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U.S. sends aircraft carrier group to eastern Mediterranean in response to Hamas attack on Israel

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced Sunday that he has ordered American military ships, including an aircraft carrier and additional aircraft, to move closer to the eastern Mediterranean in response to Hamas' unprecedented, multi-front attack on Israel.   "Today, in response to this Hamas attack on Israel, and following detailed discussions with President Biden, I have directed several steps to strengthen Department of Defense posture in the region to bolster regional deterrence efforts," Austin said in a news release.  The USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group includes the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier, which is the largest warship in the world, in addition to the Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser USS Normandy and four Arleigh-Burke-class guided missile destroyers.  The USS Gerald R. Ford was in the western Mediterranean when it received orders to deploy. Depending on its precise location, it could have to travel over a th

iPhone 15: models, prices, release date, features and colors

Apple Event 2023 The 2023 Apple Event has once again captured the eyes, attention and, once it was over, admiration and applause worldwide, following the presentation of, among other devices, the new iPhone 15. New generation of iPhone An iPhone 15 arrives, as usual, with four different options, new prices, surprising improvements and an exciting range of colors. Join us as we review all the news. Four new iPhone 15 models The iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max are the four models of this new generation of Apple smartphones. Reservation and sale date In the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Singapore and India, pre-sale of the four models will begin on September 15, and deliveries of online orders will start on September 22. That same day, the phone can be purchased on websites like Amazon and specialized stores. Price: iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus The prices in USD of the iPhone 15

China denies reports of ban on iPhones

The Chinese foreign ministry on Wednesday said it had not banned iPhones and other foreign mobile devices in government and state companies, in response to recent media reports. However, the ministry did say it had noted media exposure of security incidents related to the Apple smartphones. What the foreign ministry said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told a regular press conference there was no ban on officials purchasing or using foreign phones, including iPhones. "China has not issued laws, regulations or policy documents that prohibit the purchase and use of foreign brand phones such as Apple's," Mao said. He added that Beijing hoped all mobile phone companies would strictly abide by its laws and regulations, as well as "strengthen information security management." Reports of restrictions led to run on Apple shares Shares in Apple slumped last week after reports that China had placed significant restrictions on iPhones at government offic

France halts iPhone 12 sales over radiation levels

France has ordered Apple to stop selling the iPhone 12 for emitting too much electromagnetic radiation. On Tuesday, the French watchdog which governs radio frequencies also told the tech giant to fix existing phones. The ANFR has advised Apple that if it cannot resolve the issue via an update, it must recall every iPhone 12 ever sold in the country. The iPhone 12 was first released in September 2020, and it is still sold worldwide. Apple told the BBC it was contesting the ANFR's review, and said it had provided the regulator with lab results from the tech giant itself and third parties which show the device is compliant with all the relevant rules. It said the iPhone 12 was recognised as being compliant with regulations on radiation levels worldwide. France's digital minister Jean-Noel Barrot told French newspaper Le Parisien the decision was due to radiation levels above the acceptable threshold, He said the ANFR found the iPhone 12's Specific Absorption Rate (

Queen Elizabeth II: her life in photos, a year after her death

Queen Elizabeth II: her life in photos, a year after her death It has been a year since the magnificent Queen Elizabeth II departed our world and her subjects, leaving her son, King Charles III to take the throne. Her Late Highness saw 70 years on the throne and we look at the beautiful, funny, iconic and rare photos from her reign. A young Princess The young princess was only 25 years old when her father, King George VI died. She was to undertake the responsibility of becoming Britain's reigning monarch. With a big responsibility Elizabeth was born in 1926 to the Duke and Duchess of York, at the time. Her Uncle Edward was the King but, when he abdicated in 1936 to marry divorced American socialite Wallis Simpson, her father took the throne and Elizabeth became heir presumptive. Never meant to be Queen The young Princess Elizabeth even at a young age had an air of authority about her. Here she is almost practicing the famed royal wave

Musk threatens to sue anti-defamation group for falling revenue

An X sign is seen on the roof of the headquarters of social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter. Elon Musk, the owner of social media platform X, formerly Twitter, said he is considering suing a leading anti-defamation group, arguing that its accusations of anti-Semitism have led the company to lose revenue. Musk late Monday accused the US-based Jewish organization of making unfounded complaints against him and X that have scared away advertisers. "To clear our platform's name on the matter of anti-Semitism, it looks like we have no choice but to file a defamation lawsuit against the Anti-Defamation League... oh the irony!" Musk wrote on X on Monday. "Based on what we've heard from advertisers, ADL seems to be responsible for most of our revenue loss," he wrote, adding that the group "would potentially be on the hook for destroying half the value of the company, so roughly $22 billion." "Advertisers avoid controversy, so al

