Author: Salako Temitope

Google is set to resume its AI tool for generating images of people in the coming weeks, following its suspension last week due to inaccuracies in historical depictions, as stated by Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis on Monday. The company had introduced image generation capabilities through its Gemini AI models earlier in the month, but users noticed discrepancies in some historical images. “We have taken the feature offline while we fix that. We are hoping to have that back online very shortly in the next couple of weeks, few weeks,” Hassabis, DeepMind CEO mentioned during a panel discussion at the…

Russia has approved a six-month ban on petrol exports starting from March 1, as confirmed by state news agency Tass on Tuesday. Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin endorsed the halt, similar to last year’s measure aimed at preventing shortages and price surges in the domestic market due to rising local demand. Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak proposed limiting exports in a letter dated February 21, citing anticipated seasonal demand for fuel in the domestic market. The proposed ban aims to stabilize prices amid concerns of excessive demand for petroleum products, as reported by Russian outlet RBC. The ban will exempt member…

Intuitive Machines anticipates losing communication with the Odysseus moon lander on Tuesday morning, cutting short its mission just five days after its unconventional touchdown, the company disclosed on Monday. Originally slated for a seven to 10-day mission on the moon, the spacecraft’s lifespan may be curtailed due to shortcuts and errors in pre-flight testing, culminating in an in-flight failure of its laser-guided range finders. The incident highlights the consequences of skipping a crucial test firing of the laser system to expedite pre-flight checks, a decision made to save time and money. The failure to unlock the lasers’ safety switch compounded…

Bitcoin surged to a two-year peak on Tuesday, driven by indications of significant investment activity from major players in the cryptocurrency market, while its smaller counterpart, ether, surpassed $3,200 for the first time since 2022. The rally in Bitcoin, exceeding 10% over two sessions, was propelled by MicroStrategy’s revelation that it had acquired approximately 3,000 bitcoins at a cost of $155 million. Amidst the bullish sentiment, the recent approval of bitcoin-focused exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in the United States further boosted Bitcoin’s momentum. Trading volumes in these ETFs surged on Monday, accompanied by a rally in crypto-linked companies, contrasting with the…

Canada introduces draft legislation aimed at protecting its citizens, particularly children, from online harms and hate speech, proposing stricter penalties for offenders, including potential life imprisonment for advocating genocide. The proposed Online Harms Act, presented by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government, would hold tech platforms accountable for removing harmful content within 24 hours of a request and empower Canadians to report hate speech to a human rights tribunal for possible compensation for victims. The legislation defines seven categories of harmful content, including non-consensual intimate content, hate speech, incitement to violence, and content promoting self-harm among children. It also mandates the…

Guinea’s capital, Conakry, was rocked by violence on Monday as two young individuals lost their lives amidst the chaos of the first day of an indefinite general strike. The strike, organized by a coalition of major unions, aimed to denounce the military government’s alleged suppression of dissent since seizing power in 2021. The unions called for widespread participation from both public and private sectors to demand the release of a prominent media activist, lower food prices, and an end to media censorship. As the strike commenced, Conakry witnessed a virtual shutdown, with schools, shops, markets, and roads deserted, while hospitals…

Israeli airstrikes targeted Hezbollah operatives west of the Lebanese city of Baalbek on Monday, resulting in the deaths of at least two members of the militant group, according to Lebanese sources. These strikes represent Israel’s deepest penetration into Lebanese territory since the outbreak of hostilities with Hezbollah last October. While the Israeli military confirmed the strikes, it refrained from providing specific details, and Hezbollah has yet to issue a response. The airstrikes struck an area approximately 18 kilometers (11 miles) from Baalbek, renowned for its ancient ruins and recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Situated in the Bekaa Valley…

Also third-largest in the world and Africa’s largest, the East African country celebrated the inauguration of the Grand Mosque of Algiers, recognized as the world’s third-largest and Africa’s largest mosque, following years of delays attributed to political transitions, just in time for the commencement of the holy month of Ramadan. President Abdelmadjid Tebboune officiated the ceremony, marking a significant milestone for the North African nation. Dubbed Djamaa El-Djazair locally, the mosque stands out with its towering minaret, reaching a height of 265 meters (869 feet), and boasts a capacity to accommodate 120,000 worshippers, positioning it among the largest mosques globally,…

Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov issued a demand to Poland, urging authorities to identify and penalize those accountable for the destruction of 160 tonnes of Ukrainian grain during an incident at a Polish railway station. The attack, occurring amid protests, was condemned as an act of “impunity and irresponsibility” by Kubrakov, who stressed the importance of both nations finding and punishing the perpetrators. The destruction of Ukrainian grain at the railway station near Bydgoszcz, eastern Poland, marked the fourth such occurrence in recent weeks, according to earlier reports. Polish farmers, protesting against what they perceive as unfair competition from…

Turkey’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Ahmet Yildiz delivered a condemning statement on the last day of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) hearings, aligning with numerous nations denouncing Israel’s prolonged occupation of Palestinian territories. Yildiz emphasized the failure of Israel and its Western allies to adhere to international laws and human rights standards, highlighting the ongoing struggle for Palestinian rights amid a stalled peace process. During the weeklong hearings, representatives from 52 countries and multiple international organizations presented testimonies regarding Israel’s occupation of Palestine. Yildiz underscored the deepening grip of Israel’s occupation on Palestinian territories and the lack of commitment from…