Sudan recalls ambassador to Ethiopia after mediation offer in Tigray conflict rejected
Sudan has recalled its ambassador to neighbouring Ethiopia, citing frustration by the stance of Addis Ababa whom it says have refused Khartoum’s offer to mediate in the ongoing conflict in Tigray. “Ethiopia will improve its position if it considered what Sudan could do…instead of completely rejecting all of its efforts,”...
Rival South Sudanese factions clash, claim to have killed dozens of soldiers
Forces loyal to Vice President Riek Machar and a splinter group have clashed in South Sudan, but the two sides gave conflicting reports, with each claiming to have killed dozens of soldiers from the opposing. The latest clashes, threatening the country’s fragile peace process, occurred in Magenis in the Upper...
Hopes for quick return to normalcy in US dashed by new Covid variants, low vaccine uptake
It didn’t need to be this way. This spring, as people lined up for newly available, miraculously effective Covid-19 vaccines, it was easy to imagine a direct and speedy path to a protected society. The curve of administered doses appeared limited only by the supply, and the curve was looking...
Scammers could sack you as AI can now create phishing messages in flawless language
Natural language processing continues to find its way into unexpected corners. This time, it is phishing emails. In a small study, researchers found that they could use the deep learning language model GPT-3, along with other AI-as-a-service platforms, to significantly lower the barrier to entry for crafting spear-phishing campaigns at...
India’s casteism: If I make a mistake, it’s not my mistake; it’s labelled the mistake of ‘Untouchables’ community
Raosaheb Kale was born in 1950, three years after India became free from British rule, and the same year India’s constitution came into force. That constitution abolished untouchability and declared caste discrimination illegal. The constitution also introduced reservation policies in public sector jobs, politics and education for marginalised communities, including...
As Man United flipflops on Trippier, Arsenal prepare swoop for the right-back
Manchester United’s dithering over a deal for an England defender has left the door open for Arsenal to make their own move, while Tottenham have set Harry Kane’s asking price. Arsenal have reportedly made a bid to sign Manchester United right-back target Kieran Trippier from Atletico Madrid. Meanwhile Tottenham are...
Study of poverty via a child’s eyes reveals stressors that hinder healthy emotional and cognitive growth
In a major shift from traditional data collection on human development, psychologist Seth Pollak says getting to understand what children think of their material status provides important insights into they emotional and cognitive growth. Poverty affects nearly one in seven American children – about 10.5 million kids in total –...
Messi’s tearful farewell: I never imagined having to say goodbye because I never thought of it
Lionel Messi broke down in tears as he confirmed his departure from Barcelona after 21 years at the club in an emotional press conference on Sunday, receiving a standing ovation from his distraught teammates. The 34-year-old has been a free agent since July 1 when his contract at Camp Nou...
Biden’s burden: Social media platforms turbocharge profits with disinformation, hate speech and conspiracy
There is no way the US government will fix what’s wrong with internet platforms without reducing their profits. President Biden must choose between the happiness of those who own the platforms and the safety and wellbeing of everyone else. Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube turbocharge their profits by using algorithms to...
With Messi out of Barca, Sergio Aguero considers following him two months after joining
Sergio Aguero could now leave Barcelona only two months after signing because of Lionel Messi’s exit saga, according to a report. The striker moved to the Spanish giants at the end of May following his exit from Manchester City. After 10 years at City in which he became the club’s...
