Author: Kostas Birakis

German arms manufacturer Rheinmetall plans to set up at least four factories in Ukraine to produce artillery shells, military vehicles, gunpowder, and anti-aircraft weapons, the AFP reported on March 14. This could present a boost for Ukrainian defense production amid ammunition shortages and dwindling supplies from the U.S. “Ukraine is now an important partner for us, where we see a potential of between 2 and 3 billion euros ($2.18-$3.27 billion) per year,” Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger said during a presentation of the company’s 2023 results, the AFP wrote. Previously, the company signed a contract with the Ukrainian Defense Industry (Ukroboronprom) in October 2023 to…

Turkish president hopes the NATO allies and neighbours will mend relations despite deep-rooted differences Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is in Greece in an effort to mend strained relations between the neighbouring NATO allies and open what he called a “new era” in relations after years of hostility. Greece and Turkey have been at odds for decades over issues including where their continental shelves start and end, energy resources, overflights of the Aegean Sea, and ethnically split Cyprus. On Thursday, the two countries signed a joint declaration to pursue good neighbourly relations. “Geography and history have dictated that we live…

Frankfurt (18/12 – 14) That there are remarkable advantages in being ignored is not generally recognized. Central Asian countries, historically under the thumb of Moscow, all through the 70+ years of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, were more or less cut off from the outside world. There was little trade or other exchange. The USSR was in fact a grab-bag of ethnicities, religions and languages, controlled with an iron fist by Stalin and afterwards with unbroken dominance through subsequent regimes. Under Soviet management, Central Asia had stayed poor and ignored; it had not developed any hydrocarbon resources to lure…

The government of Hungary plans to relaunch its Golden Visa Program, which has been closed since 2017. The framework for the new Residency by Investment scheme has been presented by the government of Hungary to parliament within a draft bill that oversees immigration for third-country nationals coming to Hungary, SchengenVisaInfo.com reports. The bill also introduces the category “guest-investor visa” for those coming to Hungary affiliated with projects considered “strategically important investment” by the government, according to a Reuters report. The “guest-investor visa” is a prerequisite to apply for residence in this territory. It gives the visa holders the opportunity to remain in Hungary for a period…

ChatGPT creator fired Altman on Friday, saying the company had lost confidence in him Ousted OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is welcome in France, French Digital Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said on Saturday, a day after the creator of ChatGPT fired Altman. “Sam Altman, his team and their talents are welcome in France, where we are accelerating [efforts] to put artificial intelligence at the service of the common good,” Barrot said in a post on X. OpenAI’s board on Friday said it had lost confidence in Altman, according to a blog post by the company. He is being replaced by chief technology officer Mira Murati. Altman met with…

People in Calais and Dunkirk may die due to lack of shelter and sanitation, NGOs tell government officials Twelve organisations working with asylum seekers in northern France have warned French government officials of a “catastrophic situation” as large numbers of people try to survive in insanitary conditions while they wait for a change in the weather so they can try to cross the Channel to the UK. The warning is contained in a letter to French government officials signed by NGOs including L’Auberge des Migrants, Calais Food Collective, Médecins du Monde Nord Littoral, Utopia 56 and Le Secours Catholique délégation du Pas…

‘We have the Islamist scene in our sights,’ says interior minister after 54 sites raided throughout country in probe against Islamic Center Hamburg German police raided 54 locations across the country on Thursday in an investigation of a Hamburg-based center suspected of promoting Iranian ideology and supporting the activities of the Hezbollah terror group, the government said, as Berlin moves to stem a rash of antisemitism amid the Israel-Hamas war. The Interior Ministry said the Islamic Center Hamburg, or IZH, has long been under observation by Germany’s domestic intelligence agency. It said the activities of the group are aimed at…

Two rare earth minerals have been found in Finland for the first time in what could be a boost to Europe’s supply of critical minerals necessary for the energy transition. Finnish Minerals Group said on Monday that Sokli and the Geological Survey of Finland had identified two new minerals, kukharenkoite and cordylite, through mineralogical characterization—the first such deposits identified in the country. The recently completed mineralogical analysis was aimed at charting the occurrence of rare earth elements (REE) in minerals. Sokli is the world’s largest carbonatite deposit, the company said. “According to the results of our scoping study, Sokli could produce at…

I came to Osaka with the intention to finalise a free trade agreement with the European Union. Since I became Trade Minister, I have been to Europe three times to progress a deal that benefits Australia’s national interest. My job as Australia’s Trade Minister is to get the best deal that we can for our producers, our businesses, our workers, and our consumers. Unfortunately we have not been able to make progress. Negotiations will continue, and I am hopeful that one day we will sign a deal that benefits both Australia and our European friends. I would like to thank…

A Lecture by Tshilidzi Marwala, UNU Rector and Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations The rapid development of artificial intelligence brings with it a host of complex governance challenges. As AI systems become more capable and autonomous, we must consider how to regulate their design, training, and use to align with human values and prevent unintended harm. Key governance issues include accountability, transparency, privacy, bias, and safety. This lecture from UNU Rector, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Member of the United Nations Scientific Advisory Board, Professor Tshilidzi Marwala, will explore ethical frameworks, technical standards, and policy interventions needed to steer AI in a…