Job losses blamed on UK government restrictions

A proposed loss of 100 jobs at the UK's largest chip plant has been blamed on UK government restrictions. Nexperia was ordered by UK ministers to sell its 86% stake in the Newport site, due to national security concerns. Semiconductors made at Newport Wafer Fab are used in millions of electronic products, from smartphones to household equipment and cars. The company was bought by Dutch-based firm Nexperia, a subsidiary of Chinese firm Wingtech, in July 2021. The company is now trying to sell the site in line with these directions. The UK government have been asked to comment on the proposed job losses. Bosses had described losses among the 500 staff as "inevitable" after the firm was ordered to sell its controlling stake in November 2022. UK ministers were worried about the potential influence of the Chinese government. In announcing a consultation on the job losses, a company statement said: "This is a business decision that has not been taken lightly b

At least 7 people dead as floods ravage Greece, Turkey and Bulgaria

Rescue team members stand around a body bag containing a body of a victim of the floods in a campsite in Kirklareli province, Turkey, Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2023. Ali Can Zeray/dia Fierce rainstorms battered neighbouring Greece, Turkey and Bulgaria on Tuesday, triggering flooding that caused at least seven deaths, including two holidaymakers swept away by a torrent that raged through a campsite in northwestern Turkey. Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said four other people were missing after the flash flood swept over the campsite in Kirklareli province, near the border with Bulgaria. He noted that about 12 vacationers were at the site when the waters hit. Search teams had located two bodies, he said on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter. “The search and rescue efforts for the missing (four) continue uninterrupted,” he added. Television footage showed rescuers carrying a young girl and an adult to safety from waters reaching waist-high in some areas. T

At least two killed in Guinea anti-junta protests on eve of coup anniversary

President of the National Committee for Rally and Development (CNRD) Colonel Summary ~ At least two people were killed in Guinea's capital Conakry when armed security forces attacked the neighborhoods of political activists on the eve of planned demonstrations against the junta that seized power in 2021, protest organisers said on Tuesday. A collective of opposition parties and organizations said in a statement that two young men aged 16 and 18 had been killed during an operation by security forces in the capital's suburbs on Monday, the eve of the 2nd anniversary of the September 5, 2021 putsch. No comment was obtained from the authorities. The "Forces Vives" collective had called for a "peaceful" march on Tuesday to demand a swift return to civilian rule. But the authorities banned all public gatherings. The Ministry of Territorial Administration issued a press release on Monday evening recalling "the formal ban on support movements and de

US top diplomat Blinken makes surprise visit to Kyiv

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has made an unannounced visit to Kyiv where he is expected to announce a new aid package worth more than $1 billion (€930 million). The Reuters news agency cited a senior State Department official as saying Blinken's visit to Ukraine would last two days, making it the first overnight trip since Russia's invasion in February 2022. He previously visited Ukraine in April 2022 — together with Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin — and September 2022.   There had been no mention of the trip from his department, and it comes as Ukraine's Parliament gets set to approve the appointment of a new defense minister. More to come...  DW  

Africa Climate Summit concludes with 'Nairobi declaration'

Kenyan President William Ruto hosted the Africa Climate Summit in Nairobi The landmark Africa Climate Summit in Nairobi, Kenya, came to a close on Wednesday with leaders adopting a joint "Nairobi declaration" to highlight the continent's potential as a green powerhouse and encourage other world leaders to support new global carbon taxes. "This declaration will serve as a basis for Africa's common position in the global climate change process," read the final document. "No country should ever have to choose between development aspirations and climate action." Backed by the leaders of the continent of 1.3 billion people — a population set to double by 2050 — the declaration will form the basis of Africa's negotiating position at November's COP28 summit. "Decarbonizing the global economy is also an opportunity to contribute to equality and shared prosperity," it said. Calls for new global carbon taxes Agreed upon unanim

Ukraine updates: More than a dozen dead in market attack

Summary ~ President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said 16 people were killed in a Russian attack on a market in the east of Ukraine. Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken made a surprise visit. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said at least 16 people had been killed in a Russian strike in the Donetsk region. "At this moment, the artillery of Russian terrorists has killed 16 people in the city of Kostiantynivka, Donetsk region. A regular market. Shops. A pharmacy. People who did nothing wrong. Many wounded," he said in a post on social media. Reports of the attack came as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken made an unannounced visit to Kyiv. ~ Development Story...  DW

Could Northern Ireland be key to AI development?

Northern Ireland can be a testing centre for artificial intelligence in the UK, according to a group representing the software industry. Belfast-based IT firm Kainos announced it was investing £10m to develop the use of generative AI in its business. David Crozier, new head of The Software Alliance , believes more companies in Northern Ireland will follow suit. He described the Kainos announcement as a "super statement of intent". He said Northern Ireland had "historically been very strong at developing enterprise software solutions" so it was "no surprise" technology companies here were investing in research and innovation. "Kainos won't be the last company to make announcements in terms of investing in AI, and generative AI in particular, and I think that's where Northern Ireland can be very strong in terms of its value proposition." Mr Crozier said he believed Northern Ireland could be "the perfect petri dish and test