challenging areas," the statement said. According to NATO, the mission would initially oversee ongoing operations by alliance members in the region, such as upcoming exercises by ...

EU ups drone cooperation amid hybrid threats

12Feb

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World

EU ups drone cooperation amid hybrid threats

The European Union (EU) is getting ready to counter drones more effectively. The commissioners for Tech Sovereignty, Transport and Internal Affairs presented a new strategy on Wednesday, February 11, in Strasbourg. The aim: boost resilience and cooperation among member states. A series of foreign drone and balloon incursions across the EU in 2025 has added urgency. In September, an unprecedented wave of Russian drones entered Polish airspace and were shut down by the military. In Denmark, airports temporarily closed after unidentified drones were spotted overhead. A new drone and counter-drone strategy for the EU With the new plan, the Commission wants to strengthen Europe's ability to prevent, detect and respond to malicious drone activity. It focuses on improving coordination betwe...

Canada mass shooting suspect had mental health issues

12Feb

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World

Canada mass shooting suspect had mental health issues

Police identified the suspect in the deadly Tumbler Ridge shooting in Canada as an 18-year-old local woman who had a history of police visits to her home to check on her mental health. She is suspected of shooting dead six people at the local high school on Tuesday after killing her mother and stepbrother at home. Police revise death toll down The suspect killed eight people, police clarified, and not nine as had been previously reported. The confusion came after they mistakenly thought a victim airlifted to a hospital had died, police commander Dwayne McDonald said at a press conference on Wednesday. Five of those killed at the school were students aged 12 and 13, while the sixth was a teacher, he said. "There is no information at this point that anyone was specifically targeted," ...

Trump, Netanyahu end meeting without Iran agreement

12Feb

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Trump, Netanyahu end meeting without Iran agreement

US President Donald Trump said there was no agreement on a plan to move forward with Iran after talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. "There was nothing definitive reached other than I insisted that negotiations with Iran continue to see whether or not a deal can be consummated," Trump said in a social media post after meeting his Israeli counterpart on Wednesday. Netanyahu sees an Iran with nuclear weapons as an existential threat to Israel, and has long pressed for regime change in the country. Israel likely hoping to convince Trump to widen scope of nuclear deal Netanyahu and Trump ⁠spoke behind closed doors for more than two and a half hours in what Trump described as a "very good meeting," but said no major decisions were made. Wednesday's meeting between the l